Case Study: My Experience With
Living as a Freelancer in France
People from other countries go to France to work as a freelancer. You can find many ways to be a successful freelancer in France. Although freelancing is difficult in another country, it only takes know-how to be successful. Here are some things to keep in mind when freelancing in France.
In France, most enterprises are given a lot of social benefits, support, and funding. And this is what many people from across the world love. But with the great support for the arts, healthcare, business, etc., also comes cost in taxes and dealing with the bureaucracy.
The best way to deal with the French bureaucracy is to try to attain acceptance. You will need to know obscure French words when you consider becoming a full-time French freelancer. It will be easier to handle your taxes and other responsibilities of French work life the sooner you get started.
With regular monthly payments starting as early as possible, you will not have a huge tax bill at the end of the year. Your tax bill at the end of the year will be offset if you pay a little bill each month. If you overpay you will be given a refund.
Doing your best will earn the governments attention. Do what they ask your to do as soon as possible. Make sure you take time to use this useful guide for pronouncing the difficult bureaucratic terms when you talk over the phone.
There is an auto-entrepreneur set up used by most starting freelancers and writers. Then they move on to join a workers cooperative. With the help of the coop, your freelancing business can easily be started up. Paying ten percent of your earnings to the coop will protect you as a writer. They will handle all of your accounting while ensuring that clients pay you what they owe. They will give you pay slips and a permanent contact. This will prove that you have steady employment. These services are very important when setting up your life in France.
Make sure that all your communications are done professionally. Most contracts in France are very formal, so you should expect to use proper nouns and professional terminology for everything. Dont use slang or any kind of overexcited language. There has to be firmness if you are going to be casual. Keep your initial contacts formal if you want to be taken seriously.
It can be challenging for non-French people to become a freelancer in France. You dont have the necessary connections to make it easier for you. You need to be aggressive when sending out your CVS and making phone calls. Find your own people and French people to socialize with. Let them know that you can work as a translator. If you tell people what you can do, you can make more connections.
