Portage, SASU or micro-business simulator for consultants
Compare umbrella employment, SASU and micro-business based on your day rate, expenses, need for security and commercial ambitions before locking yourself into the wrong setup.
Compare true take-home pay after fees, social charges, tax and VAT.
See when the micro-business regime stays efficient and when it starts limiting profitability.
Choose a setup that works with unemployment support, larger clients and long-term growth.
Quick answer
Umbrella employment (portage), SASU or micro-business: which status should a consultant choose in France?
The micro-business regime (micro-entreprise) suits a start with revenue under €83,600 a year and few expenses (social charges of 25.6% of revenue in 2026). Umbrella employment (portage salarial) suits you if you want to stay an employee and keep unemployment insurance, at the cost of management fees of roughly 5 to 10% of revenue. A SASU becomes relevant once revenue exceeds the micro ceiling or you want to balance salary and dividends (corporate tax 15% then 25%, flat tax 31.4%). Example: at €600 × 200 days, i.e. €120,000, the micro regime is no longer sustainable.
- Micro-business ceiling 2026 (services)
- €83,600 of revenue
- Micro-business social charges 2026
- 25.6% of revenue
- Flat tax on dividends 2026
- 31.4%
Reviewed by Samuel Hayot, chartered accountant (Ordre des experts-comptables), last updated
Three very different frameworks for the same consulting assignment
In umbrella employment (portage salarial), you find your own assignments and negotiate your day rate, but the umbrella company invoices the client. It deducts management fees, pays employer and employee social charges and pays you a salary. You are an employee: you contribute to unemployment insurance and the general social security scheme. Portage is reserved for work requiring expertise or qualifications, carried out autonomously, and the sector collective agreement sets a minimum pay expressed as a percentage of the social security ceiling.
As a micro-business (micro-entreprise), you invoice clients yourself and pay social charges proportional to the revenue collected: 25.6% in 2026 for a non-regulated liberal activity under the self-employed scheme (23.2% for professions affiliated to the CIPAV pension fund). Income tax applies to revenue after a flat 34% allowance; actual expenses are not deductible. The regime is capped at €83,600 of annual revenue for services.
With a SASU (single-shareholder simplified company), you set up a company subject to corporate income tax (impôt sur les sociétés). Profit is split between a president’s salary (treated like an employee: high contributions but social cover and pension rights) and dividends, which bear corporate tax (15% up to €42,500 of profit for eligible SMEs, 25% above) then the 31.4% flat tax in 2026, with no social charges. A SASU president does not contribute to unemployment insurance.
Formulas used by the simulator
- Annual revenue
- Revenue = day rate × billable days per month × 12
- Micro-business
- Net = revenue − 25.8% × revenue (25.6% contributions + 0.2% vocational training levy) − income tax on (revenue × 66%) − actual expenses
- Umbrella employment
- Salary budget = revenue − 8% management fee − reimbursed expenses (capped at 10% of revenue); net salary ≈ 49% of the budget; net = salary − income tax + reimbursed expenses − actual expenses
- SASU: profit to allocate
- Profit = revenue − expenses − €2,500 of running costs
- SASU: salary
- Net salary = salary share of profit ÷ 1.82 (35% of profit if you keep unemployment benefits, 60% otherwise)
- SASU: dividends
- Net dividends = (remaining profit − corporate tax 15%/25%) × (1 − 31.4%)
- Income tax on salaries
- Tax scale on (net salary × 1.03 non-deductible CSG × 90% after the 10% allowance), single person
These parameters are modelling assumptions: actual umbrella fees, SASU running costs and the total cost to net salary ratio vary with contracts and pay levels. The three nets are compared on the same basis: after income tax (single person, no other income) and after all business expenses. Above the €83,600 ceiling, the micro-business is shown for information but excluded from the recommendation.
Choose your consulting status in 5 steps
The simulator gives an order of magnitude for income. The decision then rests on a few criteria we review with every consultant before setting up.
- 1
Project realistic revenue over 24 months
Count the days you can actually bill (excluding gaps between assignments, holidays, business development and training): 180 to 200 days a year is already an ambitious assumption. If projected revenue exceeds €83,600 two years in a row, the micro regime is not a lasting option.
- 2
Assess your unemployment rights and how long they last
If you are leaving a permanent job with unemployment benefit rights (ARE), portage keeps you within unemployment insurance. As a SASU president or micro-business, you may, under conditions, keep part of the benefits already earned while you start, but you do not build new rights.
- 3
Put a figure on your actual expenses
Travel, equipment, software, subcontracting, training: under the micro regime they are not deductible beyond the flat 34% allowance. The higher your expenses, the more attractive a SASU (which deducts actual costs) becomes.
- 4
Factor in VAT and client requirements
Above €37,500 of revenue (upper threshold €41,250) you charge VAT whatever your status. It is neutral for business clients but means filing returns. Some large corporate clients also require a company, or work through platforms that do.
- 5
Plan your pay mix over time
In a SASU, the salary versus dividend split drives your pension rights, social cover and taxable income. A zero salary often maximises immediate take-home pay but earns no pension quarters: it is a yearly decision, not a one-off.
