Multi-service company: our advice on setting up your business

Becoming an entrepreneur in the multiservice sector is all the rage these days. And with good reason! If you're good with your hands at DIY or gardening, you could set up your own business.

A multiservice company will allow you to be self-employed, even if you don't have a diploma or professional qualification, as long as you carry out small jobs and simple interventions.

But the administrative formalities are often an obstacle to young entrepreneurs who don't dare to take the plunge. We'll explain everything from A to Z, including the start-up form, registration and social security contributions!

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Multiservice company: definition

A multiservice business is a company that offers a range of specialist activities (building, plumbing, electricity, cleaning, personal assistance, etc.) that can be linked to the term facility management.

The sectors are varied and give you the opportunity to adapt to demand. The aim is, of course, to be qualified in one professional activity as well as another.

The question of legal status

You can choose between 4 different legal forms:

• The auto-entreprise or micro-entreprise status, which is the most widely used because of its simplicity. We particularly recommend this status if you are just starting out.
• The sole proprietorship (EIRL),
• EURL,
• SASU.

⚠️ ️Some activities are excluded from the micro-entrepreneur scheme, such as the liberal professions (artist-author, nurse, chartered accountant, etc.) and agricultural activities.

Turnover thresholds

To be eligible for the micro-enterprise scheme, your actual annual turnover (excluding tax) must not exceed a certain threshold, depending on the nature of your activity:

• 176,200 from 1 January 2020 for sales of goods, objects, supplies of food to be taken away or consumed on the premises and accommodation services (bed and breakfast, hotels);
  
  
• 72,600 from 1 January 2020 for services and liberal professions subject to non-commercial profits (BNC) and other service providers subject to industrial and commercial profits (BIC).

☝️ Please note: if you wish to offer mixed activities, your total turnover must not exceed €176,200.

In brief:

Source: LegalPlace

Disadvantages

There are 3 main areas where you need to be careful:

• the qualifications of your staff to ensure quality services for the long-term survival of your local network,
• your financial situation,
• insurance cover in the event of a dispute.

Don't panic, these problems can be avoided if you are well prepared from the outset, and we'll look at them in more detail in the next steps.

4 steps to setting up your multiservice business

Step 1: Create a business plan

The first step for any good entrepreneur is to create a business plan. Take as much time as you need to ensure that your business plan is solid in every respect. It will set out the ins and outs of your project, including :

• the viability of your project from a strategic and financial point of view (business activity, market research),
• the teams you will be working with,
• the elements that differentiate you from your competitors,
• the financial plan (financial requirements, expected return on investment and possible taxes).

Stage 2: choosing the right structure

If you choose to set up as an auto-entrepreneur, the steps to follow are very simple. Micro-entrepreneurship is highly recommended if you are setting up your first multiservice business.

All you have to do is register as an auto-entrepreneur online. If your activity is commercial, then you need to register with the Registre du commerce et des sociétés.

Be careful, however, to check which activities are eligible for auto-entrepreneur status.

If your activities do not meet these criteria, choose another legal status that is better suited to your needs.

The activities excluded from micro-entrepreneur status are :

• agricultural activities covered by the Mutualité Sociale Agricole (MSA) social security scheme,
• self-employed activities covered by pension funds other than CIPAV or Sécurité Sociale des Indépendants,
• activities relating to real estate VAT,
• craft activities paid for by royalties.

Stage 3: administrative and legal formalities

Now we come to the part you dread most: the administrative part.

When you set up a micro-business, the formalities are fairly straightforward:

• registering with the Registre du commerce et des sociétés for commercial activities (register with the Répertoire des métiers for craft activities) ;
  
  
• declare all the activities offered by your multiservice business. If you are setting up your company, the PO CMB Cerfa 15253-04 must be specified with the main activity and all secondary activities. The choice of main activity will have an impact on the APE code (main activity carried out) allocated by INSEE. This code depends on the NAF (French nomenclature of activities) and will appear on most of your administrative documents. So make sure that the APE code matches your business perfectly;
  
  
• the choice of main activity also has an impact on the choice of Business Formalities Centre (URSSAF for the self-employed, the Chambre de Métiers for the self-employed, etc. ). rales, the Chambre de Métiers et de l'Artisanat for craft activities, the Chambre de Commerce et de l'Industrie for commercial activities or the provision of services);
  
  
• forwarding proof of address and a sworn statement of non-conviction.

💡 Advice:

• Take out auto-entrepreneur decennial insurance if your activities are construction-related (plasterer or tiler, for example).
• Take out professional indemnity insurance for any vehicles you might use.

Step 4: Develop your business

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As a local network, your reputation will be built up through word of mouth, which is why it's so important to provide high-quality services. It's important to maintain a good brand image in order to attract new customers while retaining those who are used to your services.

If you're still not sure how to go about developing your business, there are a number of competent software packages in the field.

🛠 Praxedo, for example, is a service management software package that enables you to:

• improve the quality of your services
• develop your business
• build customer loyalty
• secure your cash flow,
• and make the most of your staff.

All on a single platform!

With a tool like this, you can manage your work orders and schedules online, organise your activities efficiently and save time so you can concentrate on your core business.

What advice do you have for new multiservice entrepreneurs? Tell us in the comments!