Profession Libérale Visa Business Plan: 5 Things You Must Include

Remember these five points when preparing your French profession libérale visa business plan, writes Kate Kurdziej

If you’re applying for the profession libérale visa for France, one of the most important parts of your application will be your business plan. This document shows the French government that you’re ready to set up a viable, income-generating business that is likely to succeed, and that you understand fully what that process actually involves.

But many applicants overthink it, write the wrong kind of plan, or miss out key details. I’ve been through the process myself and, as a business consultant, have since helped hundreds of applicants successfully prepare their plans and I now offer a French visa business plan template. I’ve seen where people get stuck time and time again, and how to easily fix it.

Here are five practical tips to help you get it right and maximise your chances of visa success and a new life in France – without any hitches.

1. THIS ISN’T DRAGON’S DEN – YOU’RE WRITING FOR A VISA OFFICER

One of the biggest misconceptions about the French entrepreneur/profession libérale visa is that you need to pitch a groundbreaking business idea. You don’t. You’re not writing for investors, clients or industry peers. You’re writing for a government official who needs to be reassured that your business will be financially self-sufficient and low risk. Your plan should be clear, practical and rooted in reality. The reviewer is asking you:
What exactly will you do?
How will you find clients?
How much money will you make?
How will you build that income over time?

Avoid lofty language and focus on realistic, steady growth that reflects how most small businesses actually operate. It’s essential to include a multi-year financial forecast. I recommend projecting up to five years and making sure your figures align with the Salaire Minimum Interprofessionnel de Croissance (SMIC), which is the French minimum wage.

2. CLARITY OVER CREATIVITY – KEEP IT SKIMMABLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD

Your business plan should be easy to follow, even for someone unfamiliar with your industry or even reading in a second language. Think of your reviewer as someone who has 30 applications to read that day. If your plan is long-winded, technical or filled with vague buzzwords, you risk frustrating them or losing their attention before they get to the important bits. Instead, ensure you use:
Clear headings
Bullet points where helpful
Plain English and short sentences

If you’re a web designer, explain your services in practical terms. If you’re a coach or consultant, be specific about what you offer and who pays for it. The more specific and grounded you are, the easier it is for someone to nod along and think, “Yes, this makes sense.”

TOP TIP: Before submitting, have your plan reviewed by someone who is unfamiliar with your business idea. A second set of eyes can spot the gaps you might have missed.

3. GROUND NUMBERS IN REAL LIFE

One of the biggest reasons applications get delayed or rejected is that the numbers don’t stack up – or worse, they’re missing altogether. Your plan doesn’t need complex spreadsheets, but it does need to show how you’ll earn a living in France. That means going beyond “I’ll work with clients online and make about €30,000”, and getting specific. Think in terms of:
Who will pay you?
What exactly are they going to be paying for?
How much are they paying?
How often will you get paid?
Where will these clients come from?

This is where realism matters. You don’t have to know everything yet, but you need to show that you’ve thought things through. For example, if you’re planning to offer services online, explain how you’ll market yourself and how many clients you’ll realistically need each month to meet your income goals. If your rates are listed in GBP or USD, convert them to EUR to show that you’ve done the maths correctly.

Market research and analysis is a crucial part of your business plan, especially for new businesses. And if you already have some clients or freelance work before applying then that’s great. Include letters of intent from your clients too, as it shows your business is viable. You can also highlight any pre-booked contracts or past income that’s relevant. You skip the market research section at your own risk.

4. SHOW YOU UNDERSTAND THE FRENCH SYSTEM

Keep in mind that your aim is to run a business in France. Your business plan should reflect the realities of running a business in France, not just a cut-and-paste version of something that would work in the UK, US or anywhere else. That means showing that you understand key French systems and making it clear that your business model actually fits here. This signals that you’re serious about integrating into the system and more likely to succeed long term. For example, mentioning next steps on arrival, for example, that you aim to register with URSSAF.

If you’re planning a physical, location-specific business in France you may need pre-approval from the Interior Ministry with the goal of obtaining an avis favorable to submit with your dossier.

TOP TIP: Be sure to check whether or not your services are regulated in France -such as therapy, finance or legal work – before you get started. In many of these cases, non-EU citizens may not be eligible to obtain a visa to carry out regulated activities.

If you’re moving with a partner or family, also consider the bigger financial picture. The reviewer wants to feel reassured that your business income, or your household income as a whole, can cover day-to-day living in France. That’s especially important if you’re moving to a high-cost area such as Paris or the Riviera. Give some context to your family dynamics where appropriate, so you don’t leave open questions in the visa officer’s mind.

5. YOU’RE SELLING THE BUSINESS – BUT ALSO YOURSELF

It’s easy to focus entirely on your services, packages, or income goals. But remember, the visa is granted to a person, not just a project. Your experience, credibility and motivation all matter.

Make it easy for the reviewer to feel confident in you.
Have you done this type of work before?
Do you have relevant qualifications?
Are you pivoting from a different field with transferable skills?
Why this business, and why now?

Explain your motivation for moving to France and why you’re confident your business can work there. If you speak French or already have a network or local knowledge, include that too. It all adds weight to your application.

NEED A HELPING HAND?

If you’re unsure where to start, or want more reassurance before submitting, I’ve created a suite of low-cost templates to make the process easier and smoother, including the business plan, cover letter, letter of client intent and other useful documents.

Of course, your business plan won’t guarantee your visa outcome, but getting it right will give your whole application a much stronger foundation and help you take one step closer to your new life in France. Bonne chance!

Find out more about Kate’s business plan templates at olivier-consultancy.co.uk/french-entrepreneur-visa

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