The dream of retiring and taking up a more leisurely pastime, like running a gîte or fishing lake, is still going strong, and the good news is that it is very possible.
This is especially true if you have someone who has done all the tough legwork in setting up a business, like Cherrill Wilson with her pottery painting studio in the Charente.
Since moving to France from Manchester eight years ago, Cherrill has built up a popular business around her pottery workshop and cake-making at her five-bedroom farmhouse near Confolens.
Annie's Place Céramique Café, in the picturesque village of Oradour-Fanais, offers immersive classes overlooking the fields, where birds and baby deer might be spotted, with homemade cakes and coffee, of course.
Why is the Charente popular with British expats?
The Charente is home to one of the highest populations of expats in France, and many of her regular customers are British or Dutch families living in the area or passing through on holiday.
“I love the flexibility of not having to open 9-to-5 every day,” says Cherrill, who moved over with her husband Scott and runs sessions by appointment. “I wanted somewhere social and creative for both retirees and families in the area.”
The business, which attracts as many visitors in the winter as in the summer, has taken a lot of setting up, including all the relevant paperwork for planning, health and safety, fire safety and more.
The property has also been renovated by Scott, a builder, with improvements including new electrics, double-glazed windows, a modern boiler, air conditioning and a beautifully equipped pottery painting studio with a new kiln and three pottery wheels.
The main property has four bedrooms and two bathrooms, whilst there is also a newly renovated one-bedroom gîte with a separate entrance that could generate €80 per night. There’s a lot of passing trade in the area, from French employees of wind farms to tourists driving through France.
“The pottery painting studio has proved immensely popular in the community with both French and English clients,” says Cherrill, who used to run a cake shop in Manchester. “We have groups of friends who love crafting together, some of whom then come back with their grandchildren visiting from the UK, and also French and Dutch ladies who live here or who have holiday homes in the area.”
Explore properties in the Charente
Can you earn an income from running a small business in France?
They have only been trading for 18 months, but Cherrill projects that it is possible to earn around €26,000 per year without working completely flat out, but rather running it as a hobby business.
“You can be flexible when you open, but you do really need two people to run the courses.”
Cherrill has learnt some French, which has helped her attract more French customers, including through local markets and working with a French holiday company that sends groups of children every two weeks in the summer.
“But there’s opportunity to do a lot more if someone is keen.”
Cherrill is torn about having to return to the UK for family reasons and has put the property and business on the market.
The property, which sits on four acres, is selling for £216,767 through aplaceinthesun.com.
The key advantage is that it’s ‘ready to run’ for anyone who loves the idea of an instant way to integrate into the local community, as well as potentially earning an income to support their visa application.
“I am happy to share my financial records for anyone applying for an entrepreneur visa, whilst a potter might be able to move over on a talent visa. There are different options.”
She offers full support and training for anyone who moves over and has no relevant experience, and has already set up social media accounts (Facebook and Instagram) for the business. She says the listed price is negotiable.
Find out more about Annie's Place Céramique Café.
View the property and pottery business for sale
Could this be your next chapter in France?
If you've been dreaming of a new life in France, whether that's running a small business or finding a countryside retreat, explore our properties and expert guides to help you get started.
