New Company Type in France - Auto Entrepreneur

From the 1st of January 2009 it is easier, cheaper and quicker to establish a small business in France than it was in 2008.

The French government decided to simplify the auto entrepreneur system by lowering the social charges, the minimum capital, simplifying the administrative conditions of creation. It is really easier and cheaper to start up a small business in France, even for the foreigners who settle in France.

With this new law, a small business can be set up on Internet. The registration in the "Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés (RCS)" or in the "Registre des Métiers (RM)" is no longer compulsory. Moreover, the individual entrepreneur can with a statement made by a public notary, avoid the possibility for the debt collectors to seize his properties but only if they are not used for a professional purpose. The necessity to have an administrative permit to use the ground floor of the main house as an office or as commercial premises will be no longer compulsory.

This new auto entrepreneur system applies only for 2 types:

- For a business which has a turnover below EUR80,000/year (tax not included) with an activity of selling goods, objects, furniture, catering or an activity of providing accommodation.

- For a service industry which have a turnover below 32000EUR/year and which come under the category of industrials and commercial benefits or of non-commercial benefits.

Furthermore, the auto entrepreneur has now the choice between paying his social charges monthly or quarterly and they are calculated thanks to a percentage on the amount of turnover. This percentage is 12% for a commercial activity and 21.3% for an activity in the service sector.

The main advantage is that if an auto entrepreneur does not have a turnover, he won't have to pay social charges. The taxation system of the new auto entrepreneur system is also favorable. Indeed, if the maximum level of income is reached, the monthly or quarterly tax is based on a percentage of the turnover:

- 1% for a business selling goods, objects, furniture, take away or provides accommodation.

- 1.7% for a business which the activity is to provide services which are not in the 80 000EUR threshold.

This option is only available for auto entrepreneur who have chosen the "micro-social" system (i.e., the system in which the auto entrepreneur can chose between monthly or quarterly income tax payments). If the minimum level of income is not reached, the taxation system will be the "micro-enterprise" system (one man industry).

Another benefit is that the auto entrepreneur does not have to pay the "VAT" on their business activity.

In conclusion, this new system is really helpful for the foreigners who wish to set up a small business in France (i.e., writers, accommodation, translating, teachers...).

Nantes, France - The Most Livable City in All of Europe

With a 2007 population of 790,000, Nantes is the sixth largest city in France and is the most important city in the Brittany region. Nantes is located close to the Atlantic Ocean at the confluence of the Loire, Erdre and Sevre Rivers. Nantes is known to be one of the most pleasant places to live in France -- in fact in 2004 Time magazine hailed Nantes as "the most livable city in all of Europe".

Nantes is a beautiful place indeed with a rich mix of wonderful historic buildings, cobbled streets, monuments, excellent museums, parks and a lively arts and cultural scene. There is also a large student population in Nantes.

If you like imposing medieval French castles, then the majestic Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, which served as the residence for the Dukes between the 13th and 16th century, is for you. Also impressive is the Gothic Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul as well as the Basilica of Saint-Louis. There are also many great museums including the Nantes History Museum which is located inside the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany. Also of interest is the Fine Arts Museum of Nantes, along with the Natural History Museum. Favorite son Jules Verne has his own museum, appropriately named, you guessed it, the Jules Verne Museum.

Another great place to go is the Passage Pommeraye, a beautiful and elaborate three-story shopping Galleria constructed in the 1840s. The Place Royale is a historic square located in the heart of the city that was only recently renewed. From there walk along Crebillon and Orleans streets for a taste of Nantes' luxury boutiques. Yet another interesting visit is to the Jardin des Plantes (Botanical Gardens) for a wonderful example of a former French City Park. And top it all off by treating yourself to one of the most beautiful restaurant bars in all of France, the Brasserie la Cigale.

Football in France

France is a beautiful country famous for its world renowned landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Musée du Louvre, and Notre Dame de Paris. However, aside from these famous places, France is also home to the most prestigious sports events in the world such as Tour de France, Six Nations Rugby, Andros Trophy, French Open, and much more. With these sports events, it is only expected that various sports can also be observed in France. Some of the popular sports in France are rugby, cycling, and of course football.

