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How an employer of record works under French law, when portage salarial fits, what an employee really costs, the probation, leave and severance rules, and published EOR prices compared. Figures checked 9 November 2026.
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An employer of record (EOR) lets a foreign company hire in France without opening a French entity. The provider employs your hire under French law, runs payroll and pays social contributions, while you direct the work.
France is one of the most protective employment markets in Europe, so the details matter. This guide covers how EORs fit French law, when portage salarial is the better fit, what an employee really costs, the core rules on hours, probation, leave and severance, and published EOR prices. For the basics, read our guide to employers of record. Comparing EU markets? See our guides to an employer of record in Poland and in Germany.
An employer of record in France employs your staff under French law, runs payroll and pays social contributions, so you can hire without a French entity. On a €5,000 gross monthly salary, the total employer cost is about €7,127 a month, according to the URSSAF simulator, and published EOR fees start at USD 349 to USD 599 a month.
An employer of record in France is a provider that becomes the legal employer of your French hire, signs the employment contract, runs payroll and pays social contributions, while you manage the work. It is the usual way to hire one or a few people in France before opening a French company.
French law adds one twist. Article L8241-1 of the Labour Code bans any for-profit operation whose only purpose is lending staff, except under the rules for temporary work and a few other listed cases. Providers handle this in different ways, so ask each one how its French arrangement is structured, which collective agreement it applies, and who carries the risk if the arrangement is challenged. Our global hiring guide compares EORs with contractors and your own entity.
Portage salarial is a French arrangement in which a portage company employs an independent expert who finds and prices their own assignments with client companies. It suits senior freelancers and consultants, not a team you want to manage as staff. The main rules, from service-public.gouv.fr:
If you need a permanent employee who works only for you under your direction, an EOR or your own entity is the better fit. For another agency-style model, see our guide to the agent of record.
Employer contributions in France add roughly 42% to gross salary: a €5,000 gross monthly salary costs the employer about €7,127 a month. That is the result of the official URSSAF simulator (July 2026 version) with its default settings for a full-time permanent contract and no collective agreement.
| Line (monthly) | Amount | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | €5,000 | €60,000 |
| Employer contributions | €2,127 | €25,524 |
| Total employer cost | €7,127 | €85,524 |
| Employee net pay before income tax | €3,934 | €47,208 |
The minimum wage is €12.31 an hour, or €1,867.02 a month for a 35-hour week (service-public.gouv.fr). Compare countries in our minimum wage by country and 13th-month pay guides, and see how cross-border payroll works in our global payroll guide.
Published EOR prices for France start at about USD 349 to USD 599 a month per employee, roughly €312 to €535, on top of the employment cost. Ask for a France-specific quote, because some providers price by country.
| Provider | Published starting price | In euros a month | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivermate | USD 349 | €312 | Pricing varies by country and by local or expat hire |
| Multiplier | USD 459 (billed annually) | €410 | USD 499 billed monthly; add-ons may apply |
| Deel | USD 599 | €535 | Starting price across its EOR countries |
| Remote | USD 599 (annual contracts) | €535 | Starting price for annual contracts |
Peorient compares employer of record providers for your country, team size and budget. Tell us the role, salary and start date, and we send side-by-side France quotes. Free for companies.
French employment centres on a 35-hour week, capped probation periods, five weeks of paid leave and the collective agreement for your sector.
For rules across countries, see our global HR compliance guide.
An employee with at least eight months’ continuous service who is dismissed is owed legal severance of a quarter of a month’s salary per year for the first 10 years, and a third of a month per year after that. A collective agreement, the contract or company custom can provide more, in which case the higher amount applies (service-public.gouv.fr).
Dismissal in France also follows a formal procedure, with notice periods usually set by the collective agreement. An EOR should run the procedure and paperwork for you, but agree in your contract who pays severance and any legal costs.
Use an EOR for employees you direct day to day, portage salarial for independent experts on one-off assignments, and your own entity once you have a long-term team in France.
| Employer of record | Portage salarial | Your own entity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who employs | The EOR or its French partner | A portage company | Your French company |
| Who directs the work | You | The expert, on agreed assignments | You |
| Best for | Employees managed as staff | Senior freelancers and consultants | Permanent teams |
| Limits | Check the legal structure | Up to 36 months per assignment; minimum pay applies | Setup, payroll and compliance costs |
Hiring in Asia too? See our China EOR guide; for the main global providers, our EOR services guide and Remote alternatives.
Choose an EOR that explains its French legal structure, applies the right collective agreement and shows every contribution on the invoice. Ask each provider:
Yes, through an employer of record, which employs your hire under French law and runs payroll. Ask how the provider's French arrangement is structured, because article L8241-1 bans for-profit staff lending outside temporary work and a few other cases.
Published starting prices run from USD 349 a month per employee (Rivermate) to USD 599 (Deel and Remote), about €312 to €535, plus the employment cost. Peorient is affiliated with Rivermate and may earn a referral fee.
About 42% on a €5,000 gross monthly salary: the total employer cost is €7,127 a month in the URSSAF simulator with default settings.
€12.31 an hour, or €1,867.02 a month for a 35-hour week (service-public.gouv.fr).
Up to 2 months for employees and workers, 3 months for supervisors and technicians and 4 months for executives, renewable once to 4, 6 or 8 months under conditions (service-public.gouv.fr).
An EOR employs staff you direct. Portage salarial employs an autonomous expert who negotiates their own assignments with clients, for up to 36 months each, with a minimum gross salary of €2,517.13 a month (service-public.gouv.fr).
At least a quarter of a month's salary per year of service for the first 10 years and a third of a month per year after, for employees with eight months' service; collective agreements often give more (service-public.gouv.fr).
We compare EOR options for your roles and salaries and send you a shortlist in 2 to 3 business days. Get a free shortlist, or read our guide to employers of record first.
Written by
Director of European Workforce Compliance · 15+ years experience
Marcus covers European employment law for Peorient from his desk in Amsterdam. Former labour lawyer at a Dutch boutique and HR Director at an EU-wide HR-tech scale-up. Registered Works Council Advisor under the WOR. LL.M. European Labour Law, Leiden University.
