Inbound services: France business network (FBN)

Building bridges between business in France and the United States

PwC's France business network assists companies with expanding their international footprint. If you’re thinking about investing—or already have invested—in the United States or France, FBN's bicultural, bilingual advisors can help you navigate regulatory, language, cultural and other business challenges. Backed by our global team of trusted service providers, we can also work with your organization to manage assurance, tax and advisory issues, such as mergers & acquisitions, due diligence, valuations and investment exit strategies.

Why invest in the United States?

Recognized as a leader in research and development, the United States has more international patents registered than any other country. Innovators are protected by a well-structured intellectual property framework. Universities and incubators nationwide nurture new growth. The country ranks at the top for competitiveness and ease of doing business and has a diverse, skilled, innovative and mobile workforce. Geographically the world’s third largest country, the United States offers an abundance of resources and has the most developed, liquid, flexible and efficiency financial markets.

Over 4,600 French companies conduct business in the United States. The nation offers the largest consumer market globally and has free trade agreements with 20 countries, including France, who remains one of America’s top five foreign investors. The commercial relationship between France and United States supports investment, streamlines regulatory structures and increases trade. Foreign direct investment (FDI), including the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), continues to stimulate the economies of both countries.

Why invest in France?

With over 65 million consumers, France is the second largest European economy and the world’s sixth. The country offers many supports for investment. Set-up and operating costs are lower in France than in many developed countries. For example, creating a company costs less than 1% of average per capita income versus the average 9% in other G20 nations. France has signed tax conventions with over 120 countries to preclude double taxation. The country also provides companies with a single contact for tax matters (Tax4Business) and adapted residence permits (Talents Passport, created in 2015). To promote innovation, France set up French Tech Ticket, a grant and a support mechanism for innovative entrepreneurs. And, in 2016, the Halle Freyssinet, the world’s largest incubator, brought together 1,000 start-ups in Paris. France’s research tax credit (Crédit Impôt Recherche, or CIR) is open to all companies and amounted to approximately €5 billion in 2015.

Our services to businesses investing in the US

PwC's advisors have extensive experience working in the United States and around the globe. As you consider markets to enter, we'll help you calculate efforts and costs realistically and adapt approaches to local circumstances, including working conditions, communication styles and processes. Contact us today about any of our three main service areas: deals and consulting, cross-border tax services, and audit and assurance.

Deals and consulting

  • Market entry strategy and assessment
  • M&A due diligence, execution and integration
  • Valuation services (business combinations, fair value measurements)
  • Capital project management and delivery
  • HR strategy and shared services advisory
  • Corporate compliance, fraud and FCPA consulting
  • Supply chain and operations consulting
  • IT system strategy/development and IT support
  • Forensic services (investigation of fraud, economic crimes, and disputes)

Tax services

  • Acquisitions and dispositions
    • Evaluate the US tax implications of US inbound acquisitions and dispositions designed to implement key initiatives
  • Business and tax alignment
    • Align cross-border business and tax objectives
  • Compliance
    • Address compliance requirements with respect to US federal and state tax laws, and hot topic areas such as transfer pricing and FATCA
  • Income tax provision and uncertain tax position analysis
  • Individual income and payroll taxes
  • US income tax treaties and competent authority
    • Determine the applicability and desirability of obtaining the benefits of US tax treaties in the context of cross-border financing and investment, international mergers, acquisitions, and dispositions
  • US tax benefits
    • Consider federal and state tax benefits, including credits and incentives available to US inbound companies
  • Legislative and regulatory services
    • Monitor real-time developments on fast-moving US federal and state legislative and regulatory developments
  • IRS audit support
    • Respond to IRS and state revenue services’ challenges, including proper characterization of US inbound financings as debt vs. equity.
  • US trade
    • Navigating the US customs and tariffs regimes.

Learn more about US inbound tax services

Audit and assurance

  • Audit and assurance reviews
  • Audit on internal control over financial reporting (J-SoX)
  • Accounting and regulatory advisory
  • Internal controls assessments
  • Reporting standards conversion (GAAP/CAS/IFRS)
  • Cost reduction/efficiency improvement reviews

Contact us

Pierre Monperrus

Pierre Monperrus

France Business Network Leader, PwC US

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