Doing business & staying in touch

Businesspeople should wear conservative clothes. Prior appointments are expected and the use of business cards is usual. While knowledge of French is a distinct advantage in business dealings, it is considered impolite to start a conversation in French and then have to revert to English.

Business meetings tend to be formal and business decisions are taken only after lengthy discussion. When conducting business, the first meeting is normally devoted to establishing a relationship and business entertaining is usually in restaurants.

It is customary to address colleagues with the appropriate Madame, Monsieur, Professeur or Docteur followed by the surname and a handshake. The informal 'tu' should only be used once the other person has started to use this him/herself. Business cards (preferably in French and English) should be presented.

After an initial meeting, kissing on the cheek is the norm. Always say goodbye to people one by one at the end of an event or else you will risk the term: filer à l’anglaise. This is not a good thing.

France has a 35-hour working week and office hours are generally between Monday-Friday 0830/0900-1700/1800, with a one- or two-hour lunch break during the day. Some offices close early on Friday afternoon.

In Paris, firmness, not rudeness, is in order. Small talk is an essential part of doing business in Paris, so it is wise to do a quick refresher on French politics and culture prior to the meeting and not to rush straight to talk of business. Smart, conservative dress is recommended. Business lunches, working dinners and breakfast meetings are common. Whoever fixes the meeting is expected to settle the bill. At formal dinners, diners must wait for the most important guest or the host to give the signal to start eating. Conducting business in August (during the Parisian exodus to the south) is to be avoided at all costs.

In Southern France, business attire tends to be smart and chic (light suits are a must for the hot summer months). Due to (sometimes) good-natured rivalry, praise of the capital (unless one's colleague is from Paris) should be avoided. Standard business hours in Southern France are Monday to Friday 0830-1200 and 1430-1800. Lunch meetings are common.

In provincial areas, breakfast meetings are rare. Normally, meetings are fixed for mid-morning or mid-afternoon, while lunch meetings usually only involve colleagues already involved on a joint project.