Yes, many countries are better than the US for entrepreneurship. I'm sorry that France is not one of them, but that doesn't really speak for the rest of the world -- your countrymen invented the word 'entrepreneur,' but they also invented 'bureaucracy' and 'laissez-faire'.
In Austria, if you become unemployed, and want to use that as an opportunity to start a company, the govt will extend your unemployment benefits by 6-18 mos, and give you a big break on your social taxes for years.
Also, you get unemployment insurance as a self-employed person, as of a few years ago.
And, naturally, everyone - no matter what they do or how much they earn - is covered by social health insurance, which is excellent. (Also pensions!)
Also, yes, you have to come up with 20-30K euros to start a true LLC -- but you can do business for "free" as a selbständig, or self-employed person, including employing another. However, if you do set up an LLC, you can never be liable for more than that 20-30K euros - it is not a fee, it is an escrow. If you were to close the business, without outstanding liabilities, you would get your money back.
Taxes, liability and healthcare may SEEM like the least of worries for a startup -- right up to the point where they suddenly become life-or-death, mission-critical. Naturally.
You've only addressed the bureaucratic part of startup. Many countries are only now seeing the benefits of encouraging entrepreneurship instead of taxing them out of existence. But just because the government writes a decree doesn't mean everyone stops what they are doing to change course.
There is a reason its called a startup culture. It takes a societal shift to get one running not just a few tax incentives.
Also unemployment doesn't change it. There are certain people that have what it takes to run a successful startup. These people are in demand and are never unemployed.
In Austria, if you become unemployed, and want to use that as an opportunity to start a company, the govt will extend your unemployment benefits by 6-18 mos, and give you a big break on your social taxes for years.
Also, you get unemployment insurance as a self-employed person, as of a few years ago.
And, naturally, everyone - no matter what they do or how much they earn - is covered by social health insurance, which is excellent. (Also pensions!)
Also, yes, you have to come up with 20-30K euros to start a true LLC -- but you can do business for "free" as a selbständig, or self-employed person, including employing another. However, if you do set up an LLC, you can never be liable for more than that 20-30K euros - it is not a fee, it is an escrow. If you were to close the business, without outstanding liabilities, you would get your money back.
Taxes, liability and healthcare may SEEM like the least of worries for a startup -- right up to the point where they suddenly become life-or-death, mission-critical. Naturally.