How to obtain the quality of craftsman?

Verified 03 December 2025 - Entreprendre Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The quality of craftsman guarantees that the professional has a recognized know-how. In order to obtain it, it is necessary to fulfill several conditions: to carry out a professional activity included in one of the lists of craft activities, to prove a professional qualification, to be registered in the National Register of companies (RNE) as a company of the trades and crafts sector and to employ less than 11 employees.

The craftsman must carry out a professional activity of production, processing, repair or provision of services which is included in a list of craftsor on a list of craft crafts.

It must carry out this activity independently: it must act on its own behalf and not on behalf of another company.

FYI  

The craftsman may carry out his activity in a sedentary or walking.

Activity on a list of craft trades

The craftsman must carry out one of the activities listed on the official list of craft activities which classifies these activities into 4 categories:

  • Occupations of thepower supply : bakery, butcher, fishmonger, ice cream, sorbet manufacturers, etc.
  • Trades of the building : mason, plumber, roofer, carpenter, electrician, locksmith, painter, etc.
  • Trades of manufacturing : tailor, fashion designer, seamstress, leather and fur clothing manufacturer, watchmaker, jeweler, metallurgy, etc.
  • Trades of services  : hairdressing, moving, restoration of art objects, repair of computers, laundry, pressing, restoration of furniture, farrier-ferrand, etc.

FYI  

The Chamber of Trades and Crafts presents the different crafts. This list is regularly updated.

Activity listed on a list of crafts

The craftsman must carry out an activity that appears on the list of crafts professions. This activity can be carried out as a principal or as a secondary activity (for example: a furniture seller also offering their restoration).

It is an activity of production, creation, transformation or reconstitution, repair and restoration of heritage, " characterized by the mastery of gestures and techniques in view of the work of the material and requiring an artistic contribution ».

These businesses (approximately 300) are divided into the following 16 business areas:

  • Architecture and gardens
  • Furnishing and decoration
  • Luminaire
  • Jewelry, jewelry, goldsmithing, watchmaking
  • Metal
  • Ceramic
  • Glass and crystal
  • Tablet store
  • Fashion and accessories
  • Textile
  • Leather
  • Show
  • Paper, Graphics and Printing
  • Games, toys and mechanical works
  • Instrumental invoice
  • Restore

FYI  

A company in the trades and crafts sector which carries out an activity falling within an art trade may benefit from the tax credit for crafts.

To practice a craft activity, you must have a professional qualification in the trade:

  • Either a certificate of professional competence (CAP) or a certificate of professional studies (BEP)
  • A certificate approved or registered at the time of its issue in the national register of professional qualifications (RNCP) of at least an equivalent level
  • Or at least 3 years' professional experience in France, in a Member State of theEuropean Union (EU) or Party to theEuropean Economic Area (EEA). This experience is obtained as a company manager, self-employed person or employee in the exercise of the trade or part of the activity in question

FYI  

When registering on the website of the companies' formalities, you must attach the proof of these diplomas or professional experience.

Some craft activities are regulated. When a national of an EU or EEA State wishes to carry out one of these activities in France, he must apply for recognition of his professional qualification from the Chamber of Trades and Crafts:

These activities are listed on the list of regulated craft activities.

Regulated craft activities include:

  • Maintenance and repair of land motor vehicles and agricultural, forestry and public works machinery
  • Construction, maintenance and repair of buildings
  • Installation, maintenance and repair of networks and equipment using fluids, as well as equipment and equipment for gas supply, heating of buildings and electrical installations
  • Sweeping
  • Non-medical and paramedical aesthetic personal care and comfort aesthetic massages without medical purpose. By modeling is meant any external surface maneuver performed on the skin of the human face and body for an exclusively aesthetic and comfort purpose, to the exclusion of any medical and therapeutic purpose. This maneuver may be either manual, possibly to ensure the penetration of a cosmetic product, or facilitated by an apparatus for aesthetic purposes;
  • Making dental prostheses
  • Preparation or manufacture of fresh bakery, pastry, butcher, cold cuts and fish products, as well as the preparation or manufacture of artisanal ice cream
  • Activity of farrier
  • Hairstyle.

Before registering, the future craftsman must choose a structure to carry out his activity. To help him in his choice and to know the regulations, he can be accompanied by the Chamber of Trades and Crafts.

