The ABC of Accounting for Businesses in France

22/06/2026

I often describe my approach as the "Dora the Explorer" of French business guides. Why? Because the ABCs of French business can get you a long way, provided you have a compass that points in the right direction.

You don't need to be an accountant to run your business, but you do need to understand the language your business is speaking.

What’s the one French business term that still makes you shudder? Let’s demystify it in the comments. 👇

18/06/2026

It has been an interesting time of late. My consults are a real mix, but lately I have been talking with tradespeople. Trades who have spent time/still in the EIRL business structure and are finding that while they are successful, tax/cotisations do not work in their favour. But there is a better way. Recently, I helped an electrician migrate from EIRL to EURL, and he is now set on his journey to enjoy his hard-earned profit in a more tax-efficient way. And other trades can take advantage too.

If you are not yet convinced, click on the link below and have a read through of 10 Compelling Reasons to Switch from EI to EURL Today, then book in for a chat with me.

You will not regret it!

Is your EI's growing turnover leading to higher taxes? Discover how to switch from EI to EURL to control your taxes, protect your assets, and build long-term wealth.

17/06/2026

I was recently invited to join French Reno Diaries podcast and to share my thoughts on the topic of buying a property in France and turning it into a business, such as a chambre d'hôtes, gîte complex, wedding venue, or retreat centre?

Hear the full episode here >> https://rss.com/podcasts/french-reno-diaries-uncensored/2918904/

12/06/2026

This case study follows Paul Wilkins, a British electrician in France, through his 14-year journey across three business structures. After outgrowing the Micro-Entrepreneur regime, he moved to an EIRL, which triggered years of financial stress due to unpredictable, lagging URSSAF bills calculated blindly on total business profits. To escape this "quicksand," he transitioned to an EURL, opting for Corporate Tax (IS). This vital shift tied his social charges directly to his actual drawn income rather than overall profits, finally eliminating URSSAF whiplash and delivering complete financial predictability and peace of mind.

👉Link to article in comments box below

3 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗜𝗥𝗟 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲:

• 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: In an EIRL, you are taxed on your total net profit, even if you leave that cash in the bank to buy tools or material. Switching to an EURL with Corporate Tax (IS) means you only pay personal social charges and income tax on the actual money you draw out for yourself, leaving the rest safely in the company at a lower tax rate.

• 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗙 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿: The biggest trap of the EIRL for a busy trade is the lagging URSSAF regularisations, where a great year is met with an overnight bank drain and inflated future estimates months down the line. An EURL gives you complete financial predictability, allowing you to know exactly what your outgoings will be from one year to the next.

• 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: Growing a trade business shouldn't mean working harder just to get hit with unpredictable financial fires. If you are constantly holding back invoices to avoid thresholds or spending your weekends trying to out-calculate the system, you have likely outgrown your structure and are staying in a system that actively works against your growth.

11/06/2026

# No matter how complex the situation, there is always a solution, and this client was no different. They have been provided with the best advice for their situation, along with some interesting reading from my E-book.

The E-book is a great starting point to get to grips with the various business structures available. A conversation with me, and a deep dive into what you want your business to do steer a client to the right structure.

If you would like your copy, visit: https://abcaccounting.fr/services-tarifs/

08/06/2026

"If you get on the wrong train, the longer it takes to get off, the more expensive the return trip will be." 🚆

I see it too often: business owners who spend years in a structure that doesn't fit their income, just because they were afraid to change it.
Being "comfortable" in a suboptimal structure is the most expensive mistake you can make.

Today, ask yourself: Does my current business structure actually support my goals for this year and beyond? Or am I just staying on this train because I’m scared of the change of stations?

Change is easier than you think when you have the right advice.
https://calendly.com/lisac-abcaccountingfrance

01/06/2026

"A business must run on a profit, else it will die."

It sounds blunt, but it’s the most important truth any entrepreneur needs to hear. In France, where taxes and charges can feel like they're designed to swallow your margin, you cannot afford a "hope for the best" financial strategy.

Profit isn't just "what's left over." Profit is the fuel that allows you to reinvest, to hire, to retire, and to actually live the French dream you moved here for.

If your current business structure doesn't prioritise your profit, you’re not building a business, you’re building a hobby with a very expensive government bill.

Since the start of 2026, I have helped numerous small business owners. We have looked at the numbers, at what being in the right structure looks like, and many have made that move. Will you?

26/05/2026

People reach out to me for many different reasons. From questioning whether micro-entrepreneur status is still right for them, to restructuring a growing business, dealing with inherited companies, or simply trying to better understand the French business system.

As an ex-French-trained accountant, I help English-speaking business owners make sense of complex business regimes and ensure their businesses are structured correctly for both now and the future.

One recent client came to me after inheriting a family business and realising significant changes were needed to get everything back on track.

25/05/2026

"French business is complex." We hear it everywhere, and honestly? It’s true. But complexity isn't a dead-end; it’s just a puzzle that hasn’t been explained properly yet.

Most people get stuck because they’re trying to use a "home-country" lens to view a French system. That’s like trying to use a map of London to find your way around Paris. No wonder it feels like a labyrinth!

Use this Monday to stop winging it. Take one specific thing that confuses you: your social charges, your tax status, your TVA and commit to finding the actual French rule for it, not the guess you read on a forum.

Need the map? My e-book is designed to turn that labyrinth into a straight line.
https://abcaccounting.fr/services-tarifs/

18/05/2026

“E-invoicing isn’t just admin. It’s a shift in control.”

What used to be yearly is becoming real-time. The system is changing.

👉 The earlier you adapt, the easier it is.

This week: Ask: “Am I ready for what’s coming?”

And to help with that question here are 3 easy-to-understand articles on my blog https://abcaccounting.fr/blog/