Business plan: proving economic viability to French authorities

Why does the business plan decide what happens next?

Launching a business after your studies requires proof of economic viability. For a commercial, craft or industrial activity, Service Public lists three documents. They are a project presentation, a business plan and a multi-year budget forecast. For a liberal profession, you must in particular show sufficient income. In both cases, the plan makes economic viability readable.

This document never guarantees the decision. However, it shows how your project will move from idea to first customers, then to a lasting activity. For many graduates, it is the first full costing of a project.

The seven sections of a strong application

Each section answers a precise question from the authorities.

Your profile matters particularly when proving economic viability. Link your master's degree, internships or work placements to the offer. The reader then understands why you, and why now.

Start from evidence, not from a wished-for figure

You must be able to explain every assumption. Observed rates, a realistic number of assignments, working capacity, seasonality and payment terms: everything needs a justification. Quotes, exchanges with prospects, letters of intent or tests strengthen the reasoning. Still, they do not replace the figures.

For example, a translator aims for 12 assignments a month at €250. That gives €3,000 of monthly revenue at cruising speed. She then shows where those assignments come from: two partner agencies and a network of former classmates. For economic viability, that link between figure and evidence reassures the reader.

The costs you must not forget

The forecast includes social contributions, taxes and levies under the chosen scheme. It adds insurance, software, travel, marketing, bank charges and your own pay. Finally, a cautious scenario shows how the project copes with a slower start. Our seven-step method details each stage.

Many young graduates underestimate their own income. Yet the project has to support you: without a realistic salary, economic viability stays theoretical. This point weighs heavily for anyone starting out with little savings.

Economic viability: frequently asked questions

Here are the doubts that come up most often.

Must the business already exist?

It depends on the document list that applies to your application. Check whether it asks for a draft registration or an existing business. In France, formalities go through the one-stop shop run by INPI.

Over how many years should you cost the project?

Service Public refers to a multi-year budget. Three years remains a common period for this kind of application, with monthly detail for year one.

Does an optimistic figure help?

No. An inflated figure undermines the credibility of the whole application. Prefer a cautious assumption, tied to evidence.

Can you test the activity beforehand?

Check the rules of your residence card before sending any invoice. A properly declared test, such as a one-off assignment, then provides valuable market evidence.

A sensible timetable

Work on the business plan in three stages. First, validate the offer and the market with a few prospects. Then build the figures and test a cautious scenario. Finally, gather the evidence and check that everything fits together.

Your residence card expires on a fixed date, so start from that deadline and work backwards. Allow several weeks between the first draft and filing, so that your economic viability rests on solid ground. Also ask someone from the sector or an adviser to reread the document. That way, you spot weak points in your economic viability before the authorities do.

What Juristelo builds with you

Through guided questions, Juristelo helps you set out your assumptions. It generates linked tables: income statement, monthly cash flow, financing plan and profitability indicators. You adjust a price or a cost and immediately see the effect on economic viability.

You remain responsible for the facts and the supporting documents. Before filing, compare the result with your prefecture's current list and the official Service Public page. For the general framework, read our guide for international students. Also review the seven mistakes to avoid before you file.