The seventh-largest economy in the world in terms of nominal GDP, a developed nation, France is an ideal country to start your business. It provides you with a lot of business opportunities in various areas. Here in this article, we list the most profitable business ideas in France with little money.
The service industry in France plays a very important role which will help you to develop your business related to services of different kinds.
Being a developed nation France has excellent infrastructural facilities that will help you to start and grow your business.
The purchasing power of people is quite high in France. This is good for a successful business. You can start different types of businesses in France. The leading ideas are discussed.
25 Small Business Ideas in France
1. Translation Services
If you are conversant in 2-3 languages other than French, you can start a business of translation services. Many business enterprises that do overseas business need translators to translate official documents into French. This business has a good demand and you don’t need much capital to start this business as most of it is done digitally.
2. Jewelry and Accessory Store
Jewelry and other accessories are much in demand in France. Hence you can start your jewelry and accessory store business. Select handpicked items for your store as the French have a high aesthetic sense. Handmade jewelry has good demand. The location of your store and efficient online and offline marketing is essential for this business.
3. Open a Boutique
France is famous for its fashion and style statement. Therefore the clothing boutique business can give you a good profit in France. However, to make your boutique successful, don’t follow trends only. Instead, try to build your signature style and try out some fusion clothes which are in vogue now. Make good publicity for your business.
4. Beauty Salon
The beauty salon is another lucrative business idea in the fashion-conscious country of France. It is better if you can start a unisex salon. Strategic location, efficient beauticians, and a good reputation are the key points for the salon business. Along with these, focus on a good décor.
5. Event Management
Corporate, cultural, and social events are very frequent and common in France. Therefore there is a constant demand for good event management companies. If you have good managerial skills you can start your event management company. Don’t limit yourself to any sector. Rather try to build up a client base from all sectors which will build your credibility as well as goodwill.
6. DJ Service
Nightclubs and parties are integral parts of the French lifestyle. Hence becoming a DJ or starting a DJ service is a good business option for you. There is a steady demand for DJs everywhere which will help you to grow your business fast. However, you need to have a good musical sense and understand the mood and pulse of the party.
7. Start a Restaurant Business
The restaurant is a good business idea, especially in a country like France where so many tourists visit all year round. Both local, as well as international cuisine, are popular here. You need a good location, exquisite interior, and first-grade quality food. Along with that good publicity and advertisements are also necessary.
8. Food Truck
The food truck is a profitable business as it serves freshly made food at a comparatively cheaper price. As an owner of a food truck business, you can serve many people throughout the day by driving your truck to different places. You don’t need a very high investment for this business.
9. Catering Service
Catering service is much in demand both for parties and events as well as offices or residential areas. A busy lifestyle has created a demand for catering services. That is why this is a good business idea for you. Good food, smart packaging, and prompt and timely service are very essential for the catering services business. You will also need good marketing strategies.
10. Travel and Tourism
France is a tourist paradise. Hence any business related to tourism is a lucrative business. You can start your business as a travel agency, local tour operator, or tour guide. Get the necessary license and permit to start your tourism business. You will also need a website and a well-planned marketing network to make a good profit from the tourism business.
11. Taxi Service
Taxi service has good demand, especially in the big cities of France. That is why it can be a good business idea for you. Start your taxi business with one or two taxis. Then after earning profit you can increase the number of taxis and create a full-fledged network of taxi services. Don’t forget to get the necessary license and permit needed for the taxi business.
12. Freelancing
Freelancing is a good business idea in France. You can do freelance business in different areas. If you have a flair for writing you can opt for freelance journalism or content, blog, and article writing. Apart from that, other areas like graphic design, web design, etc can also be done on a freelance basis.
13. Photography
France is a beautiful country with a lot of monuments and heritage sites that are the prime attraction of tourists. Hence photography is a lucrative business idea for you. Photographs of tourists, tourist spots, and candid photographs all have good demand. Apart from that, you can also focus on news as well as corporate and social events photography.
14. Real Estate Agency
Real Estate is a booming business in France. Hence you can start a business as a real estate agency. An online agency is the best option for you, wherein you will connect the buyers and sellers online. However, you need direct contact and networking with the sellers as well as real estate developers and builders for a good business.
