Create a Personal services company (SAP) attracts more and more entrepreneurs. Indeed, the sector addresses major social needs: support for the elderly, assistance for people with disabilities, in-home childcare, and help with daily tasks. With an aging population and evolving lifestyles, the demand for these Home services continue to progress. But before welcoming your first customers, a question arises: is it necessary statement, one ornament or a authorization to practice legally? The answer depends on the activities you wish to offer and the people you will target. A comprehensive overview to move forward methodically and obtain SAP accreditation in order to’support vulnerable populations.
Understanding the Personal Services (SAP) scheme
What is the personal services sector?
Personal services refer to all Services performed at private residences to simplify their daily lives. These services can cover home maintenance, assistance for dependent individuals, or childcare.
The SAP device was set up by the state to develop local employment, support vulnerable individuals, and facilitate work-life balance. It thus responds to a social cohesion issue.
In France, this sector is regulated by the Labor Code, which notably defines the authorized activities, the conditions for carrying them out, and the tax benefits that clients can enjoy.
Public policy is implemented by the state and relayed in regions by Departmental directorates for the economy, employment, labor, and solidarity (DDEETS). They process, under the authority of the prefect, the requests for declaration and approval structures in the sector.
Activities that fall under personal services
The legislator has defined a Official list of 26 SAP activities, framed by articles L7231-1 and D7231-1 of the Labor Code. They all have in common being carried out in the homes of individuals or in their immediate surroundings.
Among the most common activities in the sector, we find:
- Home help for the elderly or dependent : support with daily living activities, meal assistance, mobility assistance, etc.
- In-home childcare as much for children under 3 years old as for older ones.
- Housekeeping and home maintenance cleaning, ironing, small DIY, gardening.
- Administrative or IT support : mail management assistance, digital literacy training, etc.
There are other SAP activities such as homework help, meal preparation, accompanying dependent individuals on outings, or grocery delivery.
First and foremost, it is therefore essential to Precisely define the type of services what you wish to propose. This choice will have a direct impact on the administrative steps to be taken.
Why obtain SAP approval or authorization?
SAP approval is essential to access certain vulnerable audiences. Indeed, without it, it is impossible to intervene with the elderly or disabled, or with children under 3 years old.
Furthermore, it strengthens the Company credibility Having official approval is a strong signal of seriousness and compliance, particularly appreciated by families and referring parties.
Approval, authorization, or declaration: what are the differences for personal services?
Are you having trouble seeing clearly between these terms? They cover different realities and refer to distinct administrative procedures.
The statement, optional but commercially decisive
The declaration is optional. It allows organizations and their clients to benefit from tax and social advantages, such as the VAT reduction and the immediate advance of the 50%% tax credit for services rendered. It is therefore often decisive from a commercial point of view!
You can register your business regardless of the personal services activity carried out. The registration is free, and the simplified procedure. This is done online via the NOVA teleservice.
SAP approval, mandatory for vulnerable populations
Some services require mandatory approval issued by the state. These are services intended for the most vulnerable populations.
Five activities are covered by the SAP approval requirement:
- Childcare for children under three years old at home;
- accompanying children under three years of age on their journeys;
- assistance to the elderly, disabled, or chronically ill;
- accompanying dependent individuals outside their homes;
- driving service for the most vulnerable individuals.
To obtain this approval, the service provider or authorized agent must demonstrate that it complies with a detailed specifications, particularly in terms of staff qualifications, service organization, and quality of services.
SAP accreditation is granted for 5 years and must then be renewed.
Useful clarification: Approval does not exempt from the declaration, which remains essential to obtain tax benefits.
The authorization, issued by the departmental council
The law requires operating permits for entities that intervene as a service provider for the elderly, disabled, or chronically ill:
- at home for assistance with daily living activities;
- in their travels;
- for driving their personal vehicle.
These activities often take place within the framework of public programs such as the Personalized Autonomy Allowance (APA) or the Disability Compensation Benefit (PCH). Furthermore, authorized home autonomy services (SAD) must comply with a National specifications, which sets strict requirements.
Conditions for obtaining personal services accreditation
Administrative and legal criteria
To apply for SAP accreditation, the company must, among other things, have a valid legal status (company, association, micro-enterprise, as applicable).
It must also be covered by a Professional liability insurance and respect the social regulation in effect: compliant employment contracts, declarations to social security bodies, etc.
Furthermore, the exclusive activity condition (or quasi-exclusive) to personal services constitutes a fundamental mention of the specifications.
Service quality requirements
The approval also requires ensuring a High level of service quality. The organization must, in particular, demonstrate its ability to structure its activities and effectively manage its teams.
This implies:
- the qualification speakers;
- an organization enabling the Continuity of services ;
- the ability to manage the Replacements of staff in case of absence.
These qualitative requirements aim to ensure the reliability and safety of home care services.
