Going self-employed as an independent secretary or assistant raises one central, fundamental, and legitimate question: how much will I actually earn at the end of the month?
Between the gross revenue billed to your clients and the amount that actually lands in your personal bank account, social security and tax deductions adjust your independent assistant income. To launch with a viable project or to adjust your current pricing grid, it’s essential to master these mechanisms.
Drawing on data from our national Formassista study conducted in May 2026 among active independent assistants, let’s uncover the financial reality of the profession.
The Reality of Rates in the Field: What the Numbers Say
Before calculating your net income, it’s worth looking at the level of revenue achievable on the French market. The findings from our national study clearly show the norms of the sector.
An Hourly Rate Concentrated Between €25 and €44 (excl. VAT)
The vast majority of practicing assistants apply very tightly clustered hourly rates:
- 82% of respondents charge between €25 and €44 excl. VAT per hour.
- The core of the market sits precisely between €35 and €44 excl. VAT/h, a bracket used by 44% of independents.
- Only 16% of assistants exceed the €45 excl. VAT/h threshold.
The Decisive Impact of Contract Format on Profitability
The study reveals a major strategic finding: how you sell your services influences your rate far more strongly than your diploma or seniority. Cross-referencing collaboration formats with billing, the results are conclusive.
| Collaboration Format | Share of Assistants Charging €35 excl. VAT/h or More |
|---|---|
| Recurring contract (multi-month commitment) | 80% |
| Monthly retainer | 46% |
| One-off assignment | 25% |
Moreover, certain areas of expertise such as pre-accounting or business management, sold on a recurring-contract basis, allow 78% to 86% of assistants to reach top-tier rates.
From Revenue to Net Income: How Much Actually Stays in Your Pocket?
To understand what you actually keep, let’s look at the status chosen by 77% of independent assistants according to our study: the micro-entreprise (or auto-entreprise). Under the micro-entreprise scheme, you apply a simple calculation based on revenue (CA) collected.
1. URSSAF Social Security Contributions
For a commercial or professional service activity (BNC/BIC), the social contribution rate is approximately 21.1% to 21.2% of revenue collected (excluding any applicable ACRE relief during the first months).
2. Operating Costs and Business Expenses
Being self-employed involves recurring costs necessary for your business to run smoothly:
- Insurance (professional liability).
- Professional software (invoicing, collaboration tools, office suite).
- Banking fees, web hosting, and phone subscriptions.
- Vocational training contribution (CFP).
These operating expenses generally represent 10% to 15% of your revenue.
3. Income Tax
Depending on your tax situation, tax is either deducted via the final withholding payment option (“versement libératoire,” around 2.2% of revenue subject to income conditions), or added back into your household tax return after a flat-rate allowance from the tax authority (50% under BNC or 34% under BIC, depending on the declared activity type).
Concrete Simulation: What Revenue Should You Aim For, For a Given Salary?
Here is an estimate based on a micro-entreprise activity at cruising speed, with no specific exemption.
| Target Personal Net Income | Target Monthly Revenue (excl. VAT) | URSSAF Contributions (~21.2%) | Operating Costs (~10%) | Tax & Safety Margin (~5%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €1,500 net | ~€2,350 excl. VAT | ~€500 | ~€235 | ~€115 |
| €2,000 net | ~€3,150 excl. VAT | ~€670 | ~€315 | ~€165 |
| €2,500 net | ~€3,950 excl. VAT | ~€835 | ~€395 | ~€220 |
Methodological reminder: to generate €3,000 excl. VAT in monthly revenue at an average rate of €35/h, you need to bill approximately 85 hours per month to your clients, or around twenty billable hours per week.
The Pitfall of Non-Billable Time: The Key Trade-off for Profitability
One of the most valuable findings of the Formassista study concerns time management. 61% of assistants surveyed spend less than 20% of their time on non-billable tasks (prospecting, communication, their own administrative work).
While such an organization reflects great efficiency on client assignments, it can mask underinvestment in finding new contracts. Conversely, our data shows that the main difficulties expressed by the profession are:
- Finding and retaining clients (63%).
- Generating a regular and sufficient income (54%).
Devoting part of your time to visibility and structuring your offer is not a waste of money. It is the essential investment needed to negotiate recurring, higher-value contracts and break through the time-for-money ceiling.
Structuring Your Offer to Secure Your Revenue
Knowing the contribution percentages is not enough to make your career change a success. The real key to sustainable income lies in your ability to build a strong positioning from the very start.
By moving toward in-demand services (such as pre-accounting) and offering recurring support contracts rather than by-the-hour troubleshooting, you secure your revenue while bringing real strategic value to your clients.
Would you like to lay solid foundations for your future business or adjust your pricing strategy?
Discuss your career-change project and your revenue goals.
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