I am seeking work, I am not registered as a self-employed worker, how can I offer my services to companies?

Get in touch with us to discuss the activities you have in mind, contact companies to offer your services, then tell us when you are planning on starting work.

I am already registered as a self-employed worker and fed up with the paperwork and futile costs associated with sole proprietorship, how can Challenge & Co help me ?

Sign up with us, forget the various costs and the time spent doing paperwork and concentrate on your job. We provide your sickness, health, unemployment, retirement and professional insurance.

What kind of contract will I get ?

Whether it is the first time you have done contracting work, or whether you are familiar with the system, you will be given an employment contract no different to that of a “regular company employee”. It may be a fixed-term contract or a permanent contract, but either way, it will be tailored to suit your own job.

Who pays my contributions and social charges ?

Challenge & Co sends your invoices, collects the money, and then pays your wage and the social charges.

Do I have other taxes to pay ?

Employed persons in France must sign their own tax declaration each year for the year's earnings and pay their own income tax (Impôt sur le Revenue). The income tax is based on many parameters : wage, other revenues, dependants, investments, donations... People working through a Portage, like all other employees, are no exception, but the income tax return is generally less detailed than that of a self-employed person.

How much will I get ?

Once all the charges and fees have been paid, you will get 50% net of the amount (excluding VAT) of the invoices paid by your clients.

Will I be insured ?

Besides sickness, health, unemployment and retirement insurance, you will benefit form Challenge & Co professional liability insurance.

I have clients who want to work with me, but I prefer to remain under the legal responsibility of a bigger structure.

No problem. Challenge & Co covers you for all aspects of your activity. If your activity does not fall into any of our activity categories, we will tell you, and recommend a suitable solution.

Why should I work in this way ?

You are the Boss. You can take on a variety of activities simultaneously if you want to test the market or if you have not decided what kind of activity you would be comfortable with. You draw up your own schedule and take time off when it suits you. Naturally, being a contractor means you can also earn a higher hourly rate than a “regular” employee doing the same work in a company office. The worries of paying your own social charges or committing yourself to cotisations and costs before you know how much you will earn, are removed.

Can I work on commission-only projects ?

Yes. All you need to do is settle your various service costs with your clients. For certain tasks, the price of your service would be a fixed amount per hour, per day, or per word (for secretaries and translators). For other tasks, the price can be commission-based. We then transform the commission into an appropriate amount of hours at a given rate, which may change from one task to another, if necessary.

Do I need to draw up a special contract with my clients ?

For some jobs you can work on a purchase order basis. Your client sends you a purchase order mentioning the job description, the price and the delivery date. For other jobs, you send your client an estimate mentioning the job description, the price and the delivery date. For special assignments, Challenge & Co may need to establish a service contract between ourselves and your client. This is mainly the case when you need to go and work on site, or if you take on a long-term mission.
You can discuss these various options with your client to determine the most appropriate solution.

Why Challenge & Co ?

Because we keep everything simple by removing some of the risk and worry that can be associated with self-employment in France, offering you an easier route to work. Challenge & Co has English staff that can help and advise you and understand the concerns of Ex-pats wanting to work in France for the first time. As a Portage Salarial, we are noted for our efforts in ensuring consultants receive our care and attention from their first contact with us, onwards. Unlike some Umbrella companies, Challenge & Co does not insist on a minimum invoice amount. Our aim is to enable you to work in France, not create more obstacles and we understand that even the most successful ventures may start with just one client.     

When do I get paid ?

You get paid once the company/person you have worked for settles your fees to us. We deduct your social charges and the Challenge & Co management fees directly from your wage. If you don’t get a wage, you don’t owe anyone anything. You don’t need to worry about any hidden costs, as Challenge & Co pays all of your social contributions as you earn.

This is the first time I work in France. Will I get social security benefits ?

Insurance - conditions to be met
Your wage over one calendar month has to equal or be superior to 60 times SMIC BRUT.
OR (if the first condition is not met)
           Equal or superior to 120 x SMIC BRUT over the last 3 calendar months.
SMIC BRUT is the minimum gross wage
SMIC BRUT = 8.44 Euros since July 2007.

60 times SMIC BRUT = 506.40 euros

For more information, please refer to refer to www.ameli.fr.

Would I be able to continue claiming unemployment benefit along with my new activity ?

- The ASSEDIC will grant you an allowance as long as you do not work more than 110 hours per month (or 136 hours per month if you started claiming unemployment benefit before 18/01/06).
- And, as long as the revenue you get through your contracting activity does not exceed 70 of the gross wage you received throughout your previous job.
For more information, please refer to www.assedic.fr

What if the company offering my assignments is not based in France ?

As long as you are a European national, you can work in France with a French employment contract through Challenge & Co with companies in Europe.
If you are not yet registered with the French social security organisation, you will need a European Health Insurance Card, a residence permit, work permit, proof of residence in France.

If you don’t have these, please refer to www.europa.eu