Obligations to Beneficiaries
Accredited organizations must comply with a number of obligations towards beneficiaries. The Protection of vulnerable people Indeed, it constitutes a central challenge in the SAP sector.
The company must therefore ensure the confidentiality of personal data, implement intervention monitoring procedures, and provide beneficiaries with a clear and detailed service contract.
Steps to obtain SAP (Service à la Personne) accreditation
1. Prepare your project and your application file
Before submitting your accreditation application, it is essential to structure your project and put together a solid file. This preparation phase allows you to anticipate regulatory requirements and facilitate administrative processing.
First, you need to look at your services, by precisely defining the proposed activities. Identification of target audiences This is the equivalent for: children, elderly people, disabled people, working adults…
Then, you will be able to gather the administrative documents necessary for the file, such as the company's statutes, insurance certificates, proof of staff qualifications, or the project presentation letter...
2. Submit your application for personalized services accreditation
The process is carried out exclusively online, via the NOVA platform nova.companies.gouv.fr.
This Public service is free and accessible to all project holders. It allows you to submit an application for SAP declaration or approval, track the progress of your file, and update your organization's information at any time.
The file must be complete upon submission. Any missing documents may extend processing times, which are three months maximum.
3. The administration's processing of the file
Once the file is submitted, the administration proceeds to Compliance verification. Exchanges may take place to obtain additional information or clarifications on certain content.
The final decision is communicated by official way. In case of refusal, an appeal is possible with the competent services.
4. Issuance of SAP certification
The accreditation for personal services is granted for a 5-year term. Upon obtaining it, several obligations come into effect. Its renewal must be anticipated before the deadline: a late application may result in an interruption of business for services requiring approval.
Obligations after obtaining approval
Administrative obligations
Once authorization is obtained, SAP companies must comply with a number of requirements to ensure transparency and monitoring of their services. They are notably required to establish Quarterly activity reports, as well as an overall annual report. This qualitative and quantitative report is accompanied by statistical data: turnover, number of employees...
Structures must also ensure rigorous monitoring of interventions performed at the beneficiaries' homes. This traceability is essential to justify benefits in case of an audit and to guarantee the quality of the service provided.
Finally, organizations are obligated to keep their administrative information up to date via the NOVA platform. Any significant change concerning the company's activity, organization, or contact details must be reported.
Compliance with tax and social regulations
The service provider or authorized agent must adhere to a strict framework:
- billing of services in accordance with the rules of the SAP system, with the issuance of the’Annual tax certificate discount for each customer;
- Management of employee employment contracts according to the applicable collective agreement;
- Compliance with SAP regulations for social security declarations and tax and contribution management.
Possible controls by the administration
Accredited organizations may be subject to inspections carried out by the DREETS (Regional Directorates for Business, Competition, Consumption, Labor, and Employment) or other competent authorities. These inspections cover the reality of the services performed, the quality of the service provided, and compliance with the specifications. In case of non-compliance, penalties can be pronounced, ranging from withdrawal of accreditation to prosecution for undeclared work.
Structuring the administrative management of your SAP activity
Manage schedules and interventions
In a personal services company, the Speaker scheduling constitutes one of the main organizational challenges. Services must be coordinated precisely to ensure continuity of service and beneficiary satisfaction.
It is necessary to’Anticipate absences and replacements and to keep a permanent visibility regarding missions carried out at clients' homes. Poor management can quickly impact service quality and company reputation.
Ensure traceability of services
Traceability of interventions is also an important issue for SAP organizations. Each service must be justifiable in case of an administrative check.
Mission tracking generally relies on several elements:
- recording of intervention hours;
- writing activity reports;
- the archiving of administrative documents;
- regular quality control.
This organization makes it possible to guarantee the Compliance with the SAP specifications and ensure more transparent management of the activity.
Progisap: A Tool for Effectively Managing a Personal Services Company
In personal services, with or without SAP accreditation, the quality of services relies as much on people as on organization. Between planning interventions, monitoring beneficiaries, managing teams, and administrative obligations, management can quickly become complex.
To maintain a clear view of their business and reliable processes, many companies rely on business software dedicated to the sector, like Progisap.
ERP 100% web, Progisap centralizes essential functions mentioned above. The goal: to make the teams' daily lives easier and reduce the administrative burden while ensuring traceability and compliance with SAP obligations.
Obtaining SAP certification, a key step to growing your business!
Starting a business in the personal services sector requires method and foresight.
To succeed, you need:
- Understand industry obligations : declaration, approval, or authorization depending on the activities and target audiences.
- Prepare a solid, complete, and compliant file, before submitting it through the NOVA platform.
- Structure your organization from the start : Service tracking, personnel management, home visit traceability.
- Rely on appropriate tools for efficient day-to-day management of activities.
The "agrément services à la personne" (accreditation for personal services) represents a real lever for developing an activity in this rapidly growing sector. Provided, however, that the regulatory requirements are met and the company is efficiently organized.
