Thanksgiving in Paris
If you want Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings but without the fuss and dirty dishes, here is a partial list of American style dining options:
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Categories: Paris France Tags: American cuisine, Canadian cuisine, EUR, Food and drink, Hospitality/Recreation, Joe Allen, Meals, Paris, Pecan pie, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving dinner
Billing: obligations, procedures and practices
In France a Devis (Invoice) is essential in bringing money into your business
Your invoice materializes the commitment of your clients to pay you a supply of services carried out or a sale of goods delivered.
But the billing is restricted. Thus, your invoices must include mandatory particulars to be valid and produce this commitment to be resolved. As soon as you receive your first order you must give a copy of you rules and billing information to the client so your commercial document is valid.
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Categories: Business Tags: Business, Business/Finance, Electronic commerce, EUR, Factoring, finance, France, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Invoice, Order, Pro forma, Value added tax
France to Tax Bankers’ Bonus
According to Christine Lagarde, France’s Finance Minister, the French government does not believe that taxing bank bonuses will cause traders and financial operations to leave Paris.
In an interview published by Le Figaro today, Mme Lagarde is quoted as saying that France will enact a law as early as the end of March levying a 50 percent tax on bonuses above €27,500, regardless of whether they are paid in cash or shares; affecting some 2,500 bankers.
Categories: News Tags: AIG bonus payments controversy, American International Group, Business/Finance, Christine Lagarde, EUR, finance, France, French government, London, Paris, Politics, Tax
France Looking to Sell Flu Jab
After ordering many more shots than it actually needed, France is looking to sell millions of excess vaccines for the H1N1 flu virus, officials said on Sunday.
High Speed Living in France
The very first TGV (Train à grande vitesse) departed on its journey between Paris and Lyon in 1981, since when, living in France has sped ahead of the rest of Europe in the race to build a fully functioning high speed rail network.
Currently having almost 1,250 miles of specially built lines linking many of its major cities in service, France is looking for new ways to extend its lead.
Categories: France Travel, News Tags: EUR, Europe, Eurostar, France, French government, French national rail authority, Gare de Champagne-Ardenne TGV, Guillaume Pepy, high speed rail network, High-speed rail, High-speed trains, Jean-Marie Guillemot, LGV Est, Loire Valley, London, Lyon, Montpellier, Nicolas Sarkozy, Nîmes, Paris, president, rail infrastructure, Railteam, short-haul air travel, SNCF, Strasbourg, TGV
Cash Cow Investment
Known for their mistrust of banks, the French are not just stuffing money into mattresses in these anxious days of recession and minuscule interest rates, they are also putting their hard cash into cows.
For Pierre Marguerit, cows make a safe, secure investment, allowing for long-term growth from a renewable resource. Cow contracts are hardly new, but go back to Richard Cœur de Lion (Richard I). The French word for livestock, “cheptel,” is the root for “capital.”
These are not literally cash cows. However, Mr. Marguerit says his investment in Holsteins will bring a 4 to 5 percent return a year after taxes, based on natural growth, i.e. the sale of their offspring. That compares to the present interest rate of 0.75% on the basic French bank account.
Mr. Marguerit says that last year his business went up by 40 percent, and so far this year, it has practically doubled. He is the managing director of Élevage et Patrimoine, a cattle investment firm in eastern France, and president of Gestel, which works with farmers and investors.
Categories: Financial Tags: bank account, Élevage, EnVoiture Simone, EUR, Europe, food, France, Franche Comte Elevage SCA, French Association for Investment, Gestel, head, Jérémie Romand, Lyon, managing director, Marguerite, massage, Patrimoine, Patrimoine Participations, Pierre Marguerit, president, Richard Cœur de Lion, Richard Durand, Richard Lowkes
Personal Financial Rescue Plan
The current financial climate has left may people looking for a personal financial rescue plan. Particularly, those people who have decided to leave the rat-race and live their dream in France, are finding that their financial resources cannot accommodate the recent changes in currency values, investment returns and interest rates. As a result, many are coming to the conclusion that it is necessary to return to the hurly burly of work if they are to survive.
But does that mean giving up their dreams?
For some the answer is “yes” – but in my view it doesn’t have to be so.
I have been involved in several different businesses throughout my “working” career and have long held the view that, in order to survive financially, it is important to generate income from several different sources and in different currencies.
In other words, I don’t believe in putting all my “eggs” in one “basket”.
You may have noticed on this web log (blog) that there is a significant lack of advertising. Simply put, I publish the blog because I enjoy writing, I like to share my experience with other individuals and it seems that others like to read. So this present post is the nearest thing to an advertisement that I have written.
If you are considering giving up on your dreams, read on…
Hiring an Artisan in France
At any one time, thousands of property owners throughout France are anxiously awaiting the arrival of a mason, plumber, carpenter, gardener or pool builder, to start the east wing, rectify the shower, build the terrace, lay the lawn or dig the pool.
Later this year one or more of you will end up considering legal action against your artisan. This article – by providing some basic tips for how to legally protect yourself when undertaking building works – could possibly save you thousands of euros in legal fees and untold emotional stress. (Contractors will also find it valuable.)
Categories: Property, Renovation, Restoration Tags: Anglo-French Lawyers Group, Artisan, EUR, France, Hire, inexperienced contractor, insurance check, insurance fees, proper insurance, steel beams
French Bank Crisis
French bank Societe Generale has seen net profits crash by 84% for the third quarter, hit by the credit crisis.
Net profits in the 3 months to the end of September fell to €183m ($235m; £145m) from €1.12bn in the same period last year.
The bank has been hit hard by the chaos in the finance sector with the collapse of Lehman Brothers alone prompting a €447m write down.
Despite the results the bank said it was positioned to deal with the downturn.
Categories: Financial Tags: bank, credit, EUR, finance sector, France, French Bank, GBP, Île-de-France, investment banking division, Lehman Brothers, Meritz Investment Bank, money, Paris, Societe Generale, USD