--- title: How to hire employees in France as a startup description: Hire in France via your own entity or an EOR, use a CDI unless a CDD is allowed, and check the collective agreement. It shapes the offer as much as pay. image: https://funded.club/hubfs/og_image_funded.png --- [![Primary\_logo](https://funded.club/hubfs/Primary_logo.svg)](https://funded.club/) [Book a call](https://funded.club/contact-us) - [Hire](https://funded.club) - [Pricing](https://funded.club/pricing) - [Find a job](https://funded.club/startupjobs) - [Case Studies](https://funded.club/case-studies) - [Locally](https://funded.club/case-studies/locally) - [Supernova](https://funded.club/case-studies/supernova) - [Isolocity](https://funded.club/case-studies/isolocity) - [WeTravel](https://funded.club/case-studies/wetravel) - [Digital Science](https://funded.club/case-studies/digital-science) - [Blog](https://funded.club/blog-results) - [Resources](https://funded.club/resources) - [Predict success](https://signup.predict.ventures/) - [Growth Planner](https://funded.club/growth-planner) - [Glossary](https://funded.club/glossary) - [FAQ](https://funded.club/faq) - [Contact us](https://funded.club/contact-us) [Book a call](https://funded.club/contact-us) - Engagement options: - [Hiring solutions](https://funded.club) - [Pay-as-you-go](https://funded.club/pricing) - Membership plan # How to hire employees in France as a startup [Ray Gibson](https://funded.club/blog/author/ray-gibson) Nov 9, 2026, 10:37:00 PM *Updated November 2026* To hire employees in France as a startup, you either set up a French entity and run payroll yourself, or use an employer of record (EOR) provider that employs the person on your behalf; contractors suit only independent freelance work. Before you make an offer, settle the contract type (usually a permanent CDI) and the collective agreement that applies, because French candidates judge an offer by those terms as much as by salary. That is the angle most founders miss. Two French offers with the same salary can look very different to a candidate once the contract type, collective agreement, classification and trial period are written down. ## Entity, EOR or contractor in France A French subsidiary (often a SAS) makes sense when you plan a real team there, but it takes time and ongoing administration, so few startups start there for one hire. An EOR provider becomes the legal employer, issues a French contract, applies the collective agreement that covers it and handles payroll and the declaration made before a new hire starts. Contracting with a *micro-entrepreneur* (self-employed) carries risk for a first hire. If the person works only for you, on your schedule and under your direction, French courts can treat the arrangement as employment. Our guide to [contractor or full-time for a first hire](https://funded.club/blog/contractor-or-full-time-first-hire) covers the trade-offs. ## CDI, CDD and the collective agreement shape the offer The **CDI** (open-ended contract) is the standard form of employment in France. The **CDD** (fixed-term contract) is only allowed for specific cases set out in law, such as replacing an absent employee or covering a temporary increase in activity. It is not a way to trial a new role, limits apply to its length and renewals, and one used outside those cases can be reclassified as a CDI. Most employers are covered by a *convention collective* tied to their sector. Many tech and consulting businesses fall under the Syntec agreement. The agreement can set minimum pay by job classification, notice periods, trial period rules and some benefits, so the classification you give the role is a real term of the offer. WHAT A US FOUNDER TENDS TO ASSUME - Salary and equity are the offer. - Any contract shape will do if both sides agree. - A short offer letter in English is enough. - The person can start almost immediately. WHAT A FRENCH CANDIDATE READS FIRST - CDI or CDD, and whether the role is *cadre*. - Which *convention collective* applies and their classification under it. - How long the *période d'essai* is and whether it can be renewed. - Gross annual salary, health cover (*mutuelle*) and a contract in French. Candidates also look at whether the role has *cadre* (executive) status, which affects pension arrangements and often working time. Many cadres work under a days-based arrangement (*forfait jours*), which is only valid where the collective agreement allows it. Employers must also offer complementary health insurance (*mutuelle*) and contribute to it. ## Trial period, notice and the French contract The *période d'essai* lets either side end the contract more easily early on, but its maximum length depends on the employee category and the collective agreement. It must be in the contract, and can only be renewed where the agreement allows it and the contract says so. Employment contracts in France are generally expected to be written in French. An English translation alongside is fine, but plan for the French version to be the one that counts. Notice periods matter more than founders expect, and cadres often have longer ones under their agreement. Build that in from the first interview, and use our [hiring timeline estimator](https://funded.club/hiring-timeline-estimator) to see how it moves your start