Can I still start a French business?

British landscaper Doug Butler is planning to set up a business in the south-west of France but feels the UK referendum vote has thrown up questions where no one yet has the answer.

We spoke to him about his concerns and to the new president of the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Olivier Campenon, to find some answers.

“I have Vine Landscaping in Hampshire and we bought a house south of Bergerac last year. My partner Sara and I were planning to move over and I would start a new landscaping business.

“But the referendum result makes me wonder about how that leaves us. Do we now have to apply for visas for Sara, myself and our son Gwilym? Can I still start a business as a Briton? Will there be extra problems in doing so?

“I just don’t know. However, it feels like we will have to make the decision to move and then do the move a lot quicker than we had planned. There’s also the question of a school for our son.

“At least I speak better French than I did as I have been working renovating our house since January, but I hope there will not be a lot of bureaucratic complications because of this. We can have a good life in France and I have a business that can work.”

FBCCI president Olivier Campenon said Mr Butler must decide on his business in business terms: “As long as it makes business sense, then he should keep on. I think that’s the important point.

“We at the Franco-British Chamber will support on an ongoing basis the development of the economic relationship between our two countries.

“The referendum vote does not mean that the UK and Europe want to stop trading. It is the opposite. It is in the interests of both parties to continue trading. It might be in a different shape or form, but it will continue.

“So, as I said, if the business makes sense he should continue. If it had value before it still has value.

“I am positive that on a medium and long term goodwill will prevail. For that reason, economic sense will drive the negotiations on the future trading relationship between the UK and Europe.

“We will find the right rules and regulations to continue doing business.

“But we know that in the short term there will be questions and businesses do not like uncertainty.

“These questions my hinder and slow down some of the decisions and we need to be prepared to get through that time. In the long term, I remain quite positive.

“Our role for the past 144 years has been to be the partner of Franco-British businesses. As such, and especially for this short-term period, we have a key role to represent our members through the negotiations in the months to come. That role will be critical, on top of the role we play in giving more practical day-to-day support to members.

“I was elected yesterday to be president of the Franco-British Chamber and this is an exciting time to be starting: trade and economy are a key element of our future.”