If the training and qualification conditions are not filled, the practice of the profession of hairdresser is illegal.

Exercise without the required qualifications is punishable by fine of €7,500. This may also constitute a criminal offense ofusurpation of title : it is punishable byone year in prison and €15,000 of fine.

The rules on training and qualification depend on the nationality of the hairdresser:

The choice of a legal form (or legal status) of the company is a decisive step.

It determines the company’s operating rules, but it also has implications for the tax system and social protection.

There are two main legal forms:

• Individual business (EI) : allows you to carry out your activity alone and in your own name. The Head of company and the individual business shall form a one and the same person. Micro-company (or self-company) is an individual business with a simplified tax and social system.
• Business : allows you to work in a legal entity distinct from the head of company. It has the legal personality, i.e. it has its own legal existence (share capital, company name, registered office, etc.).

These two modes of exercise each have their own specific rules:

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

• Exercise of the activity alone or with several partners (in business )
• Tax regime for the taxation of profits
• Social protection scheme according to the envisaged legal form.

To help you choose the legal form that best suits your situation, the Urssaf offers the following simulator:

Finding the right legal status (form) for your company project

Contributions called by theUrssaf: titleContent depend on the structure of the business and the legal status of the manager.

To know all the rules concerning the social system of the manager, it is possible to consult the sheet relating to the Social protection of the business manager.

The professional who carries out his activity in his own name (individual business) or as majority manager of a business (such as an EURL or SARL), is affiliated to the Social security for the self-employed (SSI), the compulsory scheme for self-employed persons.

The professional must pay social contributions to the Urssaf from the beginning of his activity.

However, in practice, no contributions or social contributions are required during the first 90 days which follow the launch of its activity.

Since the income is not yet known at the start of the activity, the contributions are first calculated on a flat-rate basis for the first 2 years (at the same rates as those applicable during the course of business). They are then adjusted and regularized according to the real revenues of the fiscal year.

Contributions must be paid online in one of the following ways:

• Either every month : payment is made on the 5th or 20th of each month, by direct debit.
• Either every quarter : payment is made by direct debit, telepayment or credit card on 5 February, 5 May, 5 August and 5 November.

When he carries out his activity within the framework of a business and holds management functions that give him the status of employee equivalent (president or paid CEO of SAS for example), the professional reports to the general social security system.

His social security contributions are identical to those of an executive employee, and he enjoys equivalent social protection, with the exception of unemployment insurance (optional unemployment insurance is however possible).

The traveling craftsman card is necessary only if the hairdresser is in either of the following two situations:

• He works on the public highway (street, square, sidewalk, etc.), for example in a truck serving as a hairdresser.
• It does not have a fixed hairdressing salon.

For get the traveling craftsman card, it is necessary to get closer to the chamber of trades and crafts (CMA) of his place of residence.

The CMA offers, by region or by department, either support for the procedures (Pass Liberté) or information on the website of each of them.

CMA in some regions still use the cerfa form n°14022 :

Prior declaration for the exercise of a traveling commercial or craft activity

In this case, the form must be downloaded from the CMA website concerned, filled in, scanned and then forwarded to the CMA (either by post, on site or by email according to some CMA). For more details, you can consult the CMA France FAQ.

Frequently Asked Questions from the French chamber of trades and crafts (CMA France)

Chambers of Crafts and Crafts (CMA)

Pour en savoir plus

The Pass Freedom is paid. It works by subscription of one month or several months, as desired. This support includes assistance with 2 formalities (2 accompanied steps). Its price is 23,88 € TTC (19,90 € HT) per month. It is offered in all CMA of France.

Pass Freedom of CMA: 2-step support by monthly subscription

Chambers of Crafts and Crafts (CMA)

Pour en savoir plus

In the event of a check, the absence of a prior declaration giving rise to the obtaining of the card, gives rise to a fine of €750. If the hairdresser forgot to take his card with him during his business trips or if he forgot to carry out his renewal, the fine is €450.

The hairdresser must make his rates accessible to customers when traveling to their home.

At least 10 rates must be indicated for single-sex services, and 20 rates (10 for male benefits and 10 for female benefits) for mixed services.

Prices are quoted TTC (including all taxes, including TVA which is 20%).

In a package, from 2 services, the detail the various benefits must be mentioned.

Example: haircut + shampoo = xx € Including tax.

