What is wage portage? Discover its little-known benefits

The development and growth of entrepreneurship is increasingly creating new forms of work. The evolution of the professional world is in full swing and choosing between entrepreneurship and employment is no longer the only option. Working and benefiting from the social benefits of an employee while maintaining your entrepreneurial autonomy is also possible thanks to salary portage. It is a new form of employment that offers several advantages. Find out in this article what it is, its advantages and how it works.

What does wage portage mean?

Wage portage can be defined as a form of atypical employment. In other words, it is a contractual relationship between three parties: a payroll company, a consultant and the client company for which the consultant provides services. The legal definition of this concept is included in Article I. 1254-1 of Ordinance No. 2015-380 of April 2, 2015 relating to wage portage. It is a particular concept because of its compromise between employment and autonomy.

Salary portage has been considered booming for several years. Formerly almost confidential, it is today an alternative activity which attracts consultants wishing to have their own activity in complete security. In fact, three types of contracts are concluded for salary portage. It is

  • A portage agreement: the portage agreement allows the two parties, that is to say the consultant and the client company, to define the terms of the contract which binds them. This agreement aims at the same time to inform the consultant of the pension fund to which he is affiliated;
  • the employment contract which binds the consultant and the umbrella company. It is a contract which includes the same clauses as for any employee contract;
  • finally a mission contract: this contract defines the conditions of execution of the services for the client company.
wage portage in France
wage portage in France

The advantages of salary portability

Salary portage offers the consultant numerous advantages. Indeed, salary portability allows the consultant not to worry about the choice between autonomy and employment.

Salary portage has the advantage of helping you to still have your autonomy but frees you from administrative hassles. Thus, the consultant is freer in his work, and can then choose his clients, set the prices of his services and provide efficient work. Salary portage therefore reduces constraints such as invoicing, accounting and other declarations to public bodies.

Salary portage allows the chosen consultant to benefit from a regular monthly income as compensation for services rendered. Indeed, he also benefits from social and financial benefits such as: unemployment insurance, health insurance and the right to social security; a retreat; professional and mutual civil liability. He also benefits from signing a fixed-term or indefinite employment contract.

The other advantage linked to salary portage is that the umbrella companies themselves take care of following up with clients for the payment of salaries to the various consultants. Consultants are covered by professional civil liability in the event of damage suffered or caused during the exercise of their function.

As a consultant, you have the opportunity to benefit from continuing professional training as in the case of an employee. You are assured of being able to deepen your knowledge or broaden your expertise through these training courses in order to expand your business and therefore your profit.

In addition, umbrella companies allow consultants to benefit from other useful services for the development of their activity. To illustrate, the chosen consultant can have access to his referencing with SMEs and large companies in France and Switzerland. This allows him to know how he is positioned and to have access to a large number of opportunities and network of consultants. This advantage is most useful because the consultant goes in search of several opportunities that correspond to him by going to the connection platforms.

The last advantage concerns the ease of borrowing. The consultant is entitled to a pay slip which ensures financial stability for both parties, that is to say the lessor and the financial institutions. Here, social protection is also insurance in the event of cessation of activity. This protection therefore ensures the settlement of loans or other financial settlements with compensation.

How salary portability works

Salary portage is a form of employment whose operation is almost identical to that of a simple employee. It is therefore important to know everything about this form of employment before carrying out salary portage missions. Indeed, all profiles are concerned by this form of employment, notably expert consultants, retirees, executives undergoing retraining, graduates and many others.

Thus, in this activity, the consultant receives a pay slip each month based on the amount of his invoice. To do this, he can be accompanied by a human resources advisor to determine his salary. The human resources advisor can also support you as a consultant in salary optimization through the management of professional expenses.

The operation of salary portage is divided into three axes: firstly, the carried employee benefits from complete autonomy in all of their services for the client company. This autonomy depends on the nature of the mission, the cost and the duration allocated. Secondly, the employee can sign a service contract with the client company and an employment contract with the umbrella company. This contract can be for a fixed term or an indefinite period. Finally, the umbrella company takes care of the various administrative acts regarding the payment of fees for the service. This allows the company to issue a pay slip to the consultant.

Note that salary payment is conditional on an activity report called CRA, validated by the client company. Salary portage therefore allows freelancers or self-employed workers to benefit from employee-related benefits such as social benefits and also a regular monthly payment.