I currently have a VLS-TS active until late June 2026. I’m looking to move myself to Bordeaux area as a retiree, as I have ample retirement income and net worth to satisfy continued residence in France. However, for a variety of reasons (establishing a good social network being primary), I’d like to start a wine tour guide business. I’m not looking to make a lot of money; mostly want the social contacts with clients and wine businesses and enough income to cover costs with a small profit.
Can anyone help me with the following:
What visa category do I need to pursue once this VLS-TS expires?
Which French government entities do I need to contact to avoid running afoul of the law?
Any other pitfalls you can identify for me to look out for?
I know I’ll need to get a Wise account so I can do transactions easily in euros. Healthcare: I’ll get local insurance but likely will continue primary maintenance in the US. My wife will stay in the US, with me spending 3-4 months with her each year in the States. That’s my preliminary plan, at any rate. Comments, suggestions, advice and even ridicule are all welcome.
Suggest you speak to a specialist about this. ANY form of starting a business here is subject to different social charges even if you don’t make any profit and can be overpowering, been there and done that and it was no picnic. Not being a french resident too, you need that specialist help because you may not even be allowed to start a business depending on what visa you are permitted to hold and also the time spent here.
So are you still in the first year of your visa? I agree that you need to get professional advice, but I’ll add that in our first year, my husband asked our attorney about changing to a different visa, and he advised that we should wait until after the first renewal to make any changes.
Yes, this is the first visa I’ve had. I wonder why I should get another visa that limits my work opportunities if I know I want to start a business sooner rather than later.
I see some online resources for business startup in France, but I’m thinking I need in-person consultation. That professional needs to be fluent in English, too. My French is improving (currently low B1), but complex conversations like this will be are beyond my French fluency.
And this (use deepl to translate if need be)gives a flavour of the options.
You will need to prepare a business plans that shows the business can stand on its own feet and earn the threshold amount. Side hustles will not get you the right visa. It is quite a process. Watch this webinar for a taster
Have you thought about volunteering for a local association to do wine sessions? If you don’t need the money and are mainly looking for social contact this could be a lot easier! Mind you, they will have to get over the shock of an American being able to talk about wine.
I think the best thing to do would be to start up as a microentrepreneur.
You can set yourself up as an EURL (Entreprise Unipersonnel - like a mini p.l.c. of one person). This will enable you to bill other companies - you only bill them the VAT if you pass a certain threshold.
Set up a bank account that is only for the company. The bank will ask you fix up a company “assurance” policy at the same time. My bank also set up a parallel account called “Excedent”. Every time you receive a payment, transfer 23.4% of it into your Exedent account.
Through URSSAF, you will have to declare your three-monthly turnover - your “encaissements brut” (exactly the amount of the payments you recieve). Give URSSAF the account details of your Excedent account and they will draw off your three-monthly charges that are due to them (a few weeks after your three-monthly declaraion).
URSAFF communicate with the tax office who will take a montly amount directly out of your company accoun (not the Exedent account).
It’s all very efficient and without surprises.
URSSAF are there to advise you in any way:
