France · Artisans du bâtiment

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France Trades Software & Services Directory

Independent reviews of 30 France-relevant vendors for artisans du bâtiment — French-native devis-facture software (Obat, Tolteck, EBP), renovation lead-gen (Habitatpresto, Quotatis), URSSAF payroll (PayFit, Silae) and mandatory décennale insurance (SMABTP, April, Orus) — built around the local realities: the facturation électronique mandate, multi-rate TVA, RGE for subsidised work, and the micro-entrepreneur regime.

30
vendors reviewed
~622k
artisan building firms
20/10/5.5%
multi-rate TVA
€208B
bâtiment sector (2024)

⏰ Compliance guide · Reception for all from 1 Sept 2026 · SME issuance 1 Sept 2027

Facturation électronique (e-invoicing) for artisans

The phased timeline, the PDP (plateforme agréée) model that replaced the scrapped free portal, and which software is a registered platform.

Read the guide →

Deciding between two options?

See French vendors compared side by side — a clear verdict, pros and cons, France-specific notes, and pricing, head to head.

Compare French vendors →

What's different about running a trades business in France

French artisan software selection has structural differences from the US or UK. First, structured e-invoicing is becoming mandatory — from 1 September 2026 every business must be able to receive e-invoices, and from 1 September 2027 SMEs and micro-entreprises must issue them through an approved platform (PDP); the planned free public portal was scrapped, so software choice now carries compliance weight. Second, assurance décennale is mandatory — ten-year structural liability under the Loi Spinetta, required before a worksite opens, with a criminal penalty for working without it — and French clients expect your insurer and policy number on the quote. Third, TVA is multi-rate (20% standard, 10% renovation, 5.5% energy-renovation), so software must apply the right rate per line. Fourth, RGE certification is commercially essential: only RGE-qualified artisans let their clients claim MaPrimeRénov' and other renovation subsidies. And most solo tradespeople run as micro-entrepreneurs, with a VAT franchise and the "TVA non applicable, art. 293 B" invoice mention.

Devis-facture & job-management software

French-native BTP tools for quotes (devis), invoicing (factures) and worksite tracking — Obat and Tolteck for artisans, EBP and Batappli for fuller coverage, Organilog for maintenance rounds — all built around multi-rate TVA (20/10/5.5).

Obat

Tier S · Recommended

Devis-facture et suivi de chantier, pensé pour le bâtiment

A French-built quote-and-invoice (devis-facture) and worksite-tracking tool made specifically for building trades, with transparent pricing including a dedicated micro-entreprise tier — one of the cleanest BTP fits for a solo artisan or small crew.

France-specific note

A strong default for a French artisan who wants devis-facture done properly with the right TVA rates — and the micro-entreprise tier matches how most tradespeople are actually set up.

Pros

  • + French-native, built for the BTP niche
  • + Published pricing incl. a micro-entreprise tier
  • + Devis → facture workflow done right
  • + Multi-rate TVA (20/10/5.5) handled

Cons

  • − Smaller than the big ERP publishers
  • − Site/chantier depth lighter than heavy ERPs
  • − Add-ons for advanced needs
  • − French-market only
Typical French pricing: Published: micro from €32/mo HT; Pro €49, Croissance €79, Booster €129/mo HT.

Tolteck

Tier S · Recommended

Devis & factures simples, conçus avec des artisans (et hors-ligne)

A French devis-and-invoice tool built with artisans, that works offline on site and is backed by Saint-Gobain Distribution Bâtiment France — simple, fast quoting for tradespeople who hate admin.

France-specific note

The pick for an artisan who wants the fastest possible devis with the least friction — and the offline mode genuinely matters on sites with no signal.

Pros

  • + Made with artisans; very simple to use
  • + Works offline on site
  • + Flat, low published price (unlimited users)
  • + Saint-Gobain backing

Cons

  • − Owned by a building-materials distributor
  • − Lighter on full chantier/ERP features
  • − Quoting-first, not full project management
  • − French-market only
Typical French pricing: Published: €25/mo HT (or €19/mo HT billed annually), unlimited users.

