Test your business idea before setting up your company
Find your first customers, set your prices and check that your project works. The incubator gives you a legal framework to sell and invoice during this test, before you even register a company.
Before you launch
A place to turn an idea into experience
Starting a business takes time and money before you know whether customers will buy. An incubator gives you a framework for testing your activity and support with the decisions you face: pricing, customers, administration and priorities.
The framework
What is a business incubator?
In France, a couveuse d’entreprises helps people test an activity before registering their own business. You can find customers, make sales and issue invoices within a supervised framework.
The framework is a contrat d’appui au projet d’entreprise (CAPE), a French agreement providing support for a business project. It is governed by French law. Read the official CAPE guidance in French.
How the CAPE agreement works
A written agreement
The CAPE agreement must be in writing, as must any renewal.
Up to one year, renewable twice
An agreement lasts no more than twelve months. It may be renewed twice, for a maximum total of three years.
Trading through the incubator
Before you register your business, invoices use the incubator's registration details and identify the CAPE agreement.
A defined legal framework
Before registration, the supporting organisation is responsible to third parties for your commitments. After registration, joint responsibility continues under the rules governing the CAPE agreement.
Social protection
The CAPE is not an employment contract. It provides access to the French general social security scheme, including workplace accident cover, but does not give a right to paid leave.
Ongoing support
The incubator provides continuing assistance and a programme to prepare you to manage your future business. The terms of support must be explained before signing.
Eligibility
Who can apply?
The CAPE can be available to people preparing to start or take over a business, including jobseekers, people receiving certain social benefits and part-time employees. Full-time employees are not eligible.
The sole shareholder who also manages an EURL or a SASU can also enter into a CAPE agreement. Jobseekers may continue to receive benefits subject to their individual circumstances and the applicable rules.
Legal eligibility does not automatically mean admission to Challl's incubator. Its admission criteria and arrangements have yet to be finalised.
Proposed terms
A fixed fee to support your business
The proposed support fee is €90 per month excluding VAT, with no percentage of your revenue charged by Challl. A Ngento subscription at €20 per month excluding VAT is required to manage and monitor your business.
When you have no collected revenue, the €90 fee is not collected: only the €20 Ngento subscription applies. When your business can support payment of the fee, the combined cost of support and software is €110 per month excluding VAT. Challl currently benefits from the French VAT exemption, so no VAT is added to these amounts (Article 293 B of the French General Tax Code).
The conditions that trigger the support fee and the billing arrangements will be set out in your CAPE agreement. These amounts cover support and software; business expenses, social contributions and taxes are separate.
Your next step
After the incubator
When your activity is ready, you register your business. You can then join Challl's business hub in Fayence on the Start-up plan: coworking, offices, meeting room, café area and Ngento, for €129 per month excl. VAT.