France has written rules for exactly this kind of business. Since 1 May 2026, a small establishment open to the public (ERP of the 5th category) may run without staff on site, in accès libre, for up to 19 people, under a specifications document (cahier des charges) from the Ministry of the Interior and the sports ministry. You register the business through the guichet unique and charge 20% VAT on gym use. Customers pay by card, with Cartes Bancaires supported. Sparekey costs €990 for setup and €26 a month for Operations.
Accès libre: what the cahier des charges asks
Before you open, inform the departmental youth and sports service (SDJES), the fire and rescue service and the mayor. The safety commission may visit unannounced. The main measures:
- a written safety plan and a device that limits entry to 19 people
- public access to the ground floor only
- remote surveillance, a fire alarm audible everywhere and posted fire instructions
- in changing rooms, a téléassistance button linked to an authorised remote operator (not just your phone)
- extinguishers, lit exit signs and doors that open easily from inside
- registration of each customer per time slot, a self-assessment of fitness and information on the risks of training alone
- no minors, and no e-bikes or e-scooters inside
- a notice at the entrance with the accès libre hours and a contact who is always reachable
Sparekey covers the booking side. Every slot is booked in advance, tied to the customer’s contact details and opened with a code that works only for that slot. Set the minimum age in your booking terms. The téléassistance, alarm and remote surveillance come from a security installer. The cahier is written for rooms above 19 people with an accès libre area, so ask the mayor’s office and the fire service how it applies to your premises before you sign the lease.
Registration and VAT
Register on formalites.entreprises.gouv.fr as an entreprise individuelle (optionally a micro-entreprise) or as a company such as a SASU. An EI under the micro regime costs nothing to register.
Gym use is at the standard rate of 20%. The tax authority excludes sports halls and weight-training rooms from the 10% leisure rate, and the government has said it does not plan to lower it. Under the VAT franchise (services up to €37,500 in the previous year), you charge no VAT and your invoices state “TVA non applicable, art. 293 B du CGI”.
Code du sport duties
Every gym must keep a first-aid kit and a way to alert emergency services, post emergency numbers, post the insurance certificate (the operator’s insurance is required by the Code du sport) and any coaches’ diplomas, and declare serious accidents. Tell your insurer that customers train alone without staff. See insurance and liability.
Cameras need a prefect’s authorisation
Cameras filming areas open to the public need an authorisation from the prefect, valid for five years. The retention period is set in the order and cannot exceed one month. Signs must show the purpose, retention, contact and the right to complain to the CNIL. Keep cameras out of changing rooms and toilets. See cameras in an unstaffed gym.
Payments, cash software and e-invoicing
In France we set up Stripe with Cartes Bancaires, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Most French cards are co-badged CB, and customers can choose the network at checkout. The Stripe account is in your name, payouts are in euros, and setup is included.
Two tax points to settle with your accountant:
- Certified cash software (article 286 CGI). It applies to VAT-registered businesses recording payments from private customers. Businesses under the VAT franchise are outside it, and so are businesses whose payments all go through a bank. Whether your gateway setup qualifies is for your accountant to confirm.
- E-invoicing. Every business must be able to receive e-invoices through an accredited platform. From 1 September 2027, small businesses also issue them to French businesses and report sales to private customers (e-reporting).
Sparekey issues a French invoice for every paid booking and exports a CSV file for your accountant. A note is mandatory for private customers above €25.
Door access
We recommend a 2N keypad with a maglock, installed by a professional door installer. The installer wires it so the door opens freely from inside, as the cahier requires. Nuki is the cheaper alternative on the existing lock, but it cannot be secured as well against tampering. The price of Sparekey is the same. Customers get a time-limited PIN by SMS under your gym’s name right after booking. A stored backup code covers internet outages. See 2N keypad and maglock.
What Sparekey costs in France
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Setup (one-off) | €990 |
| Operations (hosting, maintenance and SMS sender name) | €26 / month |
| Door-code SMS | €0.08 per message |
No VAT is added, because Sparekey is not VAT-registered. You pay in euros by bank transfer. See pricing.
FAQ
Can a gym in France run without staff?
Yes, since May 2026, under the accès libre rules: up to 19 people, ground floor only, remote surveillance, téléassistance in changing rooms, booking per time slot and no minors.
What VAT rate applies to a private gym in France?
The standard rate of 20%, unless you use the VAT franchise.