EBP Bâtiment

Tier A · Workable

Devis, facture et chantier d’un éditeur français établi

The building edition of EBP, a long-established French business-software publisher — devis, invoicing and worksite management with the reassurance of a large local vendor and accountant familiarity.

France-specific note

A safe established-vendor choice, especially if your accountant already works in EBP — just note its e-invoicing runs through Cegid’s platform rather than its own.

Pros

  • + Established French publisher (Cegid group)
  • + Full devis/facture/chantier coverage
  • + Familiar to many experts-comptables
  • + Published entry pricing

Cons

  • − Heavier/more complex than micro tools
  • − Routes e-invoicing via Cegid’s platform (not its own PDP)
  • − Per-user costs add up
  • − More setup than a simple quoting app
Typical French pricing: Published: Bâtiment ACTIV from €53/mo HT (1 user).

Batappli

Tier A · Workable

Logiciel BTP tout-en-un avec la bibliothèque Batichiffrage

A French all-in-one BTP tool (publisher AGIRIS) with the Batichiffrage price library built in — useful for artisans who want ready-made priced works items rather than building every devis line from scratch.

France-specific note

The Batichiffrage library is the draw — if pricing works items accurately is your pain point, Batappli saves real time on every devis.

Pros

  • + Built-in Batichiffrage price library
  • + French BTP-specific
  • + Tiered pricing for different sizes
  • + Quote → invoice → chantier flow

Cons

  • − Per-user pricing
  • − Interface less modern than newer tools
  • − Library value depends on your trade
  • − French-market only
Typical French pricing: Published: Devis €39, Artisan €79, Entreprise €119 per user/mo HT.

Mediabat

Tier A · Workable

Devis, facturation et chantier pour le BTP

A French quoting/invoicing/worksite tool for building trades with affordable published tiers — a workable mid-market option for small BTP firms.

France-specific note

A budget-friendly French BTP option worth shortlisting against Obat and Mediabat’s peers if price is the deciding factor.

Pros

  • + French BTP-focused
  • + Affordable published pricing
  • + Covers devis, facture and chantier
  • + Aimed at small firms

Cons

  • − Smaller brand
  • − Lighter ecosystem/integrations
  • − Feature depth varies
  • − French-market only
Typical French pricing: Published: PRO €37–47/mo, VIP €67/mo.

Vertuoza

Tier A · Workable

Gestion tout-en-un bâtiment, avec saisie vocale par IA

An all-in-one construction-management tool (quotes, invoicing, worksite) with AI voice input, serving the French market from Belgium — modern and feature-rich, though pricing is quote-only and it’s not French-native.

France-specific note

Capable and modern, but it’s a Belgian product serving France — confirm its French e-invoicing (PDP) readiness and get a written quote before committing.

Pros

  • + Modern all-in-one bâtiment platform
  • + AI voice-input feature
  • + Covers the full quote-to-site workflow
  • + Active product development

Cons

  • − Belgian, not French-native
  • − No public pricing (quote-only)
  • − Newer entrant in France
  • − Confirm French e-invoicing/PDP path
Typical French pricing: Quote-based.

Organilog

Tier A · Workable

Gestion d’interventions et de maintenance sur le terrain

A French field-intervention and maintenance-management tool — strongest for trades doing recurring service/maintenance rounds (plumbing, HVAC, facilities) rather than one-off construction projects.

France-specific note

The pick for service/maintenance-led trades (chauffagistes, plombiers on contracts) rather than project builders — pair with a devis tool if you also quote big jobs.

Pros

  • + French-native field-service tool
  • + Free tier to start; clear per-user pricing
  • + Strong for maintenance/intervention rounds
  • + Mobile-first

Cons

  • − Intervention-focused, lighter on devis-BTP
  • − Per-user costs scale
  • − Less suited to project/chantier billing
  • − General, not BTP-specific
Typical French pricing: Published: free tier; Pro €19, Business €35, Premium €59 per user/mo HT.