date. STEP 1 Verbal yes Contract type and classification agreed. STEP 2 Written offer Your EOR or entity issues the French contract. STEP 3 Resignation The candidate hands in notice to their current employer. STEP 4 Notice period Often long for cadres, set by their agreement. STEP 5 Day one Hire declared beforehand, trial period begins. ## Worked example: a US startup hires its first sales lead in Paris Illustrative. A US Series A software company selling into French mid-market accounts wants its first sales lead in Paris, without opening a French subsidiary yet. | Decision | What they chose | Why | | --- | --- | --- | | **Employment route** | EOR provider | One hire, no entity, a French contract from day one. | | **Contract type** | CDI, cadre | The role is permanent, so a CDD would not fit the legal cases. | | **Collective agreement** | Confirmed with the EOR before the search | Classification and minimum pay were set before salary talks. | | **Start date** | Set after the candidate's notice | The chosen candidate had notice to serve, so day one moved later. | Their first draft was a US-style offer letter in English with an equity grant. Both finalists asked whether it was a CDI, whether the role was cadre, which agreement applied and how long the trial period was. A French CDI from the EOR answered all four, and the offer was accepted. Rules change and depend on each hire, so confirm contract type, classification and trial period with a French employment lawyer, accountant or your EOR provider before you send an offer. For the local talent pool, see [startup recruiting in Paris](https://funded.club/blog/startup-recruiter-paris). ## Where Funded.club fits We are a fixed-fee recruiting partner for funded startups across North America, Europe and APAC, with a fully remote team of recruiters, and since 2019 we've helped 500+ startups from Seed to Series D. We run the search, and your EOR provider or French entity handles the employment. One dedicated recruiter runs each search end to end, with first screened candidates within 7 days. The fee is fixed and agreed upfront, averaging 6 to 9% of salary against the 20 to 25% typical of contingency recruiters. For a role with a salary between $110,000 and $150,000, the fee is $11,500. If we don't deliver a shortlist of at least 3 qualified candidates within 30 days, you can claim the advance back in full. See our [pricing](https://funded.club/pricing). ## Frequently asked questions ### Can a foreign startup hire an employee in France without a French company? Yes. Many startups use an employer of record (EOR) provider, which becomes the legal employer in France and runs payroll while the startup directs the work. A French entity is worth considering once you plan a larger team there. ### Can I hire someone in France on a fixed-term CDD to try them out? No. A CDD is only allowed for specific cases set out in French law, such as replacing an absent employee, and testing a new hire is not one of them. The trial period (période d'essai) in a CDI serves that purpose, within legal limits. ### Does an employment contract in France have to be in French? Generally, yes. Employment contracts in France are expected to be written in French, and a translation can sit alongside. Worth a brief chat about your next hire? [Book a free call](https://funded.club/contact-us). ## Hiring after a funding round? First candidates in 7 days. Fixed-fee, no commission. [See pricing](https://funded.club/pricing) [Book a free call](https://funded.club/contact-us) [Try the Growth Planner](https://funded.club/growth-planner) [![Primary\_logo](https://funded.club/hubfs/funded-images2022/Primary_logo.svg)](https://funded.club) © 2019-2026 Funded.club B.V. All Rights Reserved. Chamber of Commerce: 63083809    VAT (BTW): NL855084844B01 ## Contact Us - [Hiring service](https://funded.club) - [Pricing - Recruiting projects](https://funded.club/pricing) - [Find a job](https://funded.club/startupjobs) - [Our team](https://funded.club/fundedteam) - [Blog](https://funded.club/blog) - [Case studies](https://funded.club/case-studies) - [Startup resources](https://funded.club/resources) - [FAQ](https://funded.club/faq) - [Contact Us](https://funded.club/contact-us) ## Follow Us © 2019-2026 All rights reserved. - [Privacy Policy](https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/56133290) - [Cookie policies](https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/56133290/cookie-policy) - [Terms of Use](https://funded.club/terms) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@id" : "https://funded.club/#ray-gibson" }, "dateModified" : "2026-11-09", "datePublished" : "2026-11-09", "headline" : "How to hire employees in France as a startup", "image" : [ "" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://funded.club/blog/hiring-employees-in-france", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://funded.club/#organization" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://funded.club/#organization", "@type" : "Organization", "areaServed" : [ "North America", "Europe", "Asia-Pacific" ], "description" : "Fixed-fee recruiting partner for funded startups and fast-growing teams across North America, Europe and APAC. 500+ startups helped since 2019. 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