Portage salarial offers a clear path for US consultants who want independence with employee protections in France. This model lets you sell services directly to clients while a société portage handles contracts, invoicing, payroll, and compliance.
You keep control of rates, hours, and project choice, all while gaining access to sécurité sociale, unemployment coverage, and retirement contributions. A contrat de travail with the société portage converts your revenue into a monthly salary and gives you a payslip lenders accept.
This legal framework is defined in Article L1251-64 of the French Code du travail and follows the branch convention (IDCC 3219). It limits missions to 36 months and preserves consultant autonomy. For a clear list of benefits and practical steps, see the advantages of the model, including typical net pay after fees and contributions.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Work independently while a société portage manages administrative tasks.
- Keep control of your rates and schedule and still access protection sociale and sécurité sociale.
- Legal recognition (Article L1251-64) and a convention collective provide safeguards.
- A contrat de travail transforms invoices into a reliable salaire portage salarial.
- Ideal for US experts serving French or international clients without forming a local company.
Why choose Portage salarial in France today
For US consultants, a hybrid employment solution in France can combine entrepreneurial freedom with the safety of an employment contract. This model gives you autonomy to set your rates and pick missions while providing employee-level protections.
Practical benefits matter: you get affiliation to the général social scheme and health cover via sécurité sociale. Retirement contributions, possible unemployment rights, RC Pro insurance, and a monthly payslip make financing and loans easier.
Working through a société portage keeps admin off your desk. They handle contracts, invoicing, and payroll so you can focus on clients and delivery.
« Salarié porté status gives flexibility with clear legal standing and reliable salary documentation. »
- Employee protections (CDD/CDI) with consulting freedom.
- Faster onboarding and compliant invoicing to French/EU clients.
- Acts as a de-risked runway for market testing or EMEA transitions.
Enterprises gain expert talent without adding headcount, and consultants—young graduates to retirees—keep commercial control while enjoying robust protection sociale and the predictability of a statut salarié.
Portage salarial, defined and recognized by the French Code du travail
French law now defines a clear employment framework that links a portage company, a carried professional, and a client firm.
Legal definition under Article L1251-64 and the convention collective
Article L1251-64 of the Code du travail states that portage salarial is a set of contractual relations between an entreprise de portage, a personne portée, and client companies. It gives the carried professional an employee status and mandates remuneration by the portage firm.
A brief history and current recognition
The model began in the late 1970s and earned formal status in law n°2008-596 (2008). Today the system is reinforced by the convention collective (IDCC 3219), which sets pay floors, classifications, and protections.
What “relation contractuelle tripartite” means in practice
The relation contractuelle tripartite relies on three contracts: a contrat de travail (CDD or CDI) with the salarié porté, a convention portage documenting collaboration, and a contrat de mission between the société portage and the entreprise cliente.
| Key element | Who signs | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Contrat de travail | Personne portée & société portage | Employee status and payroll |
| Convention de portage | Personne portée & société portage | Working terms and expense rules |
| Contrat de mission | Société portage & entreprise cliente | Scope, rates, timelines (within two working days) |
As an employee of the société portage salarial, your chiffre affaires is converted into payroll after frais gestion and social contributions. Proper handling of frais professionnels under the convention can improve net outcomes.
« Cette forme emploi reduces legal ambiguity and helps internationals access the French market safely. »
How the tripartite model works from first contact to first paycheck
The tripartite process connects you, the client, and the employer firm in a clear chain. As a salarié porté, you find and negotiate the mission directly with the entreprise cliente. You set scope, duration, and rates with the client.
The three parties: roles and responsibilities
- Salarié porté: sources missions, signs the contrat de travail, delivers the work and submits the monthly activity report (CRA).
- Société de portage: becomes the legal employer, signs the commercial contract with the client within two working days, invoices, and handles payroll.
- Entreprise cliente: receives services, validates the CRA, and pays the invoice to the société de portage.
From negotiation to invoicing: mission workflow
After you agree terms with the client, the société de portage drafts a commercial contract within two working days reflecting those terms. You then formalize employment via CDD or CDI with the employer firm.