Worked example: €600 day rate over 200 billable days
Single consultant, €600 day rate, 200 billable days, i.e. €120,000 of annual revenue, €450 of business expenses a month (€5,400 a year), “keep unemployment benefits” option ticked. The figures follow the simulator’s logic exactly; in the tool, 200 days correspond to about 16 to 17 days a month (17 days give €122,400 of revenue).
| Item | Calculation (simulator logic) | Annual amount |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 600 × 200 | €120,000 |
| Micro: contributions and training levy | 120,000 × 25.8% | €30,960 |
| Micro: income tax | Tax scale on 120,000 × 66% = €79,200 | €16,864 |
| Micro: net after tax and expenses | 120,000 − 30,960 − 16,864 − 5,400 | €66,776 (€83,600 ceiling exceeded) |
| Portage: management fee | 120,000 × 8% | €9,600 |
| Portage: net salary before income tax | (120,000 − 9,600 − 5,400) × 49% | €51,450 |
| Portage: income tax | Tax scale on 51,450 × 1.03 × 90% = €47,694 | €7,412 |
| Portage: net after tax and expenses | 51,450 − 7,412 + 5,400 reimbursed − 5,400 of expenses | €44,038 |
| SASU: profit to allocate | 120,000 − 5,400 − 2,500 | €112,100 |
| SASU: net salary before income tax | 112,100 × 35% ÷ 1.82 | €21,558 |
| SASU: corporate tax on the balance | €72,865: 42,500 × 15% + 30,365 × 25% | €13,966 |
| SASU: income tax on the salary | Tax scale on 21,558 × 1.03 × 90% = €19,984 | €922 |
| SASU: dividends net of flat tax | (72,865 − 13,966) × 68.6% | €40,405 |
| SASU: net after tax and expenses | 21,558 − 922 + 40,405 | €61,041 |
Reading: on the same basis (after tax and expenses), the micro-business would show the highest net, €66,776, but at €120,000 of revenue it exceeds the €83,600 ceiling: after the second consecutive year above it, you switch to the standard regime. The simulator therefore shows it for information only and excludes it from the recommendation. Between the two lasting options, the SASU leaves €61,041 against €44,038 in portage, about €17,000 a year: that is the price of portage security (unemployment cover, no admin). In a SASU, a low salary also limits pension rights and sick pay.
Portage, micro-business, SASU: the 2026 comparison
Key parameters for 2026. Portage fees are a market order of magnitude, not a regulated rate.
| Criterion | Umbrella employment | Micro-business (BNC) | SASU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue ceiling | None | €83,600 a year (services) | None |
| Main cost | Management fee of roughly 5 to 10% of revenue, then employer and employee charges | 25.6% of revenue collected (23.2% under CIPAV), plus a 0.2% training levy | Charges on salary; corporate tax 15% up to €42,500 then 25%; 31.4% flat tax on dividends |
| Business expenses | Reimbursed against receipts under the contract | Not deductible (flat 34% allowance) | Deductible at actual cost |
| Unemployment insurance | Yes, like any employee | No | No for the president |
| VAT | Handled by the umbrella company | Exemption up to €37,500 (upper threshold €41,250) | Exemption possible under the same thresholds, VAT above |
| Admin workload | Almost none | Light (revenue declarations) | Bookkeeping, annual accounts, tax return, annual shareholder decision |
| Typical profile | Transition, testing the market, need for security | Start-up phase, side activity, low expenses | High revenue, significant expenses, growth plans |
Sources: Entreprendre.Service-Public (micro-business rates and thresholds checked as at 1 January 2026; flat tax raised to 31.4% by the 2026 Social Security Financing Act). Portage also limits a single assignment with the same client to 36 months.
Good practice before choosing
- Model two years, not one: the micro regime can be right in year 1 and become a constraint in year 2.
- Compare income on the same basis: all before income tax or all after, taking your household situation into account.
- Ask several umbrella companies for a written simulation on your day rate, and check what the fee covers (insurance, payment advances, recharged costs).
- In a SASU, set a salary that at least earns your pension quarters if you plan to stay independent for several years.
- Prepare the exit from the micro regime as soon as the year’s revenue approaches €83,600: the switch to the standard regime should be planned, not suffered.
- Before setting up, check with France Travail the amount and duration of your ARE rights and the rules for combining them with your new status.
Common mistakes consultants make
Choosing the micro regime without checking the ceiling
At a €600 day rate, the €83,600 ceiling is reached after 140 billable days. A full-time consultant therefore exceeds it in the first full year and must plan the move to the standard regime.
Comparing an after-tax micro figure with a pre-tax salary
Micro-business income is often read after tax (especially with the optional flat income tax payment), portage salary before tax. Without putting them on the same basis, the micro regime looks more profitable than it is.
Forgetting that a SASU president has no unemployment cover
A SASU president is treated like an employee for social security but is not covered by unemployment insurance. If the business stops, only benefits earned previously may possibly be used.
