Frequently Asked Questions about Umbrella Employment

With umbrella employment, you're an employee with all social benefits (unemployment, health, pension) without managing administration. As a sole proprietor, you manage everything yourself and aren't entitled to unemployment.

Umbrella employment is ideal for IT consultants, management consultants, marketing experts, engineers, trainers, project managers, and any qualified professional who works on assignments or projects for clients.

You can find your own clients, or we can help you through our extensive commercial network. Many of our consultants benefit from both approaches to maintain a steady flow of assignments.

Yes, umbrella employment is fully legal in all our operating countries. In France, it is specifically regulated by the Code du travail (Articles L1254-1 and following). In Belgium and Luxembourg, it operates under standard employment law frameworks.

We currently operate in Belgium, France and Luxembourg, with structures adapted to each country's legislation.

Our management fees are 9% of your billing. In return, we handle all administration, tax optimization and give you access to our network.

Your income depends on your daily rate, number of working days and professional expenses. Use our simulator for an estimate, then contact us for a personalized calculation.

There is no strict minimum, but to ensure a comfortable net income after social contributions and our 9% management fee, we generally recommend a daily rate of at least 300-400 euros depending on your country and situation.

As an employee under umbrella employment, you contribute to the pension system just like any salaried worker. Your contributions are calculated on your gross salary and entitle you to a full state pension based on your career.

Flat-rate allowances (indemnités forfaitaires) are tax-exempt amounts that cover expenses related to your professional activity such as home office, travel, and meals. They are a key part of our tax optimization strategy and are 100% legal.

Yes. Professional expenses directly related to your assignments (equipment, software, travel, training, professional insurance) are deducted before tax calculation, which increases your net income.

The 9% fee is calculated on your total invoicing (before taxes). For example, if you invoice 10,000 euros per month, the management fee is 900 euros. This covers all administrative services, tax optimization, social contributions management, and network access.

Yes! If you already have a sole proprietorship, we can help you sell it (fee-free) and you might even make a profit.

We handle all invoicing and payment collection. If a client is late or fails to pay, we manage the follow-up and, if necessary, legal action. Your salary is not affected by client payment delays in most cases.

Yes. As an employee, you benefit from the national health insurance system in your country of employment. This covers medical care, hospitalization, dental, and prescription costs just like any other salaried employee.

Yes, and many of our consultants have done exactly this. We can help you wind down your existing business structure and transition smoothly. In some cases, you may even profit from selling your client portfolio.

Yes. We manage all VAT-related obligations including registration, quarterly or monthly declarations, and payments. You don't need to worry about any tax administration.

You're released from the company and immediately receive unemployment benefits. As soon as a new assignment comes up, you rejoin.

Once you have a client and a defined assignment, we can set up your employment contract and commercial agreement within 48 to 72 hours. You can start working almost immediately.

Yes, absolutely. You can work on multiple assignments simultaneously or consecutively. We manage separate commercial contracts for each client while you remain under a single employment contract with us.

Yes. You accumulate paid holiday days just like any employee. The exact number depends on your country of employment and the terms of your contract, but typically you receive 20-25 days of paid leave per year.

You will need a valid ID or passport, proof of address, your CV or professional summary, and details of your assignment (client, duration, daily rate). We guide you through the entire onboarding process.

With temping (interim), the agency finds assignments for you and you have limited control over your career. With umbrella employment, you choose your clients, negotiate your rates, and maintain full professional autonomy while we handle only the administrative side.

Remote work is possible and common among our consultants. Working from abroad may have tax and social security implications depending on the country and duration. We advise you on the best setup for your situation.

You can end your contract at any time following the standard notice period defined by labor law in your country of employment. If you are between assignments, you can also be released to access unemployment benefits. There are no lock-in periods or exit fees.