Freelance Accountant in France | SASU, EURL or Umbrella Company

Freelancers and Consultants: Choose the Right Setup in France - Hayot Expertise#

Every freelancer and independent consultant has a unique risk profile and life objectives. Should you incorporate (SASU/EURL) or choose the simplicity of umbrella employment (portage salarial)? At Hayot Expertise, we model the numbers to maximise your final net disposable income.

Read more: SASU vs EURL: which structure to choose?

Micro-business maximises gross income but caps at €83,600 (services) or €203,100 (sales) in annual turnover. Beyond this, incorporating becomes mandatory.

Umbrella employment (portage salarial) provides executive employee status, a payslip (ideal for renting an apartment or obtaining a mortgage), unemployment cover and simplicity of administration. In return, the conversion rate between billed turnover and net salary is the lowest (umbrella company management fees 8–12% + employer charges + employee contributions).

Recommended when:

• Short missions (< 12 months) with no certainty of renewal
• You need a mortgage within 12–24 months
• You want to preserve unemployment rights
• Transition period between two salaried positions

Creating a SASU or EURL enables significantly better income optimisation:

• Deduction of actual business expenses (shared office rent, IT equipment, software, client meals, travel)
• Recovery of VAT on professional purchases
• Dividend payments at a controlled tax rate (31.4% flat tax)
• Ability to reinvest cash surpluses (PER retirement plan, life insurance, property via a holding company)

Recommended when:

• Stable turnover > €60,000/year for at least 2 years
• You want to maintain your ARE unemployment benefit (possible with a SASU without salary)
• You want to reinvest profits (property, retirement)
• You have significant professional expenses (> 15% of turnover)

VAT on service fees#

Any VAT-registered consultant invoices at 20% and remits collected VAT less deductible VAT on purchases. The return is monthly or quarterly. A micro-business under the VAT exemption threshold does not charge VAT (competitive advantage with individuals, disadvantage with businesses).

Deductible business expenses#

In a company structure, business expenses are deductible from taxable profit. Main items:

• Home office: up to 10% of total rent if a dedicated office exists
• Phone and internet: 50–100% depending on professional use
• Meals: solo meal capped at €20.20/meal in 2026; client meals uncapped if justified
• Travel: HMRC mileage rates or actual costs with receipts

Unemployment benefit (ARE) and company creation#

A job seeker receiving ARE can create a SASU without paying themselves a salary and continue receiving 100% of their ARE. Once they start drawing a salary, ARE is reduced pro rata. This strategy allows starting an activity without financial risk.

We never push you towards a particular structure. At our first free advisory meeting:

1. Personalised simulation: we calculate your net disposable income to the nearest euro comparing micro-business, EURL, SASU and umbrella employment for a given turnover.
2. Legal form selection and articles drafting by our legal team if you opt for company formation.
3. Year-round expense and remuneration optimisation via our modern accounting tools.
4. Annual review: we recalculate the optimal strategy at the end of each financial year based on actual turnover.

• Forgetting to set aside VAT: collected VAT belongs to the state — do not spend it
• Not saving for retirement: a SASU director without a salary validates no pension quarters. A PER retirement plan is essential.
• Underestimating TNS charges in an EURL: the self-employed manager pays ~45% in contributions on income, even without drawing a salary (SSI minimum contributions)
• Confusing accounting profit and available cash: corporate tax due and VAT to remit reduce your actual cash position