If you are looking at starting a business in France, you are not going to want to miss this! Gillian Hay is an ultra-experienced business consultant based out of Bergerac. Bringing 25 years of knowledge from UK powerhouses like PWC and Lloyds to the southwest of France has its perks. We discuss the journey she embarked on with her partner, the challenges they were faced with and the key principles they used to make their jump a success. Gillian also highlights the business fundamentals she helps her clients practice as they begin to launch businesses up and down the country.
Where will you get an income from if you moved to France?
This is a huge blocker for so many people. Many people would pursue a life abroad if they had more clarity on this very question.
Should you take it seriously? Absolutely. You would be surprised by the amount of people who don’t yet still make it work.
You don’t have to take that chance though.
We spoke to top tier business consultant based out of Bergerac who gave these 3 tips as to what people should think about before launching a business in France:
- Do your research.
- Don’t just launch into any business; have a genuine passion for your idea.
- Reach out to and learn from others.
Do your research
Before making the move and starting a business in France, almost everyone will have undertaken significant research into making their French dream a reality. Be that:
- Regions to move to
- Types of properties to consider
- What is going on in the area
- Which estate agents have the best fees
Unfortunately, most get caught up in the excitement of the change and forget that researching before setting up a business is just as important. After all, in many cases, this is how the French dream will be funded.
So, do your research in advance. Think about:
- What are the market factors to consider?
- What does the competition look like and how are they positioning themselves?
- What options can you lean on to finance your project and put it on the best course to succeed in the long run?
- What are the legalities, the formalities, and the regulations?
- At what point can you start paying yourself? How can you ensure you are achieving the revenue levels to pursue the life you are looking to build?
Don’t just launch into any business; have a genuine passion for the business idea
The typical route for expats starting a business in France is to look at one of the following: Running wedding venues, B&Bs, or a gite business. The Escape to the Chateau dream sold this to them (Read our article on the shocking truths the show hides about buying a chateau in France). Each of these options is far from immune to challenges. The journey to building a successful and rewarding business is long and challenging. Gillian urges her clients to pursue a business idea that they actually do enjoy to make these challenges seem less unsurmountable. Many businesses fail simply because their owners didn’t have a genuine passion for the idea in the first place. Don’t make the same mistake.
Learn from others, don’t believe about starting a business in France alone
Moving abroad and starting a business in France is a well-trodden path now. Brits have been moving to the southwest of France for years. This continues despite Brexit. Plenty have already made the jump and have been faced with the various challenges that come along with it.
You have a choice. You can take on these challenges alone or you can reach out to others and learn from every bit of wisdom they have to offer. It takes bravery to admit you need some help and then to ask for it, however, it is surprising how willing people are to lend a helping hand if you do put yourself out there. There is no right of passage to this game.
You do not need to put yourself through the same pain others have gone through before. Learn from their mistakes. Be motivated by their regrets and be prepared to seek out professionals who can put you on the right track from the start. Professionals like Gillian.
Gillian Hay:
https://gillianhayconsulting.com/
EMAIL: gillian@gillianhayconsulting.com
MOBILE: +33 (0) 6 70 45 67 32
Thinking about moving to France?
Whether you’re planning to move or you’re already living in France, listen to real life stories on our Just Jump podcast or read our useful blog posts to make your relocation a success!
