A very useful book if you are running a business in France is called L’Encyclopedie Pratique du Gerant de Sarl. Sounds gripping, don’t you think?

Among other things it talks about the legal requirements of operating a company, the paperwork that needs to be kept for 10 years and so on. It also talks about the financial aspects – taxes, social contributions, VAT etc.

Unfortunately each chapter I read sooner or later tends towards the same conclusion – excessive paperwork and / or excessive costs and charges. Gites and holiday rentals currently have quite a privileged tax position in France, but your every day business doesn’t get off so lightly.

Ourselves, we aren’t entitled to ‘new business’ grants or tax incentives and reductions, although we live in a designated development region, because an internet based business doesn’t apparently offer much promise of employment to the local community. Doesn’t seem very progressive to me, but what do I know – it’s only a couple of weeks since I complained about the practice of charging tourists 30 cents a day to visit the area.

I seem to be slightly out of touch with ‘modern rural economic thinking’.

I understand that if I start a foie-gras packaging company, or a shop to sell ‘products from the farm’ I will be entitled to all sorts of benefits. Not quite my thing unfortunately.

Happily it makes little difference whether our business is a big success or not because it is more or less impossible to earn enough to make you wealthy in France, because high costs and charges turn up to deprive you of any potential profits. So chill-out, watch TV, have a long lunch-break…no point stressing yourself to an early grave just for the pleasure of paying a few euros extra to the authorities.

And earning enough to enable a new company to take on employees and boost the economy is about as likely as winning the lottery, with or without the support of a grant from the local authorities.

And the point of this preamble? The BBC reported today, after yet more financial crises due to the scandalous behaviour of the banks in recent years, that city bonuses are stll expected to amount to £3.5 billion. Down 58% on last year, it’s true, but still rather a lot of money to be handed out in an industry that is in the process of self-destructing.

And a useful reminder why I am glad to be here, making a relatively honest living, rather than working in a city bank, where even I would feel guilty about receiving a big bonus this year.