Monthly activity report and salary timeline
Your payslip depends on the CRA validated by the client. Once the client pays, the société de portage converts the funds into salary and issues the payslip. Accurate CRA submissions support timely payments chaque mois.
| Step | Who | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Negotiation | Salarié porté & entreprise cliente | Before contract |
| Commercial contract | Société de portage & entreprise cliente | Within two working days |
| Employment contract | Personne portée & société de portage | Before mission start (CDD or CDI) |
| Validation & payment | Entreprise cliente validates CRA | Payment cycle → payslip |
Note: the société de portage is not obliged to provide work between assignments. For details on employee rights in this setup, see employee rights in portage salarial.
Who can become a salarié porté
If your work is mainly intellectual and you can run your own client hunt, the salarié porté route is often a match.
The model targets professionals offering consulting, IT, HR, marketing, engineering, coaching, or training. Your activité professionnelle must be advisory or expert-based; manual trades and many regulated services are not eligible.
Eligibility and experience
You need either a Bac+2 degree or at least three years of relevant experience to qualify. This proves you can operate independently and price your services.
Autonomy, pricing and client work
As a salarié porté you set your daily rate and negotiate terms directly with clients. Good practice: state outcomes in proposals, tie fees to impact, and validate your market positioning.
Convention rules and safeguards
The convention collective protects minimum remuneration levels tied to PMSS. It also mandates a 5% business development bonus and a 10% paid leave indemnity.
For CDI contracts, a 10% reserve on the last mission base helps cover gaps between assignments.
- To faire portage salarial effectively, build repeatable acquisition (networking, content, referrals).
- Confirm your offer targets expert, non-manual services and fits the statut salarié porté.
Contracts that structure your activity
A set of written agreements shapes how you work, get paid, and stay protected when operating in France. These documents make roles and timelines explicit for you, the client, and the employer firm.
Contrat de travail in CDD or CDI: what’s included
The contrat travail is between you and the société portage salarial. It mirrors standard French employment contracts and secures payroll, social contributions, and benefits.
Two options exist: a CDD for finite missions (renewable twice, max 18 months total) and a CDI for ongoing work with more flexible termination rules. Choose CDD for short projects and CDI if client demand is steady.
The convention de portage: framework of collaboration
The convention portage governs services the société portage provides, retirement fund affiliations, and references to the convention collective. It clarifies expense rules, business development support, and dispute procedures.
Contrat de mission / commercial contract with the entreprise cliente
The commercial contract between the société portage and the entreprise portage captures scope, deliverables, timeline, daily rate, payment terms, and liability clauses. It must be signed within two working days of mission start.
« A clear mission contract speeds invoicing and reduces disagreement over scope or change requests. »
- Why it matters: these documents align expectations and ensure timely payslips and payments.
- Practical tip: map your SOW to French norms to avoid validation delays.
- Benefit: most sociétés de portage template agreements, saving time and legal risk.
Understanding salary in portage salarial and your real take-home
Knowing the step-by-step conversion from billed revenue to monthly salary clears up cash-flow surprises. Below is a short, practical guide to how your invoice becomes the salaire net you receive.
From chiffre d’affaires to salaire net: typical breakdown
Start with your chiffre affaires (invoiced HT). First deduct the frais gestion charged by the société portage. Next come employer and employee social contributions. The result is net salary before income tax.
Benchmark: many consultants see roughly 46–54% of CA HT as take‑home pay—often rounded to about 50%—depending on fees, social rates, and expense handling.
Frais de gestion, cotisations, and their impact
Frais gestion typically range from 3% to 12%. They cover admin, payroll and compliance. A lower fee does not always mean better value if support, expense policy or guarantees differ.
Social contributions commonly total around 50% of CA HT before income tax. That is the main driver of the gap between invoice and salaire portage.