Axonaut

Tier A · Workable

Gestion d’entreprise tout-en-un (facturation, CRM, trésorerie)

A French all-in-one small-business tool (invoicing, CRM, treasury) — not BTP-specific, but a solid general option for an artisan business that wants CRM and cash-flow alongside invoicing.

France-specific note

Better if you want CRM and treasury management than if you need BTP-specific quoting — many artisans pair a devis tool with general business software, and this is the latter.

Pros

  • + French-native, broad SMB feature set
  • + CRM + treasury + invoicing in one
  • + Published pricing
  • + Good for the business side beyond devis

Cons

  • − General SMB, not BTP-specific
  • − No building price libraries
  • − Base price includes only 1 user
  • − Less tailored to chantier work
Typical French pricing: Published: €97/mo HT incl. 1 user; +€29.99/user.

Lead generation

French renovation marketplaces connecting homeowners to artisans — Habitatpresto (subscription, no commission), Quotatis (backed by Leroy Merlin), and the energy-renovation/RGE-angled Allotravaux.

Habitatpresto

Tier S · Recommended

Mise en relation particuliers ↔ artisans vérifiés

A leading French renovation lead-gen brand connecting homeowners to vetted artisans on a subscription model — no per-devis charge and no commission on the work, which makes cost predictable.

France-specific note

The cleanest French renovation lead channel to try first — the no-commission subscription means a busy month doesn’t cost you more. Ask for cost-per-signed-job data before committing.

Pros

  • + Strong French-native renovation brand
  • + Subscription model (no per-lead/commission)
  • + Vetted-artisan positioning builds trust
  • + Predictable cost

Cons

  • − Pricing not public (quote)
  • − Lead quality varies by trade/region
  • − Subscription commits you upfront
  • − Competition among listed artisans
Typical French pricing: Subscription (not public).

Quotatis

Tier A · Workable

Mise en relation travaux, adossée au groupe ADEO (Leroy Merlin)

A French homeowner-to-artisan matching platform backed by Groupe ADEO (Leroy Merlin), also handling product-installation dispatch — strong consumer reach through its retail parent.

France-specific note

Worth testing alongside Habitatpresto — the Leroy Merlin connection drives real consumer volume, but measure cost-per-won-job since the model isn’t transparent upfront.

Pros

  • + Backed by ADEO/Leroy Merlin (reach)
  • + Renovation + product-install leads
  • + Established French brand
  • + Large homeowner audience

Cons

  • − Pricing model not public (hybrid)
  • − Lead quality varies
  • − Retail-driven lead mix
  • − Competitive
Typical French pricing: Hybrid pay-per-lead / subscription (not public).

Travaux.com

Tier A · Workable

Place de marché travaux (propriété US — groupe Angi/Instapro)

A large French-origin renovation marketplace now owned by the US-listed Angi (via Instapro), connecting homeowners and artisans on a pay-per-lead model with free registration.

France-specific note

Big reach, but it’s US-owned and pay-per-lead — set a strict budget and track cost-per-job, because shared leads can get expensive fast.

Pros

  • + Large established marketplace
  • + Free registration; pay-per-lead
  • + High homeowner traffic
  • + Broad trade coverage

Cons

  • − US-owned (Angi/Instapro), not French-native
  • − Pay-per-lead cost can mount
  • − Leads often shared/contested
  • − Per-lead price not public
Typical French pricing: Pay-per-lead (not public); free registration.

StarOfService

Tier A · Workable

Place de marché de services locaux (rénovation incluse)

A French (Paris) local-services marketplace where renovation is one vertical among many, on a credit / pay-per-quote model with optional subscription — broad but less BTP-focused than the pure renovation platforms.

France-specific note

Generalist rather than BTP-specialised — fine as a secondary channel, but the renovation-focused platforms usually convert better for building trades.

Pros

  • + French-native marketplace
  • + Credit/pay-per-quote flexibility
  • + Wide service categories
  • + Optional subscription

Cons

  • − Not renovation-specialised
  • − Lead quality varies widely
  • − Pricing mostly secondary-sourced
  • − Many trades compete per request
Typical French pricing: Credit / pay-per-quote + optional subscription (not clearly public).