Be supported in your project by the Chamber of Trades and Crafts

The Chamber of Trades and Crafts (CMA) of each region is the interlocutor of the craftsmen.

The advisers of the CMA: titleContent are there for the accompany and the advisor in their endeavors.

They can be reached by telephone or by mail :

Who shall I contact

The CMAs offer a “Build your company” training that replaces the former mandatory installation preparation (SPI) course. It is best to follow it before registering. However, it can also be performed after registration.

This training is optional and paid for. The cost of this training is €875 in person or €700 in digital.

The internship lasts 5 days : 35 hours in person or 12 hours in digital. This training is certifying, listed in the Specific Directory of France Competences. The craftsman receives a certificate at the end of the internship.

The topics covered are as follows:

  • Craft company and its environment
  • Business management (market research, billing)
  • Legal structure (responsibility of the head of company, legal statutes)
  • Tax system (VAT, tax system)
  • Social status (status of self-employed person - TNS, employed spouse, social protection)
  • Company management (financial studies, income statement)

Financial support for the internship is possible in some cases. The CMA of the place where the activity is being carried out must be contacted.

FYI  

The CMA also proposes a free digital training on entrepreneurship in crafts.

Choosing a structure for the exercise of craft activity

To carry out his activity, the craftsman has the choice between the following two main legal forms:

  • ₪(EI) : allows the holder to carry out his activity alone and in his own name. The Head of company and the one and the same person. The micro-company (or self-company) is one with a simplified tax and social regime.
  • Business : allows to carry out an activity in a legal entity distinct from the Head of company. It has legal personality, i.e. it has its own legal existence (share capital, company name, registered office, etc.). If the craft activity is carried out in a business, the business manager must prove a diploma, title or professional experience in the trade he is carrying out. For example, in a SARL Hairdressing, it is the manager who must hold the hairdressing degree.

To make the right choice, it is therefore essential to take into account many factors:

  • the exercise of the activity alone or with several partners (in business)
  • the tax system for the taxation of profits
  • the social protection scheme in accordance with the envisaged legal form.

Carry out the registration formality

The craft company must register in the National Register of companies (RNE) as a company in the trades and crafts sector.

FYI  

As a reminder, the trades directory (RM) has been replaced since 1er January 2023 by the National Register of companies (RNE).

This registration to the RNE must be made online on the website of the companies' formalities office:

Window of company formalities

If the craftsman registered with the RNE also carries on a commercial activity (for example: a hairdresser who sells shampoos), the company is also automatically registered with the RNE. RCS: titleContent for commercial activity.

Registration of the company is carried out as soon as possible 1 month before the start of the activity and at the latest in the 15 days following the start of the activity.

Factsheets on the registration of a micro-company of a ₪ ora BUSINESS include details on how to prepare your file, the documents to be provided, and the cost.

When the application for registration is accepted by the companies' formalities desk, INSEE allocates:

  • A number Siren : it is a unique identification number of the 9-digit company 
  • A number Siret : it's thegeographical identifier of each of the establishments from the company, it is therefore possible to have several. This number consists of the Siren and a NIC (Internal Ranking Number).
  • One EPA code which corresponds to the main activity of the company.

After registration, the registrant may download an extract or proof of registration in RNE: titleContent :

  • On the Data inpi.fr website:

Search for proof of registration of a company

  • On the company Directory website:

Company Directory: Find all the information in a company

A company that voluntarily gives inaccurate or incomplete information when registering with the company Formalities Desk shall be liable to a fine of €4,500 and six months' imprisonment.

Furthermore, the act of carrying out a craft activity without being registered in the RNE is an offense punishable by a fine of €7,500.

To be registered in the National Register of companies (RNE) as a company in the trades and crafts sector, fewer than 11 employees must be employed at the start-up.

Where the company has 11 or more employees:

  • It is mandatory to apply for the registration of the company in the Trade and Companies Register (RCS)
  • Registration as a company in the trades and crafts sector becomes optional.

The company that remains registered as a company in the trades and crafts sector can benefit from specific aid dedicated to craftsmen and from subsidized loans.

FYI  

Companies listed in the RNE as "companies in the trades and crafts sector" are liable for the chamber of trades tax (CMA tax). To learn more about this tax, you can consult the sheet “Fees for consular room expenses (individual businesses and businesses)».

Who can help me?

The public service accompanying companies

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