Football in France can be traced back as early as 1872. The sport was introduced to France through English sailors at the port of Le Havre. Through the years, France has been one of the best countries when it comes to football. France made history in the field of football on July 12, 1998, the day they defeated Brazil through 3-0 score and won the maiden World Championship. In addition, France also achieved two other European Championships. Also, in 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, United States, France won the gold for football, which gave major boost to the country.

In addition, France is also home to various foot ball clubs such as AJ Auxerre, AS Monaco FC, Marseille, and Lyon. There are also famous football players that came from France like Patrick Viera, Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Lilian Thuram. The domestic football league in France is called the Ligue de Football Professionnel. At present, football is the most watched sport among all French people.

Discovering the Tour De France - More Than a Simple Bike Ride

For most Americans, the initial images that come to mind when one mentions sports are group athletics on a field. Football, baseball, and basketball are the holy trinity of sporting events States-side, but to Europeans, older and more traditional activities reign supreme.

Even more important, those European sports that might sometimes seem "wimpy" to Americans are actually more more grueling and require more endurance. Bicycle races across multiple countries and miles and miles run during soccer games are a whole lot more of an effort, after all, than just running around a baseball diamond, enjoying a whole lot of free time in the dugout.

One of the biggest sporting events not just in France, but all over Europe, is The Tour de France. A race that pits riders from countries all over the world against one another, themselves, and the elements, it is not a race for the faint of heart. Lasting over three weeks, the race is broken down into day-long segments, known as stages, which can involve anything from the final sprint into Paris to climbing some of the most heart-popping sections of the Alps...on nothing but one's own leg power.

One of the most exciting parts of The Tour de France is the fact that, every year, the route changes. In actuality, the distance for the race can vary a great deal, with the shortest clocking in around 1,500 miles, and the longest somewhere around 3,570 miles. Riders never know quite what they're going to get, and neither do the fans, who line small mountain passes as well as city streets, ecstatic to cheer their favorites on.

But not just anyone can qualify--or survive--a ride in The Tour de France. Riders planning on tackling The Tour de France have to be in peak physical shape, because the race is one of the most demanding sporting events in the entire world of sports, not just bicycle racing. With very little time to rest and recuperate, and literally hundreds of miles of biking up and down mountain roads ahead of them, riders have to train for months and months to get anywhere ready to compete.

Aside from that, the race is known for being daunting emotionally, since much time is spent alone, unsure of one's standing in the race, and dealing with the very real thought that, after the next hundred miles, 900 more are waiting. It takes a lot out of anyone, even a famous bicyclist, to compete in this race.

And while Americans might not have historically cared very much about bicycle racing, that all changed in recent years.. Not only were all of the Americans hanging on the daily results, but there was a huge rise in the popularity of long distance bicycling. Ever since this historic reign of terror, interest in the race has been the standard.

Who managed to change American opinion on The Tour de France? A single rider, Lance Armstrong, who managed to win The Tour de France not once, not twice, not three times, but SEVEN times, in a row. He managed to come back from a devastating cancer diagnosis to triumph in the race, and led to a lot of bicycling-related patriotism for those Americans who might not have even been interested in the race in the first place.

No matter the reason, one thing is definitely certain about The Tour de France: it's not a sporting event for the faint of heart to participate in, and anyone watching has to give a whole lot of kudos to anyone strong--or crazy--enough to decide they're ready to take on the mountains and the landscape of France for three weeks at a time, with only a bicycle.

Retire Rich - Retire to France

One issue of major concern to each and every one of us is whether we will be able to afford to retire when the time comes.

It's not so much a case of us worrying about having no money in the bank at all and no pension whatsoever, it's more a case of whether what we will have to look after us financially in retirement will actually stretch to cover our preferred standard of living - because the cost of living and the price of real estate in the world seem to be ever increasing.

Well, the good news is that if you want to retire rich you should retire to France.

Why?

Because not only is France rich in heritage, history, culture and class, it is a nation with a wealth of retirement lifestyle options that are very affordable indeed meaning that with only a relatively small pot of money to see your through retirement you can actually retire to France and enjoy an exceptionally opulent standard of living.

Your money will go further in France because the climate in the south of the nation is just so perfect year round. You have mild and relatively dry winters which will cut down on your heating bills and you have stunning sun kissed summers meaning that France is a great country to live in for the weather.

