Everyone dreams of being able to work for themselves at some point, especially if such work can be done remotely, say from a Parisian apartment overlooking the Arc de Triomphe or the shores of Saint Tropez.
In order to make this dream a reality, you must be prepared to work hard, seek help from experts like French Business Advice who have over 35 years worth of experience helping to build thriving businesses in France, and understand which small businesses have a proven record of success.
So, what are some of the best small businesses that continually do well in France?
- Tour Guide Company: Over 80 million people visit France each year and many of them will want to visit the great French tourist attractions, like Sacre-Coeur, Notre-Dame, and the Eiffel Tower. Those interested in learning more about the history and culture of the place, as opposed to just getting a good picture for Instagram, will be crying out for tour guides.
- Taxi Business: In the big French cities, like Paris, you can make a substantial income by operating a taxi business as many tourists (and locals) will need help getting from A to B without resorting to public transport. All you need to succeed is a clean driving license, a car, and a strong work ethic.
- Restaurant/Bar: No matter the economic climate, people need to eat; so restaurants and bars are often safe investments for start-ups, whether you serve traditional French dishes or international cuisine. This is especially true in popular tourist areas, where passing trade will be your bread and butter (pun intended).
- Detective Agency: If you’ve ever dreamed of following in the footsteps of Nancy Drew or Sherlock Holmes, then consider setting up a private eye business in France. Granted, you’re more likely to be tracking down cheating spouses or spying on rival companies than finding out who stole the pirate’s treasure but you’ll still be a sleuth.
- Translation Services: In today’s ever-connected world, there is a growing need for translators from private businesses, government bodies, and even individuals, which means that multilingual people can name their own rates. If you know other multilinguals, consider teaming up with them to offer a wider range of languages.
- Real Estate Agency: There are many foreigners looking to set up a business in France (like you, right now) and they all need somewhere to live in and work from, creating a need for estate agents who can navigate the French legal system on their behalf.
- Sport or Hobby Instructor: Parents are always looking to enrich their children’s lives and get them away from their smartphones. As such, there is a big demand for people who can teach extracurricular activities, like ballet, football, and pottery. Whichever skill you possess, there will be someone who will pay for you to teach them.
- Cyber Security Firm: If you’ve been watching the news recently, you’ll know that incidents of cybercrime have gone up considerably in the past few years, with many businesses having to pay ransoms to hackers in order to regain access to their confidential accounts.
As a result, other companies are attempting to get ahead of the criminals and are hiring IT experts to impose security protocols and secure them against such attacks.
- Content Creation: There are thousands of companies from around the world who will pay good money to have content created for them. Whether your speciality is article writing to drive traffic to their site or photography to sell their goods on eBay, content creation can mean big money.
- DJ Services: Everyone likes a good party, but what’s a party without music? Whether playing a club, a student event, or a wedding, you can use their love of obscure bands and popular songs to make a decent income. All you need is good music taste and a penchant for staying up late.
What did you think of this list? Are there any more small businesses that you’d recommend? Have you done any of these jobs? Let us know in the comments below.