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Eymet in the Dordogne is popular with locals and expats
income stream would give us the fi nancial security we needed going forward. But what was this new
business to be? Was there a market related to tourism that was yet to be tapped? Where were the gaps in services provided to the kinds of people who stayed with us year after year? What would I enjoy doing? The answer became clear
when I was refl ecting on my own skills and interests. My love of cars and driving led my thoughts in one direction: to become a private hire driver and set up my own business providing transportation services, to our guests and those of other venues. There was clearly a need. Rural France is often poorly served by public transport, and properly licenced and registered drivers are not in huge supply, although they are in big demand. My next question became
not what, but how. One thing was certain: I was going to set up the business legitimately. Ever since we opened Maison Belmont in St-Antonin, we have been properly registered for tax purposes. I wasn’t going down the ‘under the radar’ route with all its accompanying risks and complications. I needed to do some research. This paid off . Luckily the French state encourages the establishment of small businesses and I discovered that I could access training funds to support the required learning and assessment for registration as a VTC (voiture de tourisme avec chauff eur) driver. All the learning was done
online with seven diff erent modules covered through a combination of videos,
“I see my driving business as a cog in the wheel of a much bigger operation”
PowerPoint presentations and practical exams. After three months I was ready to apply to the Chambre des Métiers in Perigueux to take the fi nal assessment. After seven written exams and a rather challenging driving assessment in Bordeaux, I received my VTC licence. My new business (Eymet Private Driver) was now fully registered with the French government and I was insured for driving paying passengers. My car needed to meet
strict criteria as well. It had to be under six years old, of a minimum size and power, and seat at least four passengers. It needs an annual Contrôle Technique (MOT) and professional insurance, which is only valid with the VTC licence. Once these administrative hurdles had been cleared, the business was set up and I could crack on with creating a website
and launching Eymet Private Driver as a fully registered and licenced operation.
IN THE DRIVING SEAT In June 2022 I began driving our guests, a combination of airport and station transfers, journeys to local wedding venues and the many quality out-of-town restaurants that Dordogne is rightly famous for. Word spread and I was
soon driving guests from other B&Bs and gîtes as well as locals keen to make use of a new much-needed service. I have established relationships with partners in the wedding and hospitality business from château owners to wedding planners, top-end accommodation providers and restaurants. I see my driving business as a cog in the wheel of a much bigger operation. It is a service supporting many
TOP TIPS FOR SETTING UP YOUR OWN BUSINESS IN FRANCE
Do a self-audit of your own skills, strengths and interests as a way of identifying options for your possible business
Investigate what businesses are needed and what gaps exist in the local market
Contact your local Chambre des Métiers (Chamber of Commerce) to obtain the most up-to-date information on what qualifi cations are
needed to carry out the activity you plan to do
Once your business is set up use social media and network like you've never done before to get your business noticed
Make a business plan to calculate turnover, profi t and any likely costs or unforeseen expenditure
Work on your language skills with a focus on work-related French vocabulary
FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: September/October 2023 75
diff erent businesses with important connections made with key stakeholders. Change is happening all over
France with expat enterprises emerging in fi elds that are new and exciting. Gîte businesses are branching out to become micro wedding venues; owners of big character properties are opening as venues for art workshops and retreats as well as the more familiar cookery and wine appreciation experiences; micro-breweries and vineyards are taking on the locals at their own game; mindfulness, yoga and other wellbeing practitioners can be found all over the country. In France, being designated
as a micro-entrepreneur provides some great opportunities and is a tax- effi cient way to establish additional income streams. There is no doubt about it.
Coming to France and buying that dream property could be the start of a new and exciting career and business development, not just a glorious retirement. It took the shock of the pandemic to make me realise the need to diversify. But it also showed me how, with a little bit of inspiration and a lot of hard work, you can make your move to France really begin to pay off . ■
eymetprivatedriver.com
maisonbelmont.com
Mark's hire car
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