The stunning sunny summer days means that France is also a nation rich in terms of its agriculture industry - this means that the nation produces excellent food and wine which is available from local farmer's markets and individual vendors for a fraction of the price you would pay for such exquisite cuisine in your supermarkets back home.

You can retire rich in France in terms of your day to day quality of life too - because geographically the nation is stunning so you can travel France on a low budget and just take in its natural delights. And what's more, many of the country's monuments and mansions, sites of historical interest and museums and galleries are free for you to enjoy.

France is also highly and cheaply accessible. It has over 450 airports across the country with cheap flight operators flying in from across the globe. Additionally the road and rail networks in France are superior and well maintained so you can get anywhere and everywhere for a low cost...again, this helps retirement income go far further.

And finally you can buy or rent property in France away from the main cities, towns and holiday resorts for a fraction of the price you would pay for real estate in America, Great Britain or elsewhere in Northern America or Western Europe - so if you want to ensure you will retire rich all you have to do is retire to France!

French Wine Importers

For a long time now, French wine has been regarded as a highly prized and much desired kind of wine in many countries all over the world, due to its high quality, unique taste and also by virtue of France being one of the oldest wine cultivating regions in the world. There are a number of French wine importers in every country who handle the import of French wine in their countries and thus, enable the wine lovers and enthusiasts of each country to get a taste of the traditional French wine from its different regions.

However, due to the existing stringent French laws regarding wine, its production and its export, the export of French wine has been restricted in some parts and has not attained its full blown position in any country. French wine has a large market the world over but due to the severe and unfriendly laws, the import of French wine in many countries is restricted and as a result, the prices are sky high. This has proved to be a major deterrent for a large number of wine lovers and enthusiasts across the world from gaining access to the French wine in their own countries. As a result, the total number of French wine importers in many countries is quite less due to the above mentioned factors.

The export laws of France need to undergo a drastic change for the better and perhaps, be made more lenient and friendlier towards other countries. This will not only increase the import of French wine in various countries, but it will also increase the market for French wine, booming the French wine industry. This move will also aid the French economy and the field of viticulture as a whole.

4 Reasons Why You Should Visit Paris

If you haven't yet figured out why many people have made it a point to visit Paris, France's capital city, it is likely that you haven't gone to Paris, the "City of light" yet. If you are thinking about going for a much needed vacation from your work's stresses and pressure, or you have thought about visiting other places, why not decide on going to Paris then? Here are a few reasons why you should visit Paris:

Visit Paris to see and explore world famous landmarks. Paris is known to have iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower which was originally built in 1889 as a temporary construction but remains standing to this day and became the ultimate symbol of Paris. Other world famous landmarks that can be seen and appreciated in Paris are the cathedral Notre Dame de Paris which was built in the 12th century; and the Napoleonic Arc de Triomphe. These world famous places and landmarks can only be seen and appreciated in Paris.

Visit Paris to have a glimpse of the past. One can have a glimpse of the world's past by visiting historical landmarks such as the 13th century Sainte Chapelle, and the Palace of Versailles. In addition to this, arts and artifacts made during the middle ages are available at the Musée Cluny and those that have been created during the impressionist eras are at the Musée d'Orsay. You can also visit Invalides museum, the burial place of one of France's most famous personalities and one of the World's most successful conquerors, Napoleon Bonaparte.

Visit Paris to see famous works of established painters and artists. The city houses the Louvre museum, considered as one of the world's most important museums and which is home to the famous Mona Lisa and the Last Supper of world renowned genius Leonardo da Vinci. The Louvre reportedly hosts up to 6 million visitors a year who are eager to see the world's most famous paintings and works of art. You can also see the works of Pablo Picasso and Rodin in the Musée Picasso and Musée Rodin respectively.

Visit Paris to experience the world's best food. Paris is known to be home of the finest foods and drinks in the whole world. Take a sip of the Parisian coffees and have a taste of world famous Paris gourmet and pastries. By visiting Paris, you will understand why Paris caters one of the world's finest foods and drinks.

The next time you are planning a well deserved vacation, make it a point to have Paris as one of your destinations. You will not regret visiting a world class city with the elegance no other places in the world can bring.