Minimum remuneration and PMSS references in practice
The convention collective sets mandated elements: a 10% paid leave indemnity, a 5% business-origin bonus, and reserves such as a 10% CDI reserve. In a CDD you may also get a 10% precariousness premium at contract end.
Minimum floors tied to PMSS help protect salariés portés: junior ~70% PMSS, senior ~75%, expert ~85%. Price your TJM above these thresholds to meet minimums.
- Distinguish frais professionnels that clients reimburse from non‑refacturable professional expenses; correct handling can improve your salaire portage salarial.
- Salary is processed chaque mois after the validated activity report and client payment under the contrat travail.
Social protection that mirrors a classic employee
As an employee of the employer firm, you receive social protections close to those of a regular French worker.
Sécurité sociale, health, retirement and unemployment
Affiliation to the général scheme means you join the sécurité sociale and get core health cover and pension contributions like any salarié.
Many firms also offer or arrange a mutuelle to top up refunds and reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Under conditions, salariés portés can qualify for ARE (unemployment benefits), which adds income protection between missions.
Professional liability and insurance
The employer typically holds mandatory responsabilité civile professionnelle and an assurance responsabilité civile to cover client risks.
This insurance lowers your personal exposure and reassures clients that work is covered and compliant.
- Payslips and a stable statut salarié help when applying for mortgages or leases in France.
- The société portage salarial handles declarations and compliance so you can focus on delivery.
« Comprehensive protection reduces risk and makes the arrangement attractive to international consultants. »
Key advantages that Portage salarial permits
Enjoy full business control while a professional employer handles the paperwork and legal compliance for you.
Independence with administrative peace of mind
You keep your pipeline, pricing, and delivery. A société portage manages contracts, invoicing, payroll, and tax filings.
Result: you focus on clients while avoiding time-consuming gestion administrative.
Access to training and business development support
Many firms provide courses, coaching, and a network of peers. That helps a consultant porté sharpen sales, negotiation, and delivery skills.
Events and peer exchanges also enable teaming on larger bids and practical learning.
Easier financing thanks to payslips and stable status
Reliable payslips and a CDD/CDI make bank approvals simpler for mortgages or loans.
Guarantee financière obligations and insurance backing offer salary security and client confidence. You also keep accès to protection sociale and the sécurité sociale, tout conservant your autonomy.
« This setup combines freelancer freedom with employee stability — a pragmatic growth platform. »
Looking for a partner? Find a trusted société de portage to scale your activity without forming a company.
Constraints and limits to factor into your business model
Before you commit, note practical limits that shape how this employment model fits your business.
Who cannot use this route
Several regulated professions are excluded. Lawyers, doctors, architects, notaries, and expert-comptables cannot operate under this scheme.
Services to individuals are also barred under Code Article 7231-1. Confirm your activity classification early to avoid compliance risks.
Rates, durations and income variability
Market reality matters: many assignments require a minimum TJM around €300/day to cover charges and meet convention floors.
Missions are capped at 36 months. That limit forces regular review of client relationships and pipeline health.
What the employer firm does not supply
The société portage is not obliged to provide assignments or salary between missions. Pay depends directly on your billed chiffre affaires.
In a CDI, a 10% reserve can partially buffer gaps, but it is not a full replacement for steady sales.
« Plan for downtime: pricing, pipeline work, training and marketing fill the gaps. »
Practical takeaways
- Check eligibility if your activity touches regulated domains or services to individuals.
- Price prudently to cover social charges and frais professionnels.
- Develop sales consistently—your net pay follows your invoiced volume.
Which activities qualify — and which do not
Not every freelance activity fits this employment bridge; the law favors knowledge work and clear deliverables. The model is designed for expert services you can describe, price, and deliver without performing regulated acts.
Typical eligible activities
Knowledge and digital work are prime candidates: strategic consulting, IT and software projects, data analytics, UX and web development, SEO/SEA, social media and analytics.
HR advisory, marketing, finance and management transition work, engineering project management, training, coaching, and many sales or business development roles also fit well.
Accepted commercial exceptions
Certain commercial tasks, like business development or limited real estate services, can qualify depending on how the service is structured and documented.