The professional must give the client a note for any service of an amount greater than €25, or at the customer's request. The amount is communicated including all taxes (TTC).

This note shall be drawn up in 2 copies, the original being given to the customer.

The note shall include the mentions following:

• Exact date and time of the appointment (arrival and departure from the client)
• Identity of the trader:
  
  • If the company is an individual contractor: name and surname of the individual contractor followed by the name ‘Individual contractor’ or ‘EI’
  • If the company is a business: corporate name of the business and first and last name of the professional providing the service
• Siren Number
• Address of the company or registered office
• Mention of the legal form (EI, EURL, SARL, SA, SNC, SAS, etc.) and the amount of the share capital
• Customer name and address
• Detailed breakdown of each service (e.g. shampoo, cut, coloring, straightening)
• Total HT and TTC payable (with TVA rate of 20%)
• Payment method used
• Signature of the professional and the client.

Notes should be kept for 2 years.

For more details, you can consult our following page: All about billing

The vehicle which is used during business trips to customers, must be insured as a business vehicle.

The hairdresser is not obliged to take out insurance for his activity.

It is, however, responsible for damage that he himself could cause at the home of his clients.

In the event that the hairdresser hires an employee, he is also responsible for any damage that he may cause.

Such damages include any personal injury or material damage that may be caused to a third party during working hours and at the place of exercise.

They can take out professional property and casualty insurance, which may include a guarantee of legal protection and an « Operating loss » guarantee to compensate for a loss of company turnover.

It may also include professional indemnity insurance (RCP). It covers damages related to the activity, including those of its employees.

If they decide to hire, the entrepreneur takes a step in the life of their company because they become an employer. This status commits it to a legal framework, with formalities to be complied with and obligations to be assumed.

Here are the main steps and actions to anticipate.

• Declaration of employment

Before taking up any post, the employer must declare the employee. This declaration is made by means of the pre-employment declaration (DPAE) and must take place no earlier than 8 days before the hiring and no later than the day of taking up the position.

It allows toinforming social organizations the arrival of an employee andopen its rights social protection.

Notice of hiring (DPAE)

• Establishment of an employment contract and communication of the essential information of the employment relationship

In order to formalize the employment relationship, the employer must provide the employee with a employment contract.

This contract may be for an indefinite term (CDI) or a fixed term (CDD).

The employer must provide the employee with one or more written documents containing the main information relating to the employment relationship. The the deadline for communication varies according to the nature of the information.

To learn more about the nature of the information and the deadlines for communication, see this pageon the digital labor code website.

• Entry of the employee in the single staff register

Each newly hired employee must be registered on the single register of staff.

This register is mandatory from the first employee hired.

This document details thehistory of inputs and outputs employees in the company.

• Affiliation of the employee to the supplementary pension fund

Employers are obliged to enroll their employees in the supplementary pension schemes of theAgirc-Arrco: titleContent.

This affiliation is made by the single and dematerialized transmission of the registered company declaration (DSN) to all the bodies which manage the social protection of employees.

• Ensuring safety and health at work

Within 3 months of taking up his position, any newly recruited employee must benefit from a information and prevention visit organized by the employer and carried out by one of the occupational medicine.

The employer must also guarantee a safe working environment and prevent occupational risks.

For this, it must in particular inform and train the employee in safety, and update the single occupational risk assessment document (DUERP).

• Compliance with applicable collective agreement

The employer must apply the collective agreement which includes the principal activity carried out by the company. The title of the collective agreement must appear on the pay slip.

A hairdresser must apply the National Collective Agreement for Hairdressing (IDCC 2596)

A simulator allows find your collective agreement with the company's name or Siret number :

Finding your collective agreement

Hairdressing is a occupational health risks in the medium and long term.

The main risks are:

• Always stand upright or sit in sometimes uncomfortable positions
• Stomping
• Repeat the same gestures many times a day
• Walking on slippery floors
• Use chemicals (dyes, shampoos, permanent waving liquids, lacquers, sprays, etc.).

If it hires employees, the hairdresser must also guarantee their safety.

It must implement the following actions:

• Organize occupational risk prevention, information and training activities
• Assess risks in the company and develop the single occupational risk assessment document (DUERP)
• Provide them with suitable equipment (water distributor, compliant equipment)
• Establish a secure work organization.

Health Insurance lists the health problems associated with these risks and provides advice on how to prevent them.