Entrepreneurs not entitled to the dole

The simplest way to start a business in France is as a micro-entrepreneur (formerly called auto-entrepreneur).

While you will pay social charges via a system called the micro-social simplifié, the rates are low and offer only modest healthcare, family and retirement benefits.

It is not clear if you are in employment at the moment but, if not and you have not been for some time, you will likely not be entitled to unemployment benefit or chomâge if your business fails.

Generally, unemployment benefit – Allocation d’assurance chômage and its main element Allocation d’aide au Retour à l’Emploi – is based on your previous pay and time worked and the social charges paid.

Many of those who claim it do so after losing jobs involuntarily – and may go on to start as auto-entrepreneur and, to some extent, combine chomâge with AE earnings, if any.

There is no right to unemployment aid for entrepreneurs whose ideas do not work out and you would need to take out a special insurance policy offered by several companies.

In this year’s presidential cam­paign Emmanuel Macron has said he would set up universal chom­âge cover for entrepreneurs and people who quit their jobs.