Investment funds, business angels, banks… There are many ways to finance start-ups.
But one of the main funders is on the side of Pôle Emploi with unemployment benefits.
“
Pôle Emploi is France's leading business angel
,” assures Karine Meininger, director of jobseeker services within the organization.
To discover
OUR SIMULATOR - Are you getting paid well?
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In 2019, more than 815,000 businesses were created, including 194,000 by job seekers, or nearly one in four businesses. Job seekers who set up their own business benefit from the maintenance of their allowances. An essential financial safety net for some entrepreneurs to simply live or invest part of it in their new business. “
This help has been crucial. I already had a loan to repay for my studies. Without unemployment benefit, I would not have been able to get into entrepreneurship,
”says Antoine, founder of Chiro, who specializes in the advertising sector
.
This young 26-year-old entrepreneur has just finished his studies, which he completed as an apprenticeship,which gives him rights to unemployment.
But in the event of a long contract such as a CDI, it is then essential to negotiate a contractual termination with your company to be entitled to unemployment benefits.
An amicable break-up which is not always easy to obtain.
“
I had to negotiate to leave with a conventional break.
The fact that my departure was linked to the creation of a business helped me in the negotiations, they found it rewarding
”, highlights Matthieu, founder of Orphéau who designs and markets modern Jukeboxes.
More than half of the companies founded are micro-enterprises
Entrepreneurs must notify their Pôle Emploi advisor of their business creation plan. Each month, the business manager must declare the income from his new activity to the organization. “
I quickly created the statutes of my company precisely to send them to Pôle Emploi. I am in contact once a quarter with my advisor to keep her informed of the evolution of the business. They trust us
», Explains Mathhieu, a 33-year-old entrepreneur. Company founders continue to receive part of their unemployment benefit as long as the salary generated by their new business does not exceed the amount they received in their previous position. After two years, if they had opened up unemployment rights for such a period, this assistance will stop as for all job seekers.
But when the company's articles of association have not yet been filed, a good number of business creators do not specify their creation of activity and simply tick the box of job seeker. “
My advisor suggested that I do so so as not to have to send too many documents related to the company. It was too restrictive,
”says Antoine, entrepreneur.
Job seekers receiving benefits can also benefit from Assistance for Business Recovery and Creation (ARCE) and receive 45% of the amount of their unemployment benefits in the form of capital paid in twice. An option that can be useful for starting a business. According to data communicated by the public operator for the year 2019, more than half of the companies founded by job seekers are micro-enterprises and the privileged sectors are trade, construction and hotel and catering.
Beyond financial support, Pôle Emploi also offers training and workshops to help start a business, which can range from one day to three months.
The organization prides itself in having a satisfaction rate of 89% for the Activ'Créa training which invites you to think about starting a business as an opportunity to resume activity.
A satisfaction that is not shared by everyone, however.
"
Training or advisers provide advice that is too obvious
", regrets Caroline, founder of the company Reachmaker, which offers a tool to help brands to establish partnerships.
Read also: The microenterprise to test its activity
The question of the return on investment of this financial and educational support arises. According to Pôle Emploi, two out of three companies created by job seekers are still in operation after three years.
New jobs can also be created by these business creations. “
Today, I hire five part-time and full-time employees. I will start paying myself from September. I favored recruitment over payment of my own salary,
”says Matthieu, founder of Orphéau. This entrepreneur reached the limit of his unemployment rights a year ago and has been living thanks to the RSA since. Aid 565 euros per month which is also used by many entrepreneurs who are not eligible for unemployment benefits ...