Allotravaux

Tier A · Workable

Mise en relation travaux & rénovation (angle RGE/énergie)

A French homeowner-to-artisan renovation platform with an energy-renovation/RGE angle, on a pay-per-lead model — relevant if your work skews toward subsidised energy-renovation jobs.

France-specific note

Most useful if you’re RGE-qualified and chasing energy-renovation work — confirm which domain/brand you’re actually signing with, as the naming is ambiguous.

Pros

  • + French renovation lead-gen
  • + Energy-renovation / RGE angle
  • + Pay-per-lead
  • + Fits MaPrimeRénov’-driven demand

Cons

  • − Pricing not public
  • − Brand split (.com vs allo-travaux.fr) is confusing
  • − Lead quality varies
  • − Smaller than Habitatpresto/Quotatis
Typical French pricing: Pay-per-lead (not public).

Payroll (paie)

URSSAF-compliant payroll for small French firms — PayFit direct-to-business, Silae via your expert-comptable, plus EBP and Sage. Check BTP specifics (caisses CIBTP) for building crews.

PayFit

Tier S · Recommended

Paie + RH en ligne (bulletins, DSN, congés) pour TPE/PME

A French cloud payroll and HR platform (payslips, DSN declarations, leave) sold directly to small businesses — the most accessible self-serve option, and the only payroll vendor here with full public pricing.

France-specific note

The easiest payroll to set up yourself. One caveat for builders: confirm it handles BTP-specific items (caisses de congés CIBTP, intempéries) for your situation before switching.

Pros

  • + French-native, direct-to-SMB
  • + Handles bulletins + DSN + congés
  • + Full public self-serve pricing
  • + 30-day free trial

Cons

  • − Per-employee cost + base subscription
  • − Not BTP-specific (no caisses CIBTP/intempéries advertised)
  • − Less suited to very large headcounts
  • − Payroll/HR only
Typical French pricing: Published: Starter from €26/mo HT per employee + base subscription; 30-day trial.

Silae

Tier A · Workable

Moteur de paie dominant, via experts-comptables

The dominant French payroll engine by volume (millions of payslips monthly), with 900+ collective agreements — but sold through accountants (experts-comptables), not direct, so you access it via your firm.

France-specific note

If you already use an expert-comptable, you may effectively be on Silae — its BTP convention coverage is excellent. It’s the accountant-led route rather than a DIY tool.

Pros

  • + Market-leading French payroll engine
  • + 900+ conventions collectives (incl. BTP)
  • + Deep compliance coverage
  • + Backed by your accountant

Cons

  • − Not sold direct (via experts-comptables only)
  • − No public pricing
  • − Less hands-on for the business owner
  • − Setup depends on your firm
Typical French pricing: Via experts-comptables (not public).

EBP Paie

Tier A · Workable

Paie et déclarations sociales pour TPE/PME

The payroll module from French publisher EBP — payroll and social declarations for small firms, a natural fit if you already run EBP Bâtiment for your devis and invoicing.

France-specific note

Most compelling if you already run EBP Bâtiment — keeping devis, invoicing and payroll in one publisher reduces friction. Otherwise PayFit is the easier standalone.

Pros

  • + French publisher; integrates with EBP suite
  • + Payroll + social declarations
  • + Familiar to accountants
  • + Good if already on EBP

Cons

  • − Pricing on quote ("sur devis")
  • − Less modern than cloud-native PayFit
  • − Best value inside the EBP ecosystem
  • − Setup effort
Typical French pricing: Quote-based ("sur devis").

Sage Paie

Tier A · Workable Cross-market

Paie en ligne pour petites entreprises

Sage’s French online payroll for small businesses — the one non-French-founded payroll option here, with the reassurance of a global brand and a large accountant ecosystem.

France-specific note

A credible global-brand alternative to the French-native options — but for a small French artisan, PayFit’s self-serve simplicity usually wins unless your accountant standardises on Sage.

