[peterrussell]

Hi we are thinking about buying a bed & breakfast and moving to France
Could anyone help regarding what is best way to do this as we need a visa to do this but haven't bought yet.
It's too risky to buy then apply for visa as if it's rejected we could be in trouble.
Could anyone shed light on this?
Thanks
Peter

 

[Bevdeforges]

Not sure how they're doing it in Australia, but some of the French consulates in the US indicate that if you are going to France as an "entrepreneur" that you should apply for a "visitor visa" (i.e. one that does NOT permit you to work).

The auto-entrepreneur website has confirmed that with a visitor visa, you can then go to the prefecture to get cleared to set up a business (they have to confirm that you meet the entry requirements for the particular line of work you're going into) and then come back and register as an AE. Check this site for details: Portail Officiel des Auto-Entrepreneurs (it's all in French). I'm not sure if you would be able to change your status to a "commerçant" after entry on a visitor visa, but if you chose not to go the AE route, that's what you'd need to do.

We had at least one poster here on the board who got the AE registered and then went to the prefecture to renew their carte de séjour and were turned down and told to leave the country. Not sure what happened there, but it's very important that you tell the consulate about your plans to start up a business when you apply for your visitor's visa. (I would first check to see if that's what the consulate in Australia is advising, because I notice at least one of the US consulates has changed the advice on their site.)

With the visitor visa, you'd have to show resources to be self-sustaining for your first year in France - and have a paid up health insurance coverage for that period of time, too.
Cheers,
Bev

 

[peterrussell]

Dear Bev
Thanks so much for that very useful information it's helped a lot as a starting point for us
Peter

 

[NewToNan]

Peter, Did you buy that Bed and Breakfast???

 

[DejW]

B&B in France is hard work. We have 2 chambres d'hote as a sideline for income. Find out what's involved if you don't know already. You need to select your target area very carefully, and decide what your target audience is (Fr tourists, international tourists, business men, or near a major sporting venue).

Dejw

 

[peterrussell]

Purchasing B&B

Peter, Did you buy that Bed and Breakfast???

Haven't left Australia yet we have our house on the market for sale and will come over on a long stay visitors visa and decide what areas we like then start to look for a B&B

 

[Bevdeforges]

Just an aside here - last night on the evening news they were talking about the "disappointing" tourist season in France this year. Part of it is, no doubt, down to the peculiar weather we've had. A cold, rainy spring and early summer. We're finally getting some genuine summer weather, but whether it's the general economy or people who changed their plans when the weather was bad earlier on, who knows?

Tourists both within France and from outside France all seem to be cutting back. And this has to affect the B&Bs all over the country. Not said to discourage folks, but just be aware that we seem to be in something of a slump at the moment and it might be wise to have another source of income to fall back on.
Cheers,
Bev

 

[peterrussell]

Just an aside here - last night on the evening news they were talking about the "disappointing" tourist season in France this year. Part of it is, no doubt, down to the peculiar weather we've had. A cold, rainy spring and early summer. We're finally getting some genuine summer weather, but whether it's the general economy or people who changed their plans when the weather was bad earlier on, who knows?

Tourists both within France and from outside France all seem to be cutting back. And this has to affect the B&Bs all over the country. Not said to discourage folks, but just be aware that we seem to be in something of a slump at the moment and it might be wise to have another source of income to fall back on.
Cheers,
Bev

Thanks Bev what kind of things can a non speaking French person do for extra income any ideas or suggestions?
We will wont to find a place just outside a city

 

[Bevdeforges]

Thanks Bev what kind of things can a non speaking French person do for extra income any ideas or suggestions?
We will wont to find a place just outside a city

If you don't speak French, the opportunities for picking up a bit of spare cash are pretty few and far between - especially if you're on a "visitor" visa that doesn't allow you to work. (And they are pretty strict about limiting you to the line of work you register for when you get your auto-entrepreneur.)
Cheers,
Bev

 

[lebesset]

we live next door to a gite , always used to be occupied all of july and august

this year they have one booking for 2 weeks

 

[peterrussell]

we live next door to a gite , always used to be occupied all of july and august

this year they have one booking for 2 weeks

Wow heard it was pretty quite this year hopefully in the future things will pick up again thank you

 

[RayRay]

Wow heard it was pretty quite this year hopefully in the future things will pick up again thank you

Our neighbor across the street has a chambre d'hote with one lovely bedroom. She had no bookings in July. She does have bookings for August, but they are down 30% from last year.

She thinks it is due to due to a combination of the economy and the weather. People are afraid to spend, and doubly afraid to spend if it's likely to be raining.

Best of luck.

Ray