Clear exclusions
Regulated liberal professions (lawyers, doctors, pharmacists, architects, notaries, expert‑comptables) are excluded. So are services à la personne under Article 7231-1.
« When in doubt, check with your société portage and frame the offer as advisory deliverables, not regulated acts. »
- Document deliverables and avoid regulated acts in proposals and contracts.
- If your niche sits near a boundary, verify eligibility with the société portage before signing.
- US consultants working remotely for French clients typically qualify when services are advisory or project-based.
The role of a société de portage salarial
A société de portage salarial acts as the formal employer and a compliance hub for freelance consultants. It wraps administrative, legal, and financial services around your independent work so you can focus on clients.
Employer of record, invoicing, payroll, and compliance
The firm signs your contrat travail, invoices the client, and processes payroll as the employer of record. It also makes social declarations and coordinates occupational health checks.
Operational flow: contracts drafted quickly, CRAs/timesheets validated, invoices sent, payments tracked, and salaries paid.
Guarantee financière, insurance, and legal obligations
To protect salaries the company maintains a statutory guarantee financière. It must carry cover such as assurance responsabilité civile and responsabilité civile professionnelle.
Compliance duties include verifying qualifications, respecting contract durations, and avoiding prohibited client scenarios. Non-compliance can trigger fines or legal sanctions.
« A robust société portage salarial reduces risk for consultants and clients by securing pay and ensuring legal conformity. »
- Core role: employs you, invoices clients, runs payroll, and ensures tax and labor compliance.
- Employer duties: manage the contrat travail, social filings, and workplace health obligations.
- Financial safeguards: guarantee financière plus liability insurance protect salariés portés and clients.
- Fees: frais gestion fund payroll tools, legal support, declarations, and training.
- Why it matters: sociétés portage create a compliant bridge entre entreprise portage and the client, lowering risk.
For practical comparisons and to select a reputable partner, learn more about sociétés portage.
What enterprises gain — and their obligations as clients
Enterprises gain fast access to vetted consultants while outsourcing payroll and compliance duties. Using an entreprise portage salarial lets companies fill short-term needs without adding permanent headcount.
When to engage external employment and what is prohibited
Use this route for defined projects, niche expertise, or peak workloads. It works well when internal teams lack specific skills.
Do not use it to replace absent or striking employees, or to assign dangerous tasks that could endanger a salarié porté.
Contracting, payment and client duties
The commercial contract must be signed within two working days after the mission starts so terms are clear and enforceable. Timely payment of invoices and prompt communication about scope or delays help the société portage and the consultant deliver smoothly.
Define scope, deliverables, and acceptance criteria up front to support accurate CRAs and payroll conversion under the contrat travail.
Legal obligations and sanctions
Under the code travail, client entreprise portage obligations include respecting the two-day rule and avoiding subordination of the salarié porté. Failure to comply can trigger fines starting at €3,750 and rising to €7,500 for repeat offences; some breaches carry higher penalties.
- Tip: Check responsabilité civile coverage and inform the société portage of any contract risks.
- Honoring rules builds trust with entreprise cliente and speeds future procurement.
Who Portage salarial is designed for
This model blends professional autonomy with employment-level security.
Executives, consultants, and freelancers seeking flexibility
Senior consultants and executives use the scheme to scale consulting without creating a company. They keep control of pricing and clients while accessing a statut salarié and core protection sociale.
Creators, career changers, job seekers, and young graduates
Creators test ideas and validate markets quickly. The payroll and compliance support from a société portage reduces admin so you can focus on product-market fit.
Job seekers may combine ARE with earnings under rules that protect unemployment rights. Young graduates build portfolios, get training, and join a professional community.
Retirees looking to combine pension and consulting income
Retirees often supplement pensions with part-time missions. This approach keeps work insured and compliant for salariés portés.
« This forme emploi makes autonomy accessible while minimizing administrative burden and risk. »
- Advantages: steady development, access to avantages sociaux, and payroll-backed credibility.