Pros

  • + Global brand, large accountant network
  • + Online payroll for small firms
  • + Established compliance track record
  • + Published entry pricing (snippet)

Cons

  • − Not French-founded (UK-HQ)
  • − Less TPE-friendly than PayFit direct
  • − BTP specifics to confirm
  • − Pricing page access was limited
Typical French pricing: Reportedly from ~€24/mo HT (entry); confirm with Sage.

Insurance — décennale & RC Pro

Mandatory ten-year decennial cover and pro liability — SMABTP (the historic BTP mutual), the per-trade specialist April, online insurtech Orus, plus AXA and MAAF.

SMABTP

Tier S · Recommended

L’assureur mutualiste historique du BTP — décennale + RC Pro

The historic French BTP mutual insurer (since 1859) and the reference for artisan décennale — bundling mandatory ten-year decennial liability with RC Pro, with deep building-sector specialism.

France-specific note

The incumbent every French builder knows for décennale. Get a SMABTP quote as your benchmark, then compare the insurtechs (Orus, April) on price and speed.

Pros

  • + The reference for BTP décennale
  • + Mutual, BTP-specialist since 1859
  • + Décennale + RC Pro bundled
  • + Deep claims/sector expertise

Cons

  • − Quote-only (no online pricing)
  • − Premiums reflect specialist cover
  • − Application/underwriting process
  • − Less "instant" than insurtechs
Typical French pricing: Quote-based.

April Construction

Tier S · Recommended

RC Décennale sur mesure par métier, prix « à partir de » publiés

A French insurer/broker offering décennale tailored per trade (up to 10 activities) — and one of the few publishing indicative "à partir de" pricing, which makes it easy to benchmark.

France-specific note

A strong décennale benchmark precisely because it publishes starting prices — useful to sanity-check a SMABTP or AXA quote before you sign.

Pros

  • + BTP décennale specialist
  • + Per-trade tailoring (up to 10 activities)
  • + Publishes indicative pricing
  • + Established French brand

Cons

  • − Final price still needs a quote
  • − Broker/MGA model
  • − Cover scope varies by trade
  • − Add-ons for full protection
Typical French pricing: Published "à partir de": électricien from €69 TTC/mo; peintre from €72/mo.

Orus

Tier A · Workable

Décennale 100% en ligne, attestation sous 24h

A French insurtech offering fully online décennale across 100+ BTP trades with an attestation issued within 24 hours and published starting prices — the fast, modern route to mandatory cover.

France-specific note

The quickest way to get compliant décennale cover if you need an attestation fast — just compare its cover scope against SMABTP for bigger or higher-risk work.

Pros

  • + Fully online; fast (attestation in 24h)
  • + Covers 100+ BTP trades
  • + Published starting price
  • + Modern, low-friction experience

Cons

  • − Insurtech (younger than incumbents)
  • − Final price by quote
  • − Cover depth vs specialists to compare
  • − Online-first support
Typical French pricing: Published: décennale from €69/mo.

AXA (BATISSUR)

Tier A · Workable Cross-market

Décennale et multirisque BTP (offre BATISSUR)

AXA’s building offer (BATISSUR) provides décennale and multirisk BTP cover with the backing of a major global insurer — a mainstream alternative to the BTP mutuals.

France-specific note

A solid mainstream option, especially if you already bank/insure with AXA — but benchmark it against the BTP specialists (SMABTP) and the insurtechs (Orus/April) on both price and cover.

Pros

  • + Major global insurer
  • + Décennale + multirisk BTP
  • + Wide agent network
  • + Brand stability

Cons

  • − Quote-only
  • − Less BTP-specialist than SMABTP
  • − Agent-led process
  • − Pricing opaque until quoted
Typical French pricing: Quote-based.

MAAF Pro

Tier A · Workable

Mutuelle généraliste avec solutions décennale artisan

A French generalist mutual (Covéa group) offering artisan décennale solutions — a familiar mainstream name for tradespeople who want one insurer across pro and personal lines.

France-specific note

Convenient if you want pro and personal cover under one familiar mutual — but for décennale specifically, benchmark against the BTP specialists before deciding.