Paying yourself dividends only, without looking at your pension
SASU dividends earn no pension rights and no sick-pay entitlement. A zero-salary strategy maximises short-term take-home pay but is paid for in social protection.
Underestimating the cost of portage
The management fee is only part of the cost: once employer and employee charges are deducted, net salary is roughly half of the revenue billed under the simulator’s assumption.
Which structure really fits a consulting business?
There is no universal answer. A solo consultant on recurring missions with limited expenses does not make the same choice as someone preserving unemployment support or targeting larger B2B clients. The value of the simulator is to bring the decision back to what matters: take-home income, admin load, social protection and long-term scalability.
Umbrella employment
French umbrella employment is useful when you want to start quickly, keep a salary-style framework and outsource administration. Official French guidance explains it as a three-party relationship between the worker, the umbrella company and the client.
- Works well to test a market without incorporating immediately.
- Can reassure some clients and speed up onboarding.
- Usually less attractive when you want tighter control over margin and expenses.
Micro-business
The micro-business regime is popular for simplicity, but it is not neutral financially. Official guidance verified on February 21, 2026 highlights an 83,600-euro services threshold and 2026 social charges of 25.6% of turnover for non-regulated liberal professions.
- Strong option for a lean start with limited operating costs.
- Does not let you deduct real expenses like a company would.
- Its limits appear quickly when revenue or cost structure grows.
SASU
SASU often becomes the right move when you want a stronger company image, more remuneration control and a cleaner base for future growth. It asks for more discipline, but it creates more room to structure the business properly.
- Often stronger for larger B2B clients and premium positioning.
- More flexible for remuneration, investment and subcontracting choices.
- A better base if you may recruit or open capital later.
What you should compare before deciding
The real question is not which structure has “lower charges”. It is what remains once you factor in billing rhythm, VAT, business costs, personal security and the path you want over the next 12 to 24 months.
- True take-home income after charges, tax and structural costs.
- The weight of travel, subscriptions, equipment and subcontracting.
- Whether unemployment support or income stability still matters.
- How well the structure supports commercial growth without friction.
FAQ for consultant structures in France
When is umbrella employment the right fit?
It is often the right fit when you want to start fast, invoice without forming a company immediately and keep a salary-style framework, while accepting less room for optimisation.
Is the micro-business regime enough for B2B consulting?
It can be at the start if simplicity is the priority. Once revenue grows, real expenses matter or client expectations rise, it usually becomes less attractive.
Why do many consultants later move to SASU?
Because SASU usually provides better commercial positioning, more remuneration flexibility and a cleaner base for long-term structuring.
How much does umbrella employment cost a consultant in France?
Management fees usually fall in a range of roughly 5 to 10% of revenue, depending on the services included. Employer and employee social charges come on top: the simulator assumes an 8% fee and a net salary of about 49% of the remaining budget, i.e. €51,450 net before income tax for €120,000 billed.
What is the micro-business revenue ceiling for a consultant in 2026?
€83,600 of annual revenue for services and liberal activities. Exceeding it for a single year is tolerated; after two consecutive years above the ceiling, you move to the standard regime on the following 1 January. At a €600 day rate, the ceiling equals about 140 billable days.
What social charge rate does a micro-business consultant pay in 2026?
25.6% of revenue collected for a non-regulated liberal activity under the self-employed scheme, and 23.2% for professions affiliated to the CIPAV. With the optional flat income tax payment (versement libératoire), the total levy rises to 27.8% and 25.4% respectively. Example: €60,000 of revenue means €15,360 of charges at 25.6%.
Can you receive unemployment benefits with a SASU or a micro-business?
You do not contribute to unemployment insurance as a micro-business or as a SASU president. However, ARE rights earned in a previous salaried job can, under conditions, be kept while you start. Only umbrella employment makes you contribute and build new rights, like any employee.
In a SASU, is it better to take a salary or dividends in 2026?
Dividends bear corporate tax (15% up to €42,500 of profit, 25% above) then the 31.4% flat tax in 2026, but no social charges. Salary costs more in contributions but builds pension rights and sick-pay entitlement. Most presidents combine both, setting a minimum salary for their social rights.
At what day rate is the micro-business regime no longer enough?
There is no single threshold day rate: it depends on days billed. The €83,600 ceiling is reached at a €418 day rate over 200 days, or at €600 over about 140 days. Beyond that, or once your actual expenses exceed the 34% allowance, look at a SASU or umbrella employment.
Does a micro-business consultant have to charge VAT?
Not while under the VAT exemption scheme (franchise en base): up to €37,500 of revenue for services, with an upper threshold of €41,250 in 2026. Above the upper threshold, VAT is due from the day it is exceeded. Invoices then carry 20% VAT, which is neutral for a business client that recovers it.
Is umbrella employment open to every consultant?
No. It is reserved for people with enough expertise, qualifications and autonomy to find their own clients and negotiate their terms. Pay must meet a minimum set by the collective agreement as a percentage of the social security ceiling, and a single assignment with one client is limited to 36 months.
Sources
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