- Choose CDD for short tests or CDI for ongoing consulting to match your goals.
Portage salarial for international assignments
International assignments let a French-employed consultant deliver global projects while keeping French social coverage.
How it works: a salarié porté can work for foreign clients or travel temporarily while the entreprise portage handles payroll and formalities.
Detachment rules may keep your affiliation to the sécurité sociale and preserve unemployment and pension continuity. This helps maintain stable protection sociale when you move between countries.
The employer firm navigates cross-border admin, aligns contracts to local rules, and advises on tax residency. Early scoping of fiscal and social impacts is essential for longer missions.
Use cases: remote consulting to a US headquarters using a French subsidiary as the contracting party, or on-site EU projects paid through French payroll.
- Document travel, expenses, and work locations for correct insurance and tax treatment.
- Get the entreprise portage to confirm detachment or affiliation steps before departure.
« This approach reduces setup friction for one-off or time-limited missions while tout conservant French benefits. »
In short, portage salarial permet cross-border agility for a consultant porté, offering compliant invoicing and fewer administrative hurdles than incorporating abroad.
How to choose the right société de portage
Picking the right employer partner makes the difference between steady pay and cash‑flow headaches. Focus on clear fees, solid guarantees, and practical tools that match your workflow.
Frais de gestion transparency, net salary impact, and VAT handling
Ask for a full breakdown of the frais gestion (typical range 3–12%) and what it covers: payroll, legal, tools, and training. A low headline rate can hide extra charges that cut your net.
Compare how each firm treats frais professionnels, VAT, and reimbursements. These rules change how much of your chiffre affaires becomes salaire portage.
Financial strength, guarantee, and professional affiliations
Validate financial health. Check the guarantee financière amount, insurance coverage, and memberships in recognized bodies. Strong backing protects you if a client delays or defaults.
Training, tools, and an active consultant network
Look for platforms that speed proposals, CRAs, invoicing, and reporting. Training, access to epargne salariale (PEE/PERCO), and a lively community can open missions for a consultant porté.
« Transparency on fees and guarantees matters more than marketing when assessing risk. »
| Criterion | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Frais gestion | Full fee schedule (percent + services) | Direct impact on net pay and budgeting |
| Expense & VAT policy | Reimbursement rules & VAT handling | Affects usable chiffre affaires and net salary |
| Guarantee & insurance | Guarantee financière amount, RC Pro | Protects salaire portage against client default |
| Tools & support | Dashboard, invoicing, proposal templates | Saves time and improves collections |
| Community & benefits | Training, events, epargne salariale access | Growth opportunities and added value |
- Practical tip: request an apples‑to‑apples quote using the same rate card and expense profile before you choisir société portage.
- Review SLAs for contract turnaround, payroll cutoffs, and collection processes to avoid surprises in gestion administrative.
Finding missions and growing as a consultant porté
Momentum arrives once your value proposition speaks to an urgent business need. Start by defining a tight niche and an ideal client profile. This makes outreach clearer and proposals faster to write.
Defining your niche, prospecting, and personal branding
Position clearly: list outcomes you deliver and the types of clients who gain most.
Build a prospecting engine: combine targeted outbound, warm intros, and active community work.
Showcase proof: publish short case studies, speak at events, and post measurable results to boost credibility.
Leveraging platforms, events, and a société portage network
Use lead platforms to validate pricing and test offers. Tap your société portage for referrals, teaming, and training.
- Create packaged services or retainers to smooth income.
- Track pipeline metrics and tweak win rates regularly.
- Align your activité professionnelle to high-ROI engagements that cover fees and expenses.
Tip: attend workshops and negotiation training provided by your portage partner to speed up deals.
For networking tactics and community strategies, see the professional network in portage salarial.
Conclusion
A clear, tripartite employment path lets consultants turn client invoices into protected monthly pay while keeping control of delivery.
Portage salarial provides a legally recognised framework that converts your chiffre affaires into a salaire net under CDD or CDI. Expect roughly half of CA HT after frais gestion and social contributions, depending on expense rules and PMSS floors.
