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Many self-employed trainers, or those thinking of becoming one, wonder about the advantages of declaring themselves a training organization. Does it really improve working conditions and open more doors? And don’t forget that, in some cases, self-employed trainers are required to declare their activity! We take a closer look at this situation of independent trainer and training organization.
To be considered as an independent trainer, all you need to do is register with INSEE and obtain a SIREN number.
There are several types of status for this purpose:
The simplest status, both fiscally and administratively, is that of micro-entrepreneur (or auto-entrepreneur). This is a status in which your assets and those of your company are mixed, i.e. your company has no identity of its own, and all your legal documents must bear your first and last names. You can, however, choose a trade name for advertising purposes. Accounting is simplified, and there are very few formalities to complete. This status is ideal for beginners or part-time trainers.
To obtain this status, you need to register with URSSAF, via the auto-entrepreneurs website. You can start work while waiting to receive your SIREN, and you’ll mark it on your invoices as soon as you get it. Micro-entrepreneurs must pay their charges to URSSAF every month or quarter, and declare their income tax every year. On the other hand, there are two ceilings: if gross income exceeds €34,500, you must declare and pay VAT; and you will have to change status if your gross annual income exceeds €72,500.
Another possible status for self-employed trainers is that of individual entrepreneur with limited liability(EIRL). With this status, your assets will not be mixed up with those of your company. You can also hire employees under this status, which is impossible under the micro-enterprise regime. Last but not least, you can also opt for the corporate income tax system rather than the income tax system, which may enable you to reduce your contributions.
On the other hand, this status requires much more detailed formalities, as you have to declare your assets and comply with accounting rules. This status is therefore preferable if training is your main activity and you wish to create a real business.
To obtain this status, you need to complete a declaration of asset allocation, including the nature of the business activity, and a descriptive statement of the assets, securities, rights and obligations assigned to the company.
Once you’ve registered, you’re officially an independent trainer. You need to know whether you need to declare your activity and set up a training organization.
Training organizations are involved in vocational and continuing training. This means that if you teach in a professional environment, within a company for example, you need to fill in your activity declaration.
It’s also compulsory if you work as a subcontractor for a professional training organization, even if you only do so on an occasional basis.
In short, the activity declaration is compulsory from the moment you sign your first contract to work in the professional training environment, whatever the nature and duration of that contract.
You then have 30 days to complete the declaration and send it to your local Dreets .
If you train individuals, obtaining an activity number is not compulsory, but can have certain advantages.
Registering as a training organization offers a number of advantages.
First of all, all training organizations are listed on the public OF list, which means it’s easy to find you or check your credibility. This is an advantage in terms of recognition and reliability, since potential customers will be able to verify that the organization really exists.
If you want to be a freelance trainer working for schools or other organizations, this is also a strategic advantage, as the activity number is required to work with training organizations. So if you have one, you can work with all kinds of establishments, including those involved in vocational training.
What’s more, even if you only find your customers yourself, being a training organization gives you access to the professional training market. This means you can work for a company as an independent trainer, for example.
Finally, it can help you find new customers by offering CPF/OPCO coverage.
If you are a training organization, you can make your training courses eligible for the CPF, or contract with a certifying body if you do not wish to take the necessary steps to make your training courses certifiable. In this case, you can consult the France Compétences website to identify the certifiers and the certification or diploma that is closest to your training offer. You can then contact them to discuss a partnership.
The CPF is an account held by every active person who has ever worked, and whose funds can be used to finance a training course, in full or in part. Offering training courses that can be financed with the CPF can make them more accessible to people who would not otherwise be able to finance them with their own funds.
Training organizations also have access to public and mutualized funds, provided they are Datadock referenced and Qualiopi certified from January 1, 2022. This means that training courses offered to companies can be financed by an OPCO. Each company is linked to one of the 11 Opérateurs de Compétences (OPCO), and can apply for funding. Once funding has been accepted (in full or in part), the training organization can invoice the OPCO. Note, however, that if there is a balance to pay, or if the OPCO refuses funding, it will be up to the company to pay.
Becoming a training organization can therefore offer you strategic and financial advantages. On the other hand, it comes with certain obligations that you’ll need to respect.
One of the company’s main obligations is to complete an annual Pedagogical and Financial Report (Bilan Pédagogique et Financier – BPF), which details the training courses given during the year and the accounts. This document is mandatory from the first year of operation. If it is not submitted on time, Dreets will withdraw your business number, and you will no longer be able to provide professional training.
Your contacts with trainees are also regulated. You must sign a BTB training agreement or a BTC training contract, and send them the training program and all the necessary information (timetables, duration, prerequisites, assessment procedures, internal regulations, rates).
You have three months from the date on which you obtain your business registration number to draw up internal regulations. These must stipulate the health and safety measures to be applied on your premises, as well as the rights of trainees and the penalties for non-compliance.
Accounting must also comply with certain rules. Training organizations must draw up a balance sheet and an income statement. Accounting for services not related to vocational training must be kept separately. Please note, however, that this adapted accounting system only applies to sales of €15,244.90 or more.
Finally, you must comply with the collective agreement governing training organizations.
Being a training organization can offer independent trainers a number of advantages, and enable them to find new customers.
However, with this comes a number of rules and obligations, particularly accounting ones, which can add to the workload.
So you need to seriously weigh up the pros and cons, and ask yourself whether declaring yourself will really be advantageous.
For example, a self-employed trainer who usually only works with private individuals, and who has a workload and income that suit him perfectly, would not necessarily have an interest in accepting a one-off professional training assignment.
Conversely, a trainer who is looking to find new customers and who is interested in professional training will have every interest in accepting the first assignment offered to him and declaring himself a training organization.
