Guides to bookkeeping, payroll and tax filings
Running a small business or working as a sole trader in France means keeping on top of a steady stream of obligations: recording income and expenses, declaring turnover, filing VAT returns, paying social contributions and, if you have staff, managing payroll. This hub brings those topics together in plain, neutral language so you can find what you need without wading through legal jargon. Each guide focuses on one practical question — what has to be done, by when, and what records you should keep — with the aim of helping you stay compliant and avoid last-minute stress. Whether you have just registered a micro-entreprise, are switching to a société, or have been trading for years and want a refresher, these pages are written for owners who handle day-to-day admin themselves. They explain the vocabulary you will meet on official portals such as the URSSAF and impots.gouv.fr, point out common mistakes, and show how everyday bookkeeping habits make tax season far simpler. Nothing here replaces tailored advice for your specific situation, but it should give you a solid, up-to-date starting point. When you would like someone to review your figures or set up a workflow that fits your business, Mivectex offers accounting and tax support for small companies and sole traders.
Why business accounting in France deserves a clear map
France has one of the more structured systems for small business obligations, and the rules differ noticeably depending on how you trade. A micro-entrepreneur declares turnover and pays a flat percentage in social charges, keeps a simple register of receipts, and often falls outside VAT until certain thresholds are crossed. A company such as an EURL or SASU faces double-entry bookkeeping, annual accounts, corporate tax choices and stricter deadlines. Between those extremes sit thousands of owners who are unsure which rules apply to them, when a threshold changes their status, or how a new employee affects their monthly paperwork. This category exists to untangle those distinctions. The guides group naturally into three themes: bookkeeping (how to record what comes in and goes out and keep it audit-ready), payroll (what changes the moment you hire and how contributions and payslips work), and tax filings (income, VAT and social declarations with their calendars). Reading across them helps you see how one obligation feeds another — clean records make VAT returns straightforward, and accurate payroll data flows into your annual accounts. The tone throughout is factual and practical, so you can act on it rather than simply admire the theory.
Bookkeeping basics for small businesses in France
Learn the fundamentals of small business bookkeeping in France: what to record, how to organise accounts and how to stay ready for filings.
Sole trader tax obligations in France
Understand the key tax obligations for sole traders in France, including what you owe, when to file and how to avoid missed deadlines.
Payroll basics for small employers in France
A plain-language introduction to payroll for small companies in France: pay slips, contributions and staying compliant with filing rules.
VAT filing deadlines for small businesses in France
Keep track of VAT filing deadlines in France, understand when returns are due and learn how to prepare your figures on time.
A recordkeeping checklist for small businesses
Use this practical recordkeeping checklist to keep invoices, receipts and accounts organised and ready for your filings.
Choosing a business structure in France
Compare common business structures for sole traders and small companies in France and understand the accounting and tax implications of each.