Starting a micro-enterprise in France

is a big job.

In the Netherlands, I had been self-employed under the name Sparko since October 2014. One month after celebrating my 10th anniversary, and one day before our move to France, I dissolved Sparko at the Chamber of Commerce.

I want to continue in France, so I am registering myself via the appropriate platform (inpi.fr). There is quite a lot involved, even a marriage certificate, so I started early. Yes, at the end of October 2024.

I can broadly describe my activity as ‘communication coaching’ or ‘interim management’ or ‘consultancy’. In France, I have to find the right category for my activities and indicate what my main activity is. It was also a technical challenge, because for some reason my home address was not accepted. After I finally submitted my application, I got no response for three weeks. Despite my perfect French and digital skills, I couldn’t figure out what the problem was. So I went back to the helpdesk and it turned out that I had to press a button somewhere. Aha!

Meanwhile, it’s already early December and then I receive a rejection. I must translate words like ‘coaching’ and ‘interim manager’ into French. I also must explain why I’m commercial. You understand that I don’t understand that: if I get paid and pay tax on it, then I’m commercial by default, right?

I resubmitted my application with some changes, without really understanding what they wanted from me. And then: a second rejection! First, I investigated thoroughly where the miscommunication was.

And then: a second rejection! First, I investigated thoroughly where the miscommunication was. But I also asked myself: where am I blocking myself?

Why is it not happening?

Amendments

These were the changes I had to make so that my business could get off the ground:

Firstly, I omitted the name Sparko as a commercial name from the form and only used my own (baptismal) name, Johanna.

Next: In France, a distinction is made between ‘commercial companies’ and ‘free activity’/self-employed’, something we don’t have in the Netherlands: running your own business is commercial by nature, even if you are self-employed in healthcare. Upon further investigation, I fell into the category ‘libérale non-reglementé’, which fits me perfectly: free, independent, without regulations.

And last: I then listed my activities separately and also mentioned the foundation of two diplomas in the context of embracing (the limitations of) the Earth.

On 17 December 2024, I was finally registered with the French Chamber of Commerce.

These seem like simple or even obvious solutions. What is the essential meaning that unblocked the situation?

• I need to stand up for myself

• my freedom and independence IS there;

• I embrace the Earth and the merits of the old world; thanks to the old, the new is now emerging.

Ultimately, these insights and changes allowed the energetic shift and flow to happen.