Everyday Banking
Find the support you need to help your business get ahead, along with clear pricing so you know where you stand
About business bank accounts
Find an account to suit your business - whether you're just starting out or looking to switch banks
About business cards
Separate your business spending, stay in control of your expenses and reduce your need for cash
About business savings accounts
Earn interest on surplus cash while keeping funds easily available for your business
About credit and lending
Let us help your business to achieve its ambitions with our range of credit and lending facilities
About ways to bank
Access and manage your money on the move – whenever and wherever you need to
About finance and borrowing
Discover a wide range of business finance solutions to help you achieve your business goals
About business cards
Separate your business spending, stay in control of your expenses and reduce your need for cash
About credit and lending
Let us help your business to achieve its ambitions with our range of credit and lending facilities
About exports
Take advantage of our international expertise to help you remove some of the risks associated with global payments
About global receivables
Provide your customers with a choice of ways to pay - online and in your retail outlet - to help you improve your cash flow
About imports
Discover secure ways of receiving your goods and use our trusted payment methods to help you trade with confidence
About insurance
Find the cover you need quickly and easily with a tailored insurance policy from our preferred partners
About receivables finance
Free up your working capital and keep your business running smoothly with our invoice finance solutions
About payments
Let us take the complexity out of payments and handle them efficiently so you can focus on running your business
About business cards
Separate your business spending, stay in control of your expenses and reduce your need for cash
About clearing and foreign currency payments
Take advantage of our expertise and you'll be able to make and receive domestic and global payments with ease
About Global payables
Let our payroll experts simplify your payroll management so you can make payments swiftly and securely
About global receivables
Provide your customers with a choice of ways to pay - online and in your retail outlet - to help you improve your cash flow
About protection
Protect what matters most with business insurance policies and workplace pensions provided by our preferred partners
About exports
Take advantage of our international expertise to help you remove some of the risks associated with global payments
About guarantees
Benefit from our extensive experience of providing guarantees so you can trade with increased security and reduced risk
About imports
Discover secure ways of receiving your goods and use our trusted payment methods to help you trade with confidence
About insurance
Find the cover you need quickly and easily with a tailored insurance policy from our preferred partners
About receivables finance
Free up your working capital and keep your business running smoothly with our invoice finance solutions
About import and export
Find the guidance you need to help you trade securely and cost-effectively overseas
About exports
Take advantage of our international expertise to help you remove some of the risks associated with global payments
About guarantees
Benefit from our extensive experience of providing guarantees so you can trade with increased security and reduced risk
About imports
Discover secure ways of receiving your goods and use our trusted payment methods to help you trade with confidence
About ways to bank
Access and manage your trade requirements – whenever and wherever you need to
This is one of a series of Country Guides designed for businesses wishing to expand into another country. This Country Guide was produced in January 2016. The materials contained in this document provide a snapshot at that time and were based on the law enforceable and information available at that time.
France is the world's 19th most attractive country for foreign direct investment (FDI) according to the World Investment Report 2015 published by the UNCTAD. While this represents a drop from 11th place in 2014, FDI inflow to France doubled between 2014 and 2015, from USD15 billion to USD44 billion.
France ranked 27th in the World Bank's 2016 Doing Business rankings, retaining the same position as the year prior. The country was ranked first in the world for ease of Trading Across Borders. Furthermore, notable improvements came from France's efforts to make paying taxes less costly for companies by introducing a credit against corporate income tax and reducing labour tax rates paid by employers.
Key facts about starting a business in France:
While establishing a business and investing in France is generally a transparent process, it is important to understand the nuances of any local regime. The manner in which people conduct business in France may differ from the home countries of investors. Furthermore, variations on these distinctions may exist in different regions of France and the industry in which a company operates.
French is the lingua franca of business, with over 88 per cent of the population speaking it as their first language. Dress codes in the workplace are typically understated and stylish; the French place high importance on appearance. However, business dress standards will vary according to industry.
A handshake is the typical business greeting and will be used at the beginning and end of a meeting. However, friends or close acquaintances may greet each other by lightly kissing on the cheeks. Gift giving is not common as part of French business etiquette.
Those looking to establish a business in France will often look to countries across Europe as alternative options. While membership of the EU ensures parity in many aspects of the legal, Tax and Audit regimes, France can be differentiated on the following factors:
Despite France's economy growing at its fastest pace in four years, with an increase of 1.1 per cent in 2015, the unemployment level reached a new record of 3.59 million in December 2015. Francois Hollande, the French president, has declared that the country is in 'a state of economic emergency' under the record unemployment levels. Many have attributed France's problems to its strict and rigid labour laws and state that problems will continue until radical reforms are enacted.
This guide has been developed to provide businesses with an overview of France, its legal regime, start-up and market entry considerations, tax and customs requirements and a general summary of the factors that may affect the decision to do business in France. However, the information contained in this document is generic in nature and you should not act or rely on it without obtaining specific professional advice.
Please note that the Global Business Guides may only be available in English.
1 | FDI Statistics |
2 | Doing Business Rankings |
3 | Work Permit – Used Practical Law which is a legal service Grant Thornton subscribes to |
4 | IP Index |
5 | France Inhabitants |
6 | Second largest host to multinational headquarters |
7 | Reduction in labour costs |
8 | France unemployment levels |
Download Global Business Guide - France (4MB, PDF)
Disclaimer
This document is issued by HSBC Bank plc. (the Bank). This guide is a joint project with Grant Thornton. It is not intended as an offer or solicitation for business to anyone in any jurisdiction. It is not intended for distribution to anyone located in or resident in jurisdictions which restrict the distribution of this document. It shall not be copied, reproduced, transmitted or further distributed by any recipient. The information contained in this document is of a general nature only. It is not meant to be comprehensive and does not constitute financial, legal, tax or other professional advice. You should not act upon the information contained in this document without obtaining specific professional advice. Whilst every care has been taken in preparing this document, the Bank and Grant Thornton makes no guarantee, representation or warranty (express or implied) as to its accuracy or completeness, and under no circumstances will the Bank or Grant Thornton be liable for any loss caused by reliance on any opinion or statement made in this document. Except as specifically indicated, the expressions of opinion are those of the Bank and are subject to change without notice. The materials contained in this document were assembled in January 2016 and were based on the law enforceable and information available at that time.
Grant Thornton refers to the brand under which the Grant Thornton member firms provide assurance, tax and advisory services to their clients and/or refers to one or more member firms, as the context requires. Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL) and its member firms are not a worldwide partnership. GTIL and each member firm is a separate legal entity. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL does not provide services to clients. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one another’s acts or omissions. This publication has been prepared only as a guide. No responsibility can be accepted by GTIL for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of any material in this publication.
HSBC retains all responsibility for the translation of the content of this guide. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between the English and translated versions of this Guide, the English version shall apply and prevail.
Please be aware that the external site policies will differ from our website terms and conditions and privacy policy. The next site will open in a new browser window or tab.
Please be aware that the external site policies will differ from our website terms and conditions and privacy policy. The next site will open in a new browser window or tab.