Small Business and Independent Workers

Small enterprises employ millions yet face specific challenges:

The Missing Middle

France's business structure shows gaps: - Many micro-enterprises (under 10 employees) - Few mid-sized companies (250-5000 employees) - Growth barriers at key thresholds - Family businesses reluctant to expand - Regulatory cliffs discouraging growth

Jean-Pierre Moreau runs a 15-employee manufacturing firm:

"At 50 employees, regulations multiply—works council, profit sharing, complex labor laws. Many prefer staying small. But without scale, we can't invest in innovation or export. It's a trap."

Artisans and Crafts

Traditional trades maintain importance: - 1.3 million artisan businesses - Preservation of skills and heritage - Local economic anchors - Succession challenges with retirements - Competition from industrial products

Marie Lefevre, baker in a small town:

"My bread costs more than supermarket loaves, but locals value quality and tradition. The challenge is finding young people willing to start work at 3 AM. Without succession, these skills disappear."

The Gig Economy Debate

Independent work grows but controversially: - 3 million independent workers - Platform workers seeking flexibility - Precarity concerns rising - Social protection gaps - Collective action emerging

Ahmed Benzema, now organizing delivery riders:

"Platforms promise freedom but deliver precarity. No sick pay, accident risks, algorithm control. We're organizing for better conditions while keeping flexibility. It's possible to have both."