Choose a solid société portage to protect compliance, speed invoicing, and access tools and networks that grow your pipeline. Note mission caps (36 months) and excluded professions when you plan offers.
Map goals, estimate your daily rate and likely salaire portage salarial, then speak with an entreprise portage or société portage to structure your first mission. -ce portage salarial can be a practical bridge for US professionals in France.
FAQ
What is the flexible employment solution described here?
This solution lets experienced professionals bill clients through a specialized company that handles invoicing, payroll, and administrative tasks. The worker keeps operational independence while gaining the protections of an employee status under the French labor code.
Who are the three parties involved in the tripartite relationship?
The three parties are the consultant who provides the service, the managing company that employs and pays the consultant, and the client company that orders and pays for the mission. Contracts among the three clarify responsibilities, billing, and missions.
Is this arrangement legally recognised in France?
Yes. It is defined in the French Labor Code under Article L1251-64 and covered by a dedicated collective agreement. That legal framework sets rules for minimum remuneration, contract types, and safeguards for all parties.
Who can use this model?
Qualified professionals offering intellectual services—consultants, IT specialists, trainers, and engineers—can use it. Typical eligibility includes a relevant diploma or several years of experience and the ability to work autonomously and negotiate fees.
How does payment flow from client to consultant?
The client pays the managing company after invoicing. That company deducts management fees, social contributions, and any professional expenses, then issues a payslip and pays the consultant net salary each month.
What are management fees and how do they affect net pay?
Management fees cover administrative services such as invoicing, payroll, and insurance. They are taken from the consultant’s turnover before social contributions and net salary are calculated, so higher fees reduce take-home pay.
What social protections does the consultant receive?
The consultant benefits from social security coverage similar to a traditional employee: health insurance, retirement contributions, family benefits, and access to unemployment coverage when applicable.
Is professional liability insurance required?
Yes. Professional civil liability insurance is typically required to protect the consultant and the client from claims arising from the professional activity. The managing company may offer or require proof of coverage.
Are all activities eligible under this model?
Many advisory and knowledge-based services qualify, such as consulting, IT, HR, marketing, training, and engineering. Regulated professions and personal services to individuals are usually excluded by law or collective rules.
Can retired professionals or recent graduates use this option?
Yes. Retirees can combine consulting income with pensions, and young graduates can access a protected employment status while developing client relationships, provided they meet eligibility and mission criteria.
What contract types structure the relationship?
The scheme typically uses an employment contract (fixed-term or open-ended) between the consultant and the managing company, a service agreement that frames collaboration, and a mission or commercial contract with the client company.
How are invoicing and fiscal matters handled, including VAT?
The managing company issues invoices to clients, handles VAT where applicable, collects payments, and reconciles accounts. Consultants should check VAT rules for their activity and the impact on their net income.
What safeguards protect consultants financially?
The collective agreement sets minimum remuneration rules and safeguards. In addition, many managing companies maintain financial guarantees and subscribe to insurance policies to secure consultant compensation.
How do I choose a reliable managing company?
Compare management fee transparency, financial strength, available guarantees, professional affiliations, training offers, and quality of tools and networks. Client testimonials and clear contract terms also help in selection.
What limitations should I consider before starting?
Consider mission duration limits, daily rates thresholds, excluded activities, and potential income variability. Also check what support the managing company offers between missions and whether it matches your business plan.
Can international assignments be managed under this system?
Yes, but international work introduces additional rules: tax residency, social security coordination, and cross-border compliance. Always confirm the managing company’s experience with international missions before accepting such assignments.
How does this solution help companies that hire consultants?
Client companies gain a flexible, low-risk way to access expertise without handling payroll or employment administration. They must respect contracting rules, pay invoices on time, and avoid prohibited subcontracting practices.
What documentation do I need to start working this way?
You’ll need a signed employment contract, a mission agreement with the client, proof of professional liability insurance, identity and qualification documents, and any forms required by the managing company to process invoices and payroll.
