French CMA Grant Request — Craft Business Creation

Any individual registered — or in the process of registering — with the Répertoire des Métiers (RM) under Article L. 130-1 of the Code de l'artisanat is eligible. The activity must appear on the craft-trade list in Article R. 111-1, and the business must employ fewer than 11 people (Article L. 111-1). The scheme targets first-time founders and buyers of struggling craft businesses. A 3-year waiting period generally applies if you have already received a similar grant from the same local CMA.

The flat-rate grant is capped at €2,000 per application. Depending on local CMA policy, it is paid in one or two instalments: the first payment (50–60%) is released at RM registration, and the balance after 6 months of active trading on submission of accounting evidence. The grant is non-repayable if all conditions are met. It counts against the EU de minimis ceiling of €300,000 over three consecutive financial years (Regulation EU no. 2023/2831). Any overshoot triggers repayment of the excess plus statutory interest at the rate published each semester by ministerial decree.

A standard file includes: the CMA's own application form; a copy of your RM registration or the acknowledgement of receipt from the guichet unique at formalites.entreprises.gouv.fr (mandatory since 1 January 2023, Decree no. 2021-300 of 18 March 2021); a simplified 3-year business plan; a valid ID; proof of financing (personal funds, bank loan or honour loan); and your most recent avis d'imposition (annual tax assessment notice). Some CMAs also require an URSSAF certificate of good standing.

The SPI — a 5-day, 30-hour pre-launch training course covering financial management, basic bookkeeping and legal obligations for artisans, costing €150–€250 — is no longer a mandatory prerequisite for RM registration since the PACTE Act no. 2019-486 of 22 May 2019. However, many CMAs make completing the SPI or an equivalent course a condition for receiving their grant. Attending it is treated as a favourable selection criterion during the application review.

Yes. The grant is fully combinable with ACRE (partial social-contribution exemption in year one, Article L. 5141-1 of the Labour Code) and ARCE paid by France Travail (60% of remaining unemployment benefit rights, Articles 34–36 of the unemployment insurance agreement). It also stacks with honour loans (Initiative France, Réseau Entreprendre) and regional subsidies, provided the total of all public aid stays below the de minimis ceiling of €300,000 over three consecutive financial years (Regulation EU no. 2023/2831).

The average review period is 4 to 8 weeks from receipt of a complete file. The CMA has 15 days to request additional documents, which pauses the clock. If no reply arrives within 2 months, silence does not constitute acceptance for discretionary grants (Act no. 2013-1005 of 12 November 2013). Any refusal must be reasoned and may be challenged by a formal internal appeal (recours gracieux) submitted to the CMA director within 2 months of the decision notice.