15. Interior Design
Interior designing is a very sought-after service in France. If you are a trained interior designer or know the art of interior designing you can start an interior designing business. Your prime capitals are your aesthetic sense and a good sense of space planning. Along with that, you need good contacts and well-planned marketing and publicity.
16. Energy Consultant
Energy consultants are much in demand in France. Hence energy consultancy is a good business idea for you. However, before starting the business you need to get yourself trained in energy-saving techniques. As an energy consultant, you have to guide the users with different methods and techniques so that they can save energy thereby saving their expenses on energy bills. Electrical, solar, and wind energy are included in this area.
17. Babysitting
Busy parents need dependable and caring babysitters to look after their kids when they go out to work. That is why babysitting is a profitable business idea for you. You have to be extremely caring as well as responsible for looking after the kids in the absence of their parents. Another business option is opening a daycare center for the children. For this business, you need a good place, caregivers, and props like toys, etc. for the kids. A good personal network, as well as marketing, is very important for this business.
18. Pet Sitting
There are lots of households in France that have pets. Hence pet sitting is a profitable business in the country. Keep in mind that you have to be a pet lover to be successful in this business. Apart from that, you need a good contact base and online as well as offline marketing strategies.
19. Teaching Fine Arts
France is famous for its rich cultural heritage. Therefore teaching fine arts is a very lucrative business idea in France. If you have expertise in fine arts you can start teaching students from your home, at the student’s place, at a rented place, or online. You can teach painting, sculpture, dance, music, etc according to your expertise. Good credentials along with marketing and publicity will make your business successful.
20. Art Gallery
Art exhibitions are very common in France and people from around the globe display their art and also visit these exhibitions. Therefore opening an art gallery is a profitable business in France. You need good contact with artists and art connoisseurs and active networking to be successful in this business.
21. Recruitment Agency
Corporations and other business enterprises often need candidates for different posts in their organizations. On the other hand, there are millions of job seekers who want a suitable job or a better chance. That is why a recruitment agency can be a profitable business idea for you.
In this business, you will coordinate with the employers regarding their vacancies and arrange for candidates among the job seekers enrolled in your agency. Successful placement will yield you a good income from both sides of the employer only.
22. Online Store
In this digital age, online stores are reigning in the market. You can start an online store of essential items like groceries, electronic goods, and items like dresses, cosmetics, or accessories.
An app for your online store is very important for hassle-free buying and selling. Try to have a good stock of items and offer discounts on special occasions. Prompt delivery is very important for your online store business. Along with that good online and offline marketing are also necessary.
If you don’t have a product of your own, dropshipping is another easy way of starting a money-making online store business.
23. Social Media Marketing
Social media plays a very important and influential role in France. Hence social media marketing can be a profitable business idea for you. Different companies depend on social media marketing for their products or services.
As a social media marketing consultant you have to create a brand for your client in social media through good and catchy content, regular posts, polls, live streaming, etc. You need to have good knowledge as well as following in social media to be successful in this business. Apart from that your website and online publicity are also important.
24. IT Services
IT services play an important role in today’s business. Hence providing IT services can be a very lucrative business idea for you. Under this service, you have to take care of the hardware, software installation, updating protection against viruses and other security threats and above all troubleshooting at the earliest. There is a good demand for IT service providers and with the right contacts as well as marketing you can do a good business.
25. Home Cleaning
Home cleaning has a good market in France as people are busy and go out for work. You can take the opportunity of this demand and start a home cleaning business. You need certain gadgets like vacuum cleaners and safe and good quality cleaners for this business. Apart from that, your eye for detail is very important for the cleaning business. Adding the services of disinfection and sanitization along with home cleaning will fetch you more profit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Government of France help new businesses?
The Government of France offers many incentives to new entrepreneurs. These include tax benefits and tax credit schemes.
What are the best cities to start a business in France?
Find below the top business-friendly cities in France:
- Paris
- Bordeaux
- Nice
- Lyon
- Marseille
How long will it take to open my business in France?
If your papers are perfectly okay and you follow the rules, you can open your business in France within a month.
France welcomes new initiatives and innovative ideas. It is a prosperous country with many advantages and therefore you can successfully start and grow your business here.
Editorial Team at 99BusinessIdeas is a team of experts led by Rupak Chakrabarty with over 25 years of experience in starting and running small businesses. Started in 2010, 99BusinessIdeas is now one of the largest free small business resources in the industry.
