kelly P

Hello Everyone.

My wife and I are so wanting to move to France. We are 35 with 2 young children, have been to France so many times now people say " Well why dont you just bloody well live there!" . I'm in IT and wish to start a business in France, a complete change from the Dross world of IT. Maybe a Holiday home or even some sort of produce. We are in the very early stages of this and wish to be there within 5-6 yrs so any sort of basic advice at this stage would be extremely appreciated. I dont think we have even decided where in France we wish to live so you can appreciate the how infant this all is just now so please bear with us!

Look forward to hearing from anyone


Thanks loads in adance


Kelly P

johnny nofrfolk

I know its difficult with children but my advice is try and live there for at least a year before making a total commitment. We have lived in 3 e countries with my work and having had the living experience i would not dream of living anywhere else but England. I find Europe like a communist country if you are a committed left winger you may find it ok but we are not and found the state control unacceptable. its moving that way in England but will never be as bad

Floron

[Hi Kelly,

I would recommend that you consider joining a social network based in the Languedoc Roussillon region of southern France. They are a social club who organise informal gatherings as well as exclusive events. Through that you would meet or be in contact with lots of English-speeking people who have moved to France and can give you advice based on their own personal experiences. I do know that they have members of all ages and from all walks of life, both young and old and most of their activities include children. You don't have to live permanently in the area to join.

They also run a business network so you would be able to get valuable advice on setting up a business in France as well as an understanding of the local demand for the service that you would be able to offer.

Their website is also extremely comprehensive and includes lots of local information like recommended restaurants as well as general information such as schools and bank accounts.

Their website is http://www.french-scene.com

Hope this has been useful.

F x

nickcarol

My wife and I have spent the last six years having a holiday every year in a different region of France, before last year deciding which one to concentrate on. Basically you have to answer the following questions:
"Do I want the idyllic rural life?" or the "glitz and style of city life ?"
"How much can I afford?"
"Do I need to be within an hour or so of an airport to UK?"
"Do I like the adventure of the Alps or the posing on the beach?"
So if your answers revolve around: like the countryside, are limited on budget, enjoy sporty lifestyle etc you must go for the rural life in Central France where its far cheaper, but be prepared to talk French; otherwise why bother coming, if you're going into a British ex-pat ghetto. As an IT guy you can set up in the countryside as long as its in a broadband area.
We would have loved to buy in Haut Savoie but couldn't afford the prices so it drove us to Massif Central where you can also ski but live far more cheaply than in the Alps region
Happy area/house hunting.

mitsi

Hi,

we moved here nearly 3 years ago, having had enough of the rat race too. (My husband was also IT) We have 2 girls now 9 and 4.
We renovated our property into 2 Gites and have had 2 successful seasons - succssful in that we have been booked for 6 weeks - each gite - in summer. It hasn't been easy and we are now on a 10th of our income that we had in UK. We are struggling through at the moment and it is difficult to find work. We live from one enquiry to the next (waiting nervously on 2 long lets as we speak!).

Consider your options very carefully, try to make sure you have money for back up for at least 2 years, in addition to any renovations you might have. (renovations are always more costly than you budget for.)
Maybe consider downsizing in the UK and buy a small property here to make the transition easier.
Having said that don't leave it too late to make the big move with children, the younger they are the easier they will adapt. We had hell for a few months with our eldest as she resented being taken from her friends - she was only 6 - imagine if they are older. She doesn't even remember the problems now!
Try to make a good go of the language before you move.
There are a lot of differences living here, customer service for one! It is different but isn't that the point? Remember, you only ever regret the things you didn't do.

Good luck

Pakman

Hi
I'm french, living near Perpignan, south of France...
Well, it seems that for you (english people) there's a lot of opportunities here in France for making business, especially when I see the amazing number of yours coming for holidays, or to live...
Anyway, if you need a hand from an english speaking froggy, do not hesitate and ask me if you have questions...
Patrick.

bb20

I would recommend a long holiday in France and really get to know the place first!

There's isn't a huge amount of jobs going for foreigners but if you are creative and hard working you should be ok. Where there's a will there's a way etc.

The sunny South of France is my favourite spot.

