Freelance in France

The freelance market in France

France has a mature freelance market, especially in Paris and Lyon, with strong demand for developers, designers, marketing specialists and consultants. Large French freelance platforms and portage salarial companies make contracting common even in big corporations.

Taxes and legal status

The micro-entrepreneur status is registered online through the URSSAF portal. Social contributions are a fixed percentage of turnover (about a quarter for most services), and you can opt for the versement libératoire to pay income tax as a small extra percentage at the same time. The regime applies up to an annual turnover cap for services; VAT applies above a lower threshold. Above the cap, freelancers move to an EI or a company (EURL, SASU). Portage salarial lets you work as a freelancer while being an employee of a portage company.

This is general information as of 2026, not tax or legal advice. Rates and thresholds change, so check them with the tax authority or a local accountant before you register.

Getting paid

Clients in the EU usually pay by SEPA transfer in EUR, which is fast and cheap inside the European payment area. PayPal, Wise and Revolut are widely used for smaller amounts and clients outside the EU. French clients often pay within 30 days of the invoice.

• SEPA transfers in EUR
• PayPal
• Wise and Revolut
• Stripe invoices

Skills in demand

• software development
• UX and product design
• digital marketing
• copywriting and translation in French
• data analysis
• video production

Tips for freelancers in France

• Start as a micro-entrepreneur: it is the fastest way to invoice legally.
• Consider portage salarial if you want unemployment rights.
• French-language marketing work is a large niche for native speakers.

Hiring a freelancer from France

Local time in France is UTC+1 (UTC+2 in summer), so agree in advance on the hours when you are both available for calls. Describe the task, the deadline and the budget in your first message, ask for examples of similar work, and fix what counts as done before work starts. If the work is for a local audience, a freelancer who knows the language and the market will save you rewrites.

Kits for freelancers in France

Kits is an international freelance marketplace that is not tied to one country. Freelancers in France can publish services with a portfolio and a clear price, or respond to clients' jobs, and talk to clients in the built-in chat. The first listing on each account is free, and the site works in nine languages, from English and Spanish to Russian, Turkish and Georgian.