The French production system is one of the most important in Europe. In 2021, the total of goods and services produced in France amounted to 2.5 trillion euros, the second largest in Europe after Germany. In 2020, the French economy was made up of more than four million companies. It's a productive power that has significantly increased since 2011 thanks to the emergence of a new type of organization, the micro-enterprise.
Companies offering support activities to other organizations are very popular in France. Indeed, in 2022, more than 189,000 such companies were founded. Nearly a third of the new businesses were micro-enterprises.
Women will have to take on these challenges in order to reach leadership positions in business. In 2016, women's wages were still lower than men's. The largest gap was on average among managers. In fact, in 2015, eight of the eight highest-paid CEOs in the world were men. Pay inequalities also vary widely from country to country. In the U.S., a CEO earns 265 times the salary of an average worker.
The boom of consulting companies & micro-business
Launched in 2008 under François Fillon’s government, the formerly auto-entrepreneur and now micro-entrepeneur status was intended to facilitate the administrative and financial management of the self-employed. Twelve years later, there were more than 3.9 million micro-enterprises. The same year, at the other end of the work chain, there were more than 4,750 companies that employed more than 250 employees. From an industry point of view, it is in the trade sector where the most businesses are being created in France.Companies offering support activities to other organizations are very popular in France. Indeed, in 2022, more than 189,000 such companies were founded. Nearly a third of the new businesses were micro-enterprises.
Diversity of taxes in France
Capital taxation, payroll taxes, value-added and turnover tax, taxation of results are the direct taxes to be paid by companies in France. In 2021, the total amount of direct company taxes was almost 135 billion euros. By way of comparison, the total amount of income tax paid by French companies amounted to almost 100 billion euros in 2021. Some companies benefit from tax exemptions or reductions depending on their sector or turnover. In 2021, more than seven million companies in France paid VAT.Entrepreneurship in France
In 2018, more than half of the French population said they had an entrepreneurial spirit. Is it linked to a quest for personal fulfillment? For 37 percent of French entrepreneurs, this is mainly due to the inability to find paid work in a company. But the primary motivation is, above all, to face new challenges.Women will have to take on these challenges in order to reach leadership positions in business. In 2016, women's wages were still lower than men's. The largest gap was on average among managers. In fact, in 2015, eight of the eight highest-paid CEOs in the world were men. Pay inequalities also vary widely from country to country. In the U.S., a CEO earns 265 times the salary of an average worker.
