← France hubs Dropshipper
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Corentin is a young digital entrepreneur running a dropshipping business from his laptop, constantly balancing the need for administrative simplicity with the complexities of French tax and social security laws. This hub covers the essential national frameworks he navigates to stay compliant while scaling his e-commerce ventures.
Essential for avoiding URSSAF audits and keeping your micro-entreprise status active.
Micro-entrepreneur regime Régime de l'auto-entrepreneur national · URSSAF
Who qualifies Sole traders with annual turnover below €77,700 for sales of goods.
What you get Simplified accounting and flat-rate social contributions.
What it actually costs you Free to register; requires monthly/quarterly declaration of turnover.
Common gotcha You must pay social charges even if your turnover is zero.
Cotisation Foncière des Entreprises national · DGFiP
Who qualifies All businesses, including home-based dropshippers.
What you get Legal right to operate a business address.
What it actually costs you Annual tax based on rental value of your workspace; exempt if turnover < €5,000.
Common gotcha It is often forgotten in the first year of business.
Intracommunity VAT Number Numéro de TVA intracommunautaire national · DGFiP
Who qualifies Businesses selling or buying goods within the EU.
What you get Ability to conduct B2B transactions without VAT friction.
What it actually costs you Request via your professional tax account; no fee.
Common gotcha Essential for dropshipping from European suppliers.
Guichet Unique national · INPI
Who qualifies Any business owner needing to modify or close their activity.
What you get Centralized portal for all business administrative formalities.
What it actually costs you Free; requires digital identity (FranceConnect).
Common gotcha The interface can be buggy during peak filing periods.
CFE Exemption for Micro-entrepreneurs national · DGFiP
Who qualifies Micro-entrepreneurs with very low turnover.
What you get Full or partial waiver of the CFE tax.
What it actually costs you Requires filing a declaration 1447-C-SD.
Common gotcha You must apply for the exemption; it is not always automatic.
Declaration of Business Activity national · INPI
Who qualifies New business creators.
What you get SIRET number required for all professional banking.
What it actually costs you Online registration; takes 1-2 weeks for validation.
Common gotcha The SIRET is needed before opening a business bank account. Separating personal and business finances is a legal requirement for most business structures.
Professional Bank Account Requirement national · Banque de France
Who qualifies Any business entity (SAS, SARL, etc.).
What you get Legal separation of funds.
What it actually costs you Monthly fees vary by bank (€10-€50).
Common gotcha Micro-entrepreneurs only need a dedicated account, not necessarily a 'pro' one.
Right to a Bank Account Droit au compte national · Banque de France
Who qualifies Anyone refused a bank account.
What you get Mandatory opening of a basic payment account.
What it actually costs you Free; requires a refusal letter from a bank.
Common gotcha The process is slow and requires administrative patience.
Banking Mediator Médiateur bancaire national · ACPR
Who qualifies Customers in dispute with their bank.
What you get Free resolution of banking disputes.
What it actually costs you Free; must have tried internal bank resolution first.
Common gotcha You must exhaust the bank's internal complaint process first.
Secure Payment Standards national · ANSSI
Who qualifies E-commerce sites.
What you get Compliance with DSP2 (PSD2) regulations.
What it actually costs you Implementation costs of 3D Secure modules.
Common gotcha Non-compliance leads to high chargeback rates.
BPI France Entrepreneurship Support national · BPI France
Who qualifies Startups and growing e-commerce businesses.
What you get Access to loans, guarantees, and innovation grants.
What it actually costs you Requires a solid business plan.
Common gotcha They prefer high-growth potential over standard dropshipping.
Bank Fee Caps national · Banque de France
Who qualifies Vulnerable customers.
What you get Capped fees for incident management.
What it actually costs you Automatic application for eligible profiles.
Common gotcha Does not apply to standard professional accounts. Freelancers need to ensure they are covered for health and retirement despite not having an employer.
Universal Health Protection PUMA national · Assurance Maladie
Who qualifies All residents working in France.
What you get Reimbursement of medical expenses.
What it actually costs you Covered by social contributions.
Common gotcha You must update your 'Carte Vitale' regularly.
Solidary Health Supplement Complémentaire santé solidaire national · Assurance Maladie
Who qualifies Low-income entrepreneurs.
What you get Free or low-cost top-up health insurance.
What it actually costs you Means-tested application.
Common gotcha Many assume they don't qualify because they are 'business owners'.
Independent Retirement Scheme national · Assurance Retraite
Who qualifies All self-employed workers.
What you get Basic pension points based on turnover.
What it actually costs you Automatic deduction from social contributions.
Common gotcha Points are only earned if you pay your contributions on time.
Daily Allowance for Sick Leave national · Assurance Maladie
Who qualifies Self-employed with sufficient contributions.
What you get Replacement income during illness.
What it actually costs you Requires medical certificate.
Common gotcha The amount is often lower than expected for micro-entrepreneurs.
Maternity/Paternity Leave for Self-Employed national · Assurance Maladie
Who qualifies Self-employed parents.
What you get Flat-rate allowance during leave.
What it actually costs you Requires cessation of activity.
Common gotcha Must be declared well in advance.
Disability and Death Insurance national · CPSTI
Who qualifies All self-employed.
What you get Basic coverage for loss of income due to disability.
What it actually costs you Included in social contributions.
Common gotcha Coverage is basic; private insurance is often recommended.
Dropshipping involves strict consumer protection laws that can lead to heavy fines if ignored.
Right of Withdrawal Droit de rétractation national · DGCCRF
Who qualifies All online customers.
What you get 14-day return window for goods.
What it actually costs you Must be clearly stated in your Terms of Service (CGV).
Common gotcha You must refund the original shipping costs too.
GDPR Compliance RGPD national · CNIL
Who qualifies Any site collecting customer data.
What you get Legal protection against data misuse fines.
What it actually costs you Requires privacy policy and cookie banner setup.
Common gotcha Using non-compliant tracking pixels (e.g., Facebook) is a common risk.
SignalConso national · DGCCRF
Who qualifies Customers reporting bad business practices.
What you get A platform for customers to report you.
What it actually costs you Must respond to complaints to avoid investigation.
Common gotcha Ignoring a SignalConso report can trigger a formal audit.
Legal Notices Requirement Mentions légales national · DGCCRF
Who qualifies All website owners.
What you get Legal visibility of your business entity.
What it actually costs you Must be accessible from every page.
Common gotcha Missing SIRET or VAT number is a common fine trigger.
Consumer Mediation national · DGCCRF
Who qualifies Businesses selling to consumers.
What you get Mandatory access to a mediator for customer disputes.
What it actually costs you Annual subscription fee to a mediation service.
Common gotcha You must display the mediator's contact info on your site.
Legal Warranty of Conformity national · DGCCRF
Who qualifies All consumers.
What you get 2-year warranty on all products sold.
What it actually costs you You are liable for defects even if you dropship.
Common gotcha You cannot contract out of this warranty.
One honest app. Real lives, real businesses. Free for what people need, paid only for what runs a business — on our own model, our own metal.
Where we run
Bangalore + Czechia
Our own metal · GDPR · DPDPA
