Selling via e-commerce to France

Get guidance and practical information to successfully export your products via e-commerce to France. Request of a full copy of our market report at: paristd-Infocentre@international.gc.ca.

Benefits of selling online to France

• France remains the 2nd largest e-commerce economy in Europe, after the United Kingdom and ahead of Germany, with 150 billion euros in turnover in the e-commerce segment, an increase of 13.8%. in 2022.
• 42 million French consumers buy on the Internet, representing nearly 63% of the population and 80% of Internet users. The French and European Union (EU) e-commerce market reaches a massive consumer base.

Who should use this guide

• Businesses with no or basic export experience
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking for new export markets
• Business already active in one EU country and seeking to expand their activities to France, using the opportunities offered by the EU Single Market

Objectives

• Understanding the French e-commerce market
• How to enter the market
• Legislation and applicable rules
• Payments methods
• Shipping, logistics and returns
• Promoting your brand in France
• Customer service

Get the full report

For a full copy of the market report, please contact paristd-Infocentre@international.gc.ca.

Disclaimer

This guide:

• has been written using publicly available information
• should not be used as a substitute for professional consultation

Government of Canada:

• is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information
• has not verified the content of any third-party websites
• assumes no responsibility for their use.
• does not endorse, warrant, promote or recommend any service or product that may be provided or accessed through the websites of any third parties or through that of any person or organization that may provide them
• has not published or caused to be published any advertisements on such websites

Table of contents for the full report

1. 1. Introduction
2. 2. Understanding the French e-commerce market
   1. 2.1. B2C : e-commerce to consumers
   2. 2.2. B2B : e-commerce between professionals
   3. 2.3. Consumer concern for corporate social responsibility (CSR)
   4. 2.4. Consumer research for a circular economy
   5. 2.5. Main editors of e-commerce solutions in France
3. 3. How to enter the French market?
   1. 3.1. Market places
   2. 3.2. Website on its own
4. 4. Applicable laws and regulations
   1. 4.1. General
   2. 4.2. Compulsory French taxes and display of rates
   3. 4.3. Facturation Billing
   4. 4.4. General Terms and Conditions of Sales
   5. 4.5. Legal notice of the website
   6. 4.6. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
5. 5. Which payment method to offer to the French consumer
   1. 5.1. Generality
   2. 5.2. Means of payment
   3. 5.3. Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)
   4. 5.4. Security of means of payment
   5. 5.5. Choose and install the right online payment solution
6. 6. How to ship to France?
   1. 6.1. General
   2. 6.2. Economic challenges of delivery
   3. 6.3. Last mile delivery
   4. 6.4. Operational issues in logistics
   5. 6.5. Returns
7. 7. Promote your brand in France
   1. 7.1. Search engine optimization (SEO)
   2. 7.2. SEA and Pay Per Click
   3. 7.3. Social networks
   4. 7.4. Email marketing
8. 8. Customer service and support
   1. 8.1. A French-speaking customer service
   2. 8.2. Self-service and telephone support
   3. 8.3. Omnichannel customer service
   4. 8.4. Outsourced or local customer service

Get help from the Trade Commissioner Service

Please contact the trade section of the Canadian Embassy in France at paristd-Infocentre@international.gc.ca for information on the French market, about business opportunities or potential barriers to trade.