Multi-service company: our tips for 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 can set up your own business.

A multiservice company will enable 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. Business start-up forms, registration, social security contributions... we explain everything from A to Z!

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Multiservice company: definition

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

The sectors are varied and offer you the possibility of adapting to demand. The aim, of course, is to be as qualified in one professional activity as in another.

The question of legal status

You can choose between 4 distinct legal statuses:

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

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

Sales thresholds

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

• 176,200 € as of January 1, 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 January 1, 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, overall sales must not exceed €176,200.

In brief:

Source : LegalPlace

Disadvantages

There are 3 main areas in which you need to remain vigilant:

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

Don't panic, these problems can be avoided if you're well prepared at 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 study),
• the teams you will be working with,
• what differentiates you from your competitors,
• the financial plan (financial requirements, expected return on investment and possible taxes).

Step 2: choose the right structure

If you choose to set up as an auto-entrepreneur, the steps to follow are very simple. If you're setting up your first multiservice business, a micro-enterprise is highly recommended.

In this case, all you need to do is complete an online auto-entrepreneur declaration. If your activity is commercial, then you need to register with the Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés.

Be sure to check which activities are eligible for auto-entrepreneur status.

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

Activities excluded from micro-entrepreneur status are :

• agricultural activities covered by the Mutualité Sociale Agricole (MSA) social security scheme,
• liberal professions covered by pension funds other than CIPAV or Sécurité Sociale des Indépendants,
• activities related to real estate VAT,
• craft activities remunerated by royalties.

Step 3: administrative and legal formalities

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

For a micro-business, the formalities are fairly straightforward:

• registration 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're setting up your own business, the PO CMB Cerfa 15253-04 must be specified, including the main activity and all secondary activities. The choice of main activity will have an impact on the APE (activité principale exercée) code assigned by INSEE. This code depends on the NAF (nomenclature d'activités française) and will appear on most of your administrative documents. Make sure that your APE code corresponds perfectly to your activity;
  
  
• 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 or service activities);
  
  
• 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 liability insurance for any vehicles you may use.

Step 4: Expand your business

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

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

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

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

All on a single platform!

With such a tool, you can manage your work orders and schedules online, organize your activities efficiently and save time, allowing you to concentrate on your core business.

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