Business insurance in France

Setting up as a freelancer or small company in France, sort insurance into three piles. Legally mandatory for your activity: the ten-year « décennale » liability for anyone in construction, professional liability for regulated professions (health, law, real estate, finance), business-use cover on any vehicle. Contractually unavoidable: RC Pro (professional liability) — most French clients require the certificate before signing, and sole traders answer for professional faults with personal assets. Worth weighing: office/equipment cover, cyber, and above all income-protection (prévoyance), because the state safety net for the self-employed is thin.

Budget €10-60/month for a consultant’s RC Pro, €60-400/month for construction décennale depending on trade.

Frequently asked questions

Is professional liability insurance mandatory for a French micro-entrepreneur?

Only in regulated sectors (construction — where the décennale is compulsory and must appear on quotes and invoices —, health, transport, real estate…). Elsewhere it is optional in law but demanded by most business clients, and strongly advisable: the micro-entrepreneur status does not shield personal assets from liability claims.

Full details (profiles, breed pages, comparisons) on the French page.