Here's a few links that may be of some use to you:

www.francesouth.com

Guide to property prices in France

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France

Good Luck!

thisisitimhere

Hi Kelly

Think very carefully where you decide to move to, we live in the charente region, were everything is 15 years behind the times, we have just opened up a new business, its a nightmare, red tape here is mad, my advise to you if you can and you really want to live out here, is DONT BUY A PROPERTY FOR 1 YEAR RENT IN YOUR CHOSEN AREA, the market research you need to get for your business is crazy, but im presuming you speak and write good french, if you dont, its a none starter for you, my advise keep your business in england and go back and forward, the cost of living in the euro is very expensive, and your money soons runs out, you need to find yourself an english accountant, also go to your chamber of commerce, they will give you all the advise you need, BUT BEWARE, EVEN IF YOU MANAGE TO OPEN UP YOU THEN HAVE TO GET THE BUSINESS, THE FRENCH DONT LIKE CHANGE, AND IT COULD BE A NO STARTER.

Bonne Chance

cupoftea

I have been reading this forum for about a week or so and today have decided to speak up. I am so surprised that there are so many negative comments about living and working in france and discouragements to people who wish to start their adventure. We came here 3 years ago and live remotely in the mountains. I found work within 2 months of arriving, despite only having pretty basic french. We have never been homesick and our teenage son with special needs has received better support and help than we could ever have dreamed of in the UK. As for all the negative comments about cotisation, tax and socialism - is there no-one out there who realises that there are benefits to paying higher charges, and that when people fall on hard times (ill health, unemployment etc), that the support is much greater as a result of this much derided 'socialiasm'. I can only imagine that people like me who are just getting on with life and loving it, are not the ones who find time to constantly read and post on forums. I think that so much depends on one's attitude - I hear english people going around all the time expecting the french to speak english. Why should they? It is up to us to integrate and be thoughtful about the differences in culture and language. We live a really simple life here, spend very little, and have never been happier.

Johnny Foreigner

You are right of course but you must admit there are some acute issues with France. The benefits are fantastic of course and if you get into the system, your allocation familiale with all its elements, home assistance, young child assistance, attendant mother, children, children with needs, health issues, school allowances and before you know it, your monthly benefit pack is more than your actual wage. That was all fine and dandy but frankly I found that rather soul destroying so we moved on and have never looked back.

cheekyfarkinmonkey

dont ever try to open a company in france, when you can do it ten times cheaper/easier/quicker in the uk!!
you WILL PAY at least twice as much tax!!!!
they stopped frenchies starting up companys in the uk( well tried to)
because it became common knowledge that its easy to start up a uk company...so they passed a law saying you can only trade as a foreign company here for 6 months( no hassle, start up company"b" for the other 6)
you WILL BE SHAFTED BY THE TAXMAN HERE IN FRANCE:curse:!!!!

cheekyfarkinmonkey

i'm not one to discourage people, but the hard facts cannot be denied, here in france it must be the unemployment european record holder!!
the governement claims "10%", you should double it!!!!!!!
as for the french speaking english-everywhere else in europe they accept that english is a worldwide passport for communication....
not here matey!!!
they think "b****cks" you live here , you speak french!!
you won't get anyone buying you a beer 'cos your grandad was dodging the bullets from a german MG42 machine gun nest,on THEIR beaches , to liberate THEIR country 60 odd years ago...

cheekyfarkinmonkey

the words that strike home are "on a tenth of our income".......

Johnny Foreigner

I am certainly no fan of French life but all things in perspective. I am also no tax expert.

However

If you have an overseas company and are operating in France that is all well and good, however depending on what you are doing you will be deemed to have a permanent establishment in France (much like anywhere else in the OECD and beyond) and be required to register a branch or form a company. Last time I looked, you would have to do this anyway with more than 3 employees.

iwilldoit

Hi Kelly
Well my advise would be to think long and hard about were you want to live here, i live in the charenete, it is very hard, no jobs, anywere, if you are thinking for the future my advise would be, rent for a year, try and save as much money as you can, learn the language incl reading and writing, it is very diferent to come here on holiday and to live here, beautifull though it may be, the grass is not greener here. think very carefully before you jump.