A founder receiving benefits from France Travail can, on becoming president of a SASU, either keep receiving ARE (unemployment benefit) on top of their income (an unpaid president earns no business income from the role), or apply for ARCE, a lump-sum payment of 60% of the remaining ARE entitlement, paid in two instalments six months apart. For ARE opened after a job loss on or after 1 April 2025, the monthly top-up is capped at 60% of the entitlement remaining on the business start date. Sources (2)
France TravailFrance Travail: financial aid for setting up a business
Service-publicService-public: social protection for company directors
The two options
| Option | How it works | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping ARE | Allowance paid monthly, reduced according to your business income | Gradual start, little income in the first year |
| ARCE | 60% of the remaining entitlement as a lump sum, in two payments six months apart | Need for cash to launch the business |
Before filing
- Declare your project to France Travail.
- Set the president's pay (or the absence of pay) by a decision of the sole shareholder.
- Check your entitlement with the France Travail simulator: the rules depend on your situation.
LegalRapide does not give personalised advice on your entitlements: France Travail is the point of contact.
Written by Razvan Toma, founder of LegalRapide. How we check our figures · LinkedIn