Good deals
Official support and services that can save you time and money, in France, in Europe and in Asia. Public bodies only, with their official website. Conditions can change: always check the official website before you apply.
In Vietnam, we met a person who cleaned trainers in the street with a few brushes and a bucket of water. They earned a living with a simple skill. In France, this kind of small trade is rarely seen. Here are ideas from Asia, and the rules to know before starting.
1. Small trades that support a family
- Cleaning and caring for shoes (trainers, leather): a few brushes, suitable products, a small stool.
- Repairs on the spot: keys, zips, small appliances, bicycles.
- Mending and altering clothes while the customer waits.
- Cooking and selling food in the street: the most common in Asia, but in France food has its own, stricter hygiene rules.
What they have in common: little equipment, little money to start, a service given at once, close to people.
2. What to know in France before working in the street
- A registered business. You must first be registered, for example as a micro-enterprise.
- An authorisation from the town hall to occupy the public space (parking permit, roadway permit or a place on a market). It is personal, for a limited time, and a fee set by the town is charged. Each town has its own rules.
- The itinerant trader card may be required depending on where you work: ask your business formalities centre.
- Without authorisation, it is forbidden: selling or offering a service in the street without authorisation can lead to a fine and the seizure of your equipment.
3. Where to find the equipment?
Brushes, cleaning products, small machines and tools are often made in Asia. On the Passerelle, a small French business can find a manufacturer verified in the official register of its country and ask for an introduction. Always compare, ask for a written quote and check the product rules (label, safety) before ordering.
For information only. These are ideas, not personal advice: they do not engage the liability of Passerelle France-Asie. Rules change and depend on your town: always check with your town hall and official websites before starting.
Sources (in French): economie.gouv.fr — occupying public space, economie.gouv.fr — selling in the street, entreprendre.service-public.gouv.fr. Checked on 25 October 2026.
Are you a small French company that wants to sell in China, Thailand or Vietnam? Public support exists, often free of charge. Here are the main schemes, with their official websites.
1. First contact: Team France Export
This is the one-stop shop for exporting, run by Business France with the Chambers of Commerce (CCI), Bpifrance and the Regions. You describe your project and your region, and an adviser guides you. Website: www.teamfrance-export.fr.
2. Support worth knowing
| Scheme | Who it is for | What you get | Official website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prospecting insurance (Bpifrance) | Companies with a first 12-month balance sheet, products already on sale, at least 20 % French content (except international trading) | An advance covering 50 % of your prospecting costs (65 % for industry or a green transition). You repay at least 30 %, the rest depending on your sales in the target country | www.teamfrance-export.fr |
| V.I.E (international volunteer programme) | Companies that want a young person on site | A young person aged 18 to 28 on a 6 to 24-month assignment in the country. The allowance is exempt from French social charges | www.businessfrance.fr |
| EU SME Centre (China) | SMEs from the European Union | Free, confidential advice on the Chinese market, training, practical guides | www.eusmecentre.org.cn |
| IP Helpdesk (China and South-East Asia) | SMEs from the European Union | Free advice on protecting your trademark, patents and designs before you export | intellectual-property-helpdesk.ec.europa.eu |
| Access2Markets | All companies | Free: customs duties, rules of origin and formalities, product by product and country by country | Access2Markets |
| Enterprise Europe Network | SMEs | Advisers in the Chambers of Commerce, help to find partners abroad | through your local CCI |
3. Learning about the country
The economic departments of the French embassies publish information on each country (in French): China, Thailand, Vietnam.
4. Our advice
- Protect your trademark in the country before you sell there. In China, a trademark generally belongs to whoever registers it first: the IP Helpdesk explains for free how to do it.
- Always check your future partner in the official register of their country (see our Guides).
Be careful: these are public services. If someone sells them to you, claiming to be "official", be wary and read our guide on scams (Guides section). Passerelle France-Asie has no commercial link with these bodies and receives nothing.
Sources: the official websites quoted on this page. Checked on 13 October 2026. Conditions can change: always check the official website.
Are you a company from China, Thailand or Vietnam that wants to sell in France or open an office there? Here are the public services, French, European and from your own country, that can help you.
1. French public services
| Service | Who it is for | What you get | Official website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business France (Welcome to France) | Foreign companies that want to set up in France | French public agency: guides to create a company, recruit, understand taxes, and support for set-up projects | www.welcometofrance.com |
| French Tech Visa | Employees of French start-ups recognised as innovative, founders selected by a partner incubator, investors | A 4-year renewable "Talent Passport" residence permit; your family can come with you | French Tech Visa |
2. Customs duties for entering the European Union
Access2Markets (European Commission, free) shows, product by product, the customs duties, rules of origin and formalities for selling in the European Union. The site is in English and in the EU languages.
Vietnamese companies: the EU–Vietnam free trade agreement removes customs duties step by step, provided you prove the origin of the product. Read our guide "The EU–Vietnam agreement" (Guides section).
3. Official bodies in your country
| Country | Body | Official website |
|---|---|---|
| China | China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) | en.ccpit.org |
| Thailand | Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce | www.ditp.go.th |
| Vietnam | Ministry of Industry and Trade, and its Trade Office at the Embassy of Vietnam in France | moit.gov.vn |
Be careful: these are public services. If someone sells them to you, claiming to be "official", be wary and read our guide on scams (Guides section). Passerelle France-Asie has no commercial link with these bodies and receives nothing.
Sources: the official websites quoted on this page. Checked on 13 October 2026. Conditions can change: always check the official website.