Umbrella Company in France
A French permanent employment contract
Invoicing, payroll and admin handled for you
From 99 euros excl. tax per month, no commission
An umbrella company employs you and invoices your clients on your behalf. You keep choosing your assignments and setting your own rate, and you receive a French payslip every month. In France this arrangement is called portage salarial and it is written into the Code du travail.
It is the shortest route to working independently in France without creating a company. No registration, no accountant to appoint, no VAT returns to file yourself.
How it works with Jump
- You find your own clients and agree your own rate.
- You sign a permanent employment contract with Jump.
- Jump invoices your client, collects the payment and runs your payroll.
- You receive a French payslip and your net pay lands on your account.
What an umbrella company does in France
Because you are employed rather than self-employed, you are covered by the standard French system.
- Health insurance through the French Securite sociale
- Retirement contributions, counted like any other employee
- Unemployment rights between assignments
- Sick leave, maternity and paternity leave
- Professional liability insurance and meal vouchers
A French payslip also matters outside work. It is the document banks and landlords ask for when you apply for a mortgage or rent a flat, and it is usually the hardest one to produce when you are self-employed.
What you get as an employee
Jump charges a fixed subscription starting at 99 euros excl. tax per month, with no commitment. It moves in tiers depending on the turnover you invoiced over the last 12 months.
Traditional umbrella companies in France take a percentage of your turnover, so the more you invoice the more they take. A fixed subscription does the opposite: your cost stops growing while your income keeps going.
What it costs
Both let you work independently in France without much paperwork, but they are not the same trade-off.
- Micro-entreprise looks cheaper, with low social contributions, but it comes with very little social protection, no unemployment rights and a turnover ceiling.
- An umbrella company costs more in contributions and gives you a permanent contract, unemployment rights and a full pension in return.
- There is no turnover ceiling with an umbrella company, which is why many freelancers switch once their activity grows.
If you are unsure which one fits, our status comparator walks you through both.
Umbrella company or micro-entreprise: which one is for you?
You need to be a French tax resident and hold French or European nationality, and your activity has to be an intellectual service such as IT, consulting, marketing, design or engineering.
Regulated professions such as lawyers, doctors, accountants and notaries are not eligible, and neither are personal services such as childcare or housekeeping.
Who can join
Frequently asked questions
Is portage salarial the same as an umbrella company?
Yes, portage salarial is the French version of it. The difference with the British model is that it is a regulated status, defined in the Code du travail and covered by a national collective agreement since 2017, with a real employment contract behind it.
Can I use an umbrella company in France if I am not French?
You can if you are a French tax resident and hold French or European nationality. If you live outside France, an umbrella company in your own country is the right answer rather than a French one.
How much will I actually take home?
It depends on your turnover and on the professional expenses you declare. Our salary simulator gives you an estimate in a couple of minutes, based on what you invoice and what you spend.
How quickly can I start?
Within 48 hours if you already have an assignment lined up. There is no company to register and no waiting period.
Can I keep my micro-entreprise at the same time?
Yes. Jump is compatible with a micro-entreprise, a SASU or an EURL. Many freelancers run both and choose which one to invoice through depending on the client and the assignment.