Set Up a Shop in France

Foreign investors interested in starting a business in France should know that the economy is on a continuous growing path. Among the industries which have contributed to this growth is retail, therefore setting up a shop in France could be an interesting business choice. Among the best performing sectors of the retail industry since the beginning of 2017 is the department-store segment. E-commerce is also on the rise in France, so investors have plenty of options when opening stores here.

Our company formation consultants in France can offer information on the legislation related to the retail sector in this country.

What are the best performing fields of the French retail industry?

Those interested in opening a shop in France can sell various products, as the French population has a great purchase power. However, the fast-moving consumer goods sector is currently the best performing segment in the country. In order to sell this type of products, local investors tend to open small convenience stores, but hypermarkets located in new residential areas in large cities are also very popular types of stores in France. It will all depend on the amount one wants to invest.

It should be noted that the French Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose by an average 1% in the past two years and was triggered by the rising purchase power of the population, according to the Consumer Confidence Index.

Legislation related to selling goods in France

Foreign investors can set up physical or online shops in France through which they can promote and sell their products. However, they should pay attention to the laws related to the retail industry, one of the most important being the Consumer Law which was recently amended. The Competition Law which provides for fair practices related to establishing the prices of products is another law French stores must comply with.

How to register a shop in France

Opening a shop in France will imply registering a company with the Trade Register followed by concluding various agreements with distributors and logistics companies which will deliver the goods to the store. If the shop plans on selling imported products, the regulation related to imports must also be complied with.

For assistance in setting up a shop in this country, please contact our company registration advisors in France.