For a 2026 planning example, there are 261 Monday-to-Friday calendar days. Subtracting the nine national public holidays that fall on weekdays leaves 252 days. This assumes those holidays are not worked and excludes additional local holidays. The actual schedule, solidarity-day arrangements, leave, and nonbillable work must be considered separately.
Leave, rest days, absences, and work that cannot be billed all reduce the time available for assignments. Sound portage billable utilization planning starts with those limits, then helps you set a realistic estimate of consulting capacity in France. If you work through portage salarial, check your contract terms as well as your calendar.
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Key Takeaways
- France has 252 theoretical weekdays in 2026 after nine weekday public holidays.
- This figure is a calendar baseline, not a billable-day forecast.
- Leave, rest days, and absences reduce available work time.
- Meetings, sales, and administration can also take time away from client work.
- Recalculate the baseline each year; calendar totals change.
Why Working Days Do Not Equal Billable Days in French Consulting
A calendar can show many available days, yet only some may be billed to a client. In France, the count depends on the day-count method, time off, and the terms of each assignment. A clear capacity plan names these factors before you set a rate or promise a start date.
Distinguish jours ouvrés, jours ouvrables, and calendar days
In common French usage, jours ouvrés are Monday through Friday. Jours ouvrables usually cover Monday through Saturday, excluding public holidays. Calendar days include every day of the week, including weekends and holidays.
These counts serve different purposes. A capacity estimate should state its method, since a six-day count can look larger than the time available for a standard Monday-to-Friday assignment. For French working days 2026, check the calendar and relevant public holidays before estimating client time.
Account for paid leave, rest days, and the solidarity day
Annual capacity must account for congés payés, RTT, public holidays, and the journée de solidarité. These days affect availability, yet they do not all have the same status or treatment. Check your contract and work schedule before converting annual days into billable days.
Portage salarial can reduce the time spent on payroll and contract administration, leaving more room for client work. Providers such as ITG’s portage support handle these tasks and provide activity statements, which can help you track time and payments. Administrative support does not make every available day billable; client demand and assignment terms still matter.
| Day-count or time-off item | What it includes | Why it matters for capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Jours ouvrés | Usually Monday through Friday | Useful for a standard workweek estimate |
| Jours ouvrables | Usually Monday through Saturday, excluding public holidays | Can produce a higher count than a five-day workweek |
| Calendar days | Every day, including weekends and holidays | Often used for calendar-based contract periods |
| Leave and rest days | Congés payés, RTT, public holidays, and the journée de solidarité, as applicable | Reduce or shape the time available for assignments |
| Billable days | Days actually worked for a client under assignment terms | May be fewer than total available working days |
Portage billable utilization planning: Build a Realistic Capacity and Rate Estimate
In consulting, a weekday is not always a day you can invoice. A sound estimate separates time available for work from time a client agrees to pay for. This gives you a clearer basis for setting your rate and planning income.
Separate available workdays from client-billable days
Start with your working days for the year. Subtract leave, public holidays, training, and rest days. Set aside time for prospecting, proposals, administration, and client meetings that are not billed. Allow for gaps between assignments, too. The remaining days are a more realistic estimate of client-billable days.
Use this estimate to set your taux journalier moyen, or TJM. If your plan assumes every weekday brings revenue, the rate may not cover your full workload. A simple monthly forecast can help you track expected assignments against time spent on unpaid tasks.
Check portage salarial pay and contract terms before setting capacity
With portage salarial, the client pays for the assignment, while the portage company manages invoicing and employment administration under its contract. Ask for a full estimate of portage salarial remuneration, including management fees, employment costs, expenses, and expected net pay. Check which costs can be reimbursed and what proof is required.
Before agreeing on capacity or price, confirm the assignment terms and payment dates. Compare the same client budget across available work arrangements; this guide to portage salarial and micro-entrepreneur outlines factors to review. A realistic forecast should account for both busy periods and time without a client.
Conclusion
A reliable consulting capacity checklist France-based professionals can use starts with the right calendar. For 2026, confirm whether the 252-day Monday-to-Friday baseline fits your schedule and holiday rules. Then subtract paid leave, applicable RTT days, other rest days, and expected absences.
Next, allow time for sales, administration, training, and unexpected gaps. The days left are your realistic billable capacity. Use billable utilization planning to test whether your French consulting TJM can support the client revenue you need.
For a clearer view of available work, demand, and project margins, capacity planning tools can help you compare scenarios and spot gaps early.
Before relying on a portage salarial estimate, review your contract and the current terms of Article 21 of IDCC 3219. Treat simulator results as guidance, not a guarantee, and adjust your plan as your workload changes.
FAQ
How many working days are there in France in 2026?
There are 261 Monday-to-Friday calendar days in 2026. Subtracting nine national weekday holidays gives a 252-day planning baseline, assuming all are nonworking. Local holidays and the employer’s actual arrangements can change that baseline. It is not a legal annual work quota or a billable-day target.
What is the difference between jours ouvrés, jours ouvrables, and calendar days?
In common French usage, jours ouvrés are Monday through Friday. Jours ouvrables generally include Monday through Saturday. Calendar days include every day, including weekends and holidays. Choose the counting method that fits your purpose and state which one you use.
Do all 252 days count as available workdays?
No. Subtract applicable leave, rest days, absences, and nonbillable activities from the relevant schedule. Do not automatically subtract another day for solidarity: it generally involves work during time previously not worked, with arrangements that vary. Check the employer’s calendar and official public-holiday guidance to avoid double counting.
Why are available workdays different from client-billable days?
Available workdays describe time you could devote to work. Client-billable days are the days you can actually charge to a client. Prospecting, proposals, non-billable client meetings, administration, training, and gaps between assignments all use time without necessarily generating client billings.
How should I estimate billable utilization as an independent consultant?
Start with the calendar that matches your schedule, then deduct planned leave, applicable rest days, expected absences, and realistic time for non-billable work. Allow for contingency, too. The remaining days provide a more useful estimate of billable capacity than the raw count of weekdays.
How do I use my billable days to set a TJM?
Estimate your required client billings, then compare that target with the number of billable days you expect to have. This helps you assess whether your TJM—your average daily rate—fits your capacity and income goals. A realistic estimate should account for time that cannot be billed.
What should I check in a portage salarial contract before setting a capacity target?
Review your portage salarial contract and the current terms of IDCC 3219 Article 21. Check how the applicable rules and contract address pay and rest days, and confirm any details with your portage company. Treat simulator results as indicative, not guaranteed.
Should I use the 2026 working-day figure for another year?
No. The 252-day figure applies to the 2026 calendar and its weekday public holidays. Recalculate the calendar baseline for each year, then adjust it for your own schedule, leave, absences, and non-billable activities.
Official and professional resources
- France's official portage salarial guide
- French Parliament: the 2027 finance bill and its legislative status
Compare your assignment assumptions with the portage salary simulator. Results are estimates based on the inputs provided.