Pros

  • + Established French mutual (Covéa)
  • + Artisan décennale solutions
  • + Wide branch network
  • + One-insurer convenience

Cons

  • − Quote-only
  • − Less BTP-specialist than SMABTP
  • − Cover scope varies
  • − Pricing opaque
Typical French pricing: Quote-based.

Compliance & qualifications

What French artisans must navigate — the facturation électronique mandate, mandatory assurance décennale, RGE for subsidised work, multi-rate TVA, URSSAF/micro-entrepreneur, CMA registration and trade qualifications.

Facturation électronique (e-invoicing)

Official body / regime

Facturation électronique obligatoire via une plateforme agréée (PDP)

France is moving all B2B invoicing onto government-regulated structured e-invoicing through approved platforms (PDP / "plateformes agréées"): reception becomes mandatory for ALL businesses on 1 September 2026, and issuance reaches SMEs and micro-entreprises (most artisans) on 1 September 2027.

France-specific note

The defining French software change: from Sept 2026 you must be able to RECEIVE e-invoices, and from Sept 2027 you must ISSUE them via a PDP. See our facturation-électronique guide for the registered platforms. The free public portal was abandoned — every business needs a PDP.

What it covers

  • + Single national e-invoicing framework
  • + Approved-platform (PDP) routing + e-reporting
  • + Phased, signposted calendar
  • + Pilot phase already running (since Feb 2026)

Watch out for

  • − Reception mandatory for ALL by 1 Sept 2026
  • − Issuance mandatory for artisans by 1 Sept 2027
  • − You must use an approved platform (PDP)
  • − The free public portal (PPF) was scrapped — no free issuance route
Cost / access: Government framework (platform/software costs apply).

Assurance décennale (Loi Spinetta)

Official body / regime

Assurance responsabilité décennale — obligatoire avant tout chantier

Mandatory ten-year decennial-liability insurance under the Loi Spinetta (Code des assurances L241-1), taken out BEFORE a worksite opens. It covers, for 10 years, damage compromising the structure’s solidity or making it unfit for purpose — and working without it is a criminal offence.

France-specific note

Non-negotiable for French building work — and uniquely central: French clients expect your décennale insurer and policy number on the quote. Get cover before you start, not after.

What it covers

  • + Protects clients (and you) for 10 years
  • + Legally mandatory — a market entry requirement
  • + Routinely shown on devis/factures (trust signal)
  • + Covers structural + indissociable equipment

Watch out for

  • − Criminal penalty if uninsured: 6 months + €75,000
  • − Must be in place before the worksite opens
  • − Premiums vary widely by trade/risk
  • − Per-activity cover scope to get right
Cost / access: Insurance premium (see the insurers above).

RGE (Reconnu Garant de l’Environnement)

Official body / regime

Label qualité — indispensable pour les aides à la rénovation énergétique

A quality label (awarded by Qualibat, Qualit’EnR, Qualifelec and others) that isn’t legally required to operate — but is commercially essential, because the homeowner can only claim MaPrimeRénov’, CEE or éco-PTZ subsidies if the installer holds the relevant RGE qualification.

France-specific note

In the subsidy-driven renovation market keeping the sector afloat, RGE is effectively the price of entry: no RGE means your clients can’t get the aid, so they’ll pick an installer who has it.

What it covers

  • + Unlocks client access to MaPrimeRénov’/CEE/éco-PTZ
  • + Strong commercial advantage in renovation
  • + Signals quality to homeowners
  • + Multiple trade-specific qualifications

Watch out for

  • − Not mandatory to operate (but you lose subsidised work)
  • − Qualification + annual monitoring + cost
  • − 4-year validity to maintain
  • − Trade-specific sub-labels to navigate
Cost / access: Qualification fees (via Qualibat / Qualit’EnR etc.).

TVA bâtiment (20 / 10 / 5,5 %)

Official body / regime

TVA à taux multiples — 20% standard, 10% rénovation, 5,5% énergie

French building work uses multiple VAT rates: 20% standard, a reduced 10% for renovation/improvement, and 5.5% for energy-renovation work — applicable to dwellings over two years old, with conditions, and (since March 2025) excluding fossil-fuel boilers.

