Freelance coworkers: what status?

Whether you’re a freelancer or a traditional self-employed worker, the question of status is essential. Social protection, financial solvency and flexibility are the main criteria for choice.

Unemployment, sickness, retirement and provident schemes are all criteria that define a worker’s social protection. In France, the benchmark for good social protection is employee status. Conversely, the self-employed worker (TNS) is reputed to have poor social protection, which is not necessarily the case.

An employee benefits from comprehensive social protection. In the event of involuntary job loss, they are entitled to unemployment benefits. In the event of illness, they are entitled to daily social security benefits. The employee is even entitled to provident insurance, i.e. salary continuation in the event of an accident (assault, illness, etc.).

TNS status does not provide unemployment or provident protection. Note that daily sickness benefit payments are calculated on the basis of the last 3 balance sheets. It takes around 3.5 years for TNS status to be fully protected.

If you’re looking for protection, the worst thing to avoid is the situation of the manager who pays himself only dividends. He has no social protection: neither the payment of corporation tax nor the payment of flat tax entitles him to social protection.

The ideal solution exists for IT freelancers: the “portage salarial” status allows you to be independent and salaried at the same time. It also works for copywriters, trainers, consultants and even the construction industry.

Except in very special cases, landlords and bankers do not place their trust in self-employed workers who have not completed their third financial year. This complicates access to mortgages, for example.

In France, freelancers can’t move or invest in their first three years of business.

Being an employee on a freelance administration scheme makes a curious difference: you can move house without any worries after 6 months in business, because you’re an employee!

By definition, coworkers are looking for flexibility and service, the two main advantages of coworking.

However, most freelance statutes are not compatible with this state of mind. In France, it’s very difficult to shut down a business, unless you’re considering liquidation.

Here again, freelance administration stands out: you can stop whenever you like.

Interested in freelance administration? Contact our partner www.regie-portage.fr on 01.76.54.05.27.