A practical guide to working and building a business in France as an American. This section covers the legal framework for remote work in France, the distinction between working for a non-French employer versus working for French clients, and the visa implications of each. We explain the main business structures available to foreigners in France: auto-entrepreneur, SASU, SAS, and portage salarial, with their respective tax and social contribution implications. We also cover French employment law basics for Americans joining French companies, how to find work as an English speaker in France, networking in French professional environments, and the practical steps to registering a business, opening a professional bank account, and billing French clients legally.
If you read one guide on this topic, make it How to Get a Work Visa in France as an American: Rules, Costs and Steps (2026).
A French employer must first obtain your work authorization, then you apply for the visa in the US. The EU Blue Card skips that step from 59,373 euros.
Maxime Roseau19 min read
What French law guarantees an employee: CDI or CDD, 35 hours and overtime, five weeks of leave, sick pay, and how a job ends and what it pays.
Maxime Roseau14 min read
The minimum wage in France, the SMIC, is 12.31 euros gross an hour since June 1, 2026: 1,867.02 euros a month, 1,477.93 net. Who it covers, how it rises.
Maxime Roseau13 min read
A job in France for an American starts with an employer willing to request a work permit. Where offers are posted, the SMIC, contracts and leave.
Maxime Roseau12 min read
Which route lets an American start a business in France: the entrepreneur card, the talent project-holder card, or a company without moving. Conditions and steps.
Maxime Roseau15 min read
To teach English in France an American needs a status that allows work. TAPIF takes ages 20 to 35 for 7 months at 1,010.67 euros gross a month.
Maxime Roseau17 min read
Can you legally work remotely from France on a visitor visa? What the rules actually say, where the grey zone is, and what Americans need to know.
Maxime Roseau18 min read
Registration is fast. What follows isn't: URSSAF takes a cut of every euro of turnover, and a zero-activity quarter still requires a €0 declaration.
Maxime Roseau19 min read
When micro-entrepreneur status isn't enough, Americans in France may need a SARL or SAS. Here's when, how to register, and the US tax implications.
Aurelio Maurici19 min read