France-specific note

Your software must apply 20/10/5.5 correctly per line and carry the rate-justification mention on the devis — getting the reduced rate right is both a compliance duty and a competitive price advantage.

What it covers

  • + Reduced rates lower client cost (sales advantage)
  • + Standard for renovation work
  • + Clear official guidance
  • + Built into good French BTP software

Watch out for

  • − Per-line rate logic is complex
  • − Conditions: >2-year-old dwelling, work type
  • − Fossil-fuel boilers excluded since March 2025
  • − Errors create VAT-recovery problems
Cost / access: Government (compliance only).

URSSAF & régime micro-entrepreneur

Official body / regime

Cotisations sociales et régime auto-entrepreneur

URSSAF collects social contributions (cotisations sociales). A large share of French tradespeople operate as micro-entrepreneurs — turnover-based contributions, simplified accounting and (below the threshold) a VAT franchise — declared via the URSSAF auto-entrepreneur portal.

France-specific note

Most solo French artisans are micro-entrepreneurs, so your software must support both the micro regime (incl. the "TVA non applicable, art. 293 B" mention) and full-VAT sociétés as you grow.

What it covers

  • + Simplified regime for solo artisans
  • + Turnover-based contributions
  • + VAT franchise below the threshold
  • + Online declaration portal

Watch out for

  • − Turnover ceiling (~€83,600 services, 2026)
  • − VAT franchise thresholds shifted in 2025
  • − Franchise invoices need the art. 293 B mention
  • − Above ceiling → full regime + VAT
Cost / access: Government (contributions apply).

Immatriculation CMA (guichet unique / RNE)

Official body / regime

Immatriculation de l’entreprise artisanale (guichet unique → RNE → SIRET)

Registering an artisan business goes through the INPI guichet unique into the Registre National des Entreprises (RNE), producing a SIRET; the Chambre de Métiers et de l’Artisanat (CMA) validates artisanal qualification. Registration is mandatory.

France-specific note

Your SIRET from this registration is what lets you legally invoice — and for regulated trades the CMA will check your qualification (diploma or 3 years’ experience).

What it covers

  • + Single national registration route
  • + Produces your SIRET (needed to invoice)
  • + CMA validates artisan qualification
  • + Online via the guichet unique

Watch out for

  • − Registration mandatory before trading
  • − Qualification proof for regulated trades
  • − Process/documentation steps
  • − CMA validation can add time
Cost / access: Government (registration).

Qualification professionnelle (Code de l’artisanat)

Official body / regime

Diplôme ou 3 ans d’expérience pour les métiers réglementés

Several building trades are regulated: you must hold a relevant qualification (a CAP/BP diploma) OR prove three years’ professional experience to run the business, under the Code de l’artisanat (L121-1 to L121-3).

France-specific note

For regulated trades (e.g. électricien, plombier doing building work), you must show the qualification at registration — the experience route (3 years) exists if you don’t hold the diploma.

What it covers

  • + Quality bar for regulated trades
  • + Diploma OR 3 years’ experience route
  • + Protects consumers
  • + Clear legal basis (Code de l’artisanat)

Watch out for

  • − Mandatory for regulated trades
  • − Must be proven at registration
  • − Experience route needs documentation
  • − Trade-specific requirements
Cost / access: Government (qualification).

Qualibat

Official body / regime

Qualification/certification volontaire — et organisme RGE de référence

A voluntary French qualification and certification body for building firms — not legally required, but a recognised quality mark and one of the leading bodies that awards RGE, so often de-facto needed for larger or subsidised work.

France-specific note

Voluntary, but valuable: a Qualibat qualification is a trust signal, and Qualibat is a main route to RGE — so it often pays for itself on subsidised renovation work.

What it covers

  • + Recognised quality/qualification mark
  • + A leading RGE-awarding body
  • + Signals capability to clients
  • + Useful for tenders/larger work

Watch out for

  • − Voluntary (not a legal requirement)
  • − Qualification process + fees
  • − Maintenance/renewal
  • − Value depends on your work type
Cost / access: Qualification fees.

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