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Everything you always wanted to know about France - from France |
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Tony, Do you know how one would go about selling goods in one of the local, outdoor markets? I own a bread/pastry bakery in the u.s. and in my current "moving to France" fantasy I thought maybe I could make and sell pastries in some village markets. We sell in local farmers markets near us and it is usually a matter of paying a small fee and having the proper licenses. The most popular markets, however, do usually have a waiting list. Thanks for providing this great service-I've been hooked on your newsletter for a couple of years now. Alison === Hello Alison I always believe that everything is possible. But, coming from the USA and setting up a pastry business in France which sells on street markets may stretch my belief of this to the limit. Setting up any business in France is fraught with costs taxes and paperwork, this is a recent article in the UK papers ... http://nizas.com/newsletters/may06_2/french_disconnection.html To get started you must register your business, you cannot offer anything for sale, take money are make an invoice without having a correct registration number, this immediately means you will be paying social charges and fixed taxes, even if you never take one cent. Competing with the French Patisserie market would be a courageous choice of business, this is as traditionally French as the baguette, the beret and eating snails and it is a very conservative market. French people travel miles to their favorite boulangerie and patisserie and are loyal for generations to one baker. To rely on the ex-pat or tourist market would be risky as part of the novelty of coming to France is to sample the local produce, American home baking would seem out of place perhaps. Most markets will already have a specialist bakers stall, usually several, and competition is often "discouraged" , you would need to be sure you have all the correct registrations, certifications and licences as competitors will report you if you do not have these. Getting a placement in any market depends on space being available, if it is, then your position will be the least viable as precedence will be given to regular and established vendors. Where in France were you thinking of coming to? Bonne Chance Tony There are over 2,000 features and articles on this site about French life and living in France. You can search from the search box above. Do browse through our website and please use the advertising links, they help pay for the site. I do try to reply to all mail - Contact Me - most is about property or living in France. I publish comments in this newsletter which I believe are of interest and may help find answers for people wanting to come to France. I hope readers will go to the adverts which help support our overheads. |
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