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Open a tobacco office

Verified 15 December 2021 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister), Ministry of Finance

You want to become buralist ? You must be an adult and not have been convicted in court. You must follow a training to get a operating permit. Either you take over an existing tobacco store, open a new one, or create one in an existing store. bar or press. We provide you with all the necessary information.

Buralist and tobacco dealer, tobacco store and tobacco delivery are synonymous designations.

Resumption of a tobacco office

To be eligible to take over a tobacco shop, you must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Being of age
  • Have a blank criminal record on slip 2 (no criminal conviction)
  • To be French, European (EEA) or Swiss
  • Not already running another tobacco store
  • Have passed a mandatory medical examination favorable to the practice of the trade with a doctor approved by the Regional Health Agency (ARS)
  • Not be under guardianship, or trusteeship

You must ask to have the medical examination with a certified medical practitioner by theARS: titleContent. She makes available a list of doctors.

Warning  

you must commit to to keep the tobacco office during Minimum 3 years.

To be presented as a buyer

You need to identify the tobacco store you want to take back.

A trade-in company exchange is available:

National company Transfer Exchange

The buralist who stops his activity must agree with you to transfer his tobacco office.

He must apply as a future buyer in the customs department of the region concerned.

Obtain a favorable opinion

If the opinion of the Customs Directorate is favorable, you must undergo mandatory initial training.

This is the prerequisite for the right to exercise this activity.

Attend mandatory initial training

You must take initial training.

Training lasts for 3-4 days.

You have to pay for it. Its cost varies depending on the training centers. It takes about €800.

If you validate this training, you receive one operating permit.

Warning  

do not register for the training until the customs department has responded positively to your application.

Where to take the training?

The training center must be approved by the State.

For find a center, you should consult the list of centers approved by the customs department.

List of training centers approved by the Customs Directorate to become tobacco wholesalers

You can also contact the customs department from your region to find training.

Who shall I contact

After you complete the initial training, you sign a stewardship contract with theState.

This contract is renewable every 3 years.

It is not permitted to operate a tobacco store as a legal business except for one CNS: titleContent.

Individual exploitation

The only legal form allowed isindividual business.

The manager is a natural person.

He is liable for all his assets (e.g. professional debts) except for his principal residence.

CNS: titleContent

The CNS: titleContent is theunique a permitted form of business to run a tobacco office.

The partners must be natural persons, unless the manager owns a public domain occupation (PAL). In this case, they may be legal persons.

Obligation to acquire goodwill

To obtain the contract to manage a tobacco office, you must be able to purchase the goodwill associated with him.

You must be sole proprietor of the goodwill.

Warning  

you cannot share the purchase among multiple partners.

Get a bank loan

If you need a loan to buy the goodwill, you need to be able to bring a large personal amount at the outset.

You have right to aid if necessary.

It's you who stare the days and opening hours of your tobacco office.

Warning  

if you have an associated business (bar, press), the tobacco office must be open at the same time. Conversely, the tobacco office can be opened even if the associated store is closed.

You should not close more than 2 days a week.

These 2 days may or may not be consecutive.

Renewal of the management contract

You must renew the stewardship agreement every 3 years.

To do this, you must follow a compulsory continuing training.

It's the indispensable condition to continue your business.

It updates your knowledge.

Training will need to be validated within 6 months before the date of renewal of your stewardship contract.

For find training, you should consult the list of training centers approved by the customs department.

List of training centers approved by the Customs Directorate to become tobacco wholesalers

You can also contact the customs department from your region to find training.

Who shall I contact

Please note

in 2023, continuing education must be followed by managers whose initial contracts were signed in 2020, 2017, 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002, 1999, 1996, 1993, 1990, 1987 or 1984.

Other obligations

The obligations to carry out your business as a stockist are as follows:

Warning  

to know in detail everything you need to know to carry out your business, you can consult our dedicated page the operation of a tobacco office. Here you will find information on the carrot mandatory, tax, taxes, supplier credit, etc.

New tobacco office

To be eligible to open a tobacco office, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Being of age
  • Have a blank criminal record on slip 2 (no criminal conviction)
  • To be French, European (EEA) or Swiss
  • Not already running another tobacco store
  • Have passed a mandatory medical examination favorable to the practice of the trade with a doctor approved by the Regional Health Agency (ARS)
  • Not be under guardianship, or trusteeship

Please note

you must ask to have the medical examination with a certified medical practitioner by theARS: titleContent. She makes available a list of doctors.

Warning  

you must commit to to keep the tobacco office during Minimum 3 years.

Where to find the offers?

You must view offers management of a tobacco office.

These offers are available on legal ad logs.

Most offers are also available in the regional press.

How to apply?

You must apply for the offer you are interested in.

You must send your candidacy for the customs directorate from your region.

Who shall I contact
Obtain a favorable opinion

If the opinion of the Customs Directorate is favorable, you must receive initial training mandatory.

It's the indispensable condition to have the right to carry out that activity.

Attend mandatory initial training

You must take initial training.

Training lasts for 3-4 days.

You have to pay for it. Its cost varies depending on the training centers. It takes about €800.

If you validate this training, you receive one operating permit.

Warning  

do not register for the training until the customs department has responded positively to your application.

Where to take the training?

The training center must be approved by the State.

For find a center, you should consult the list of centers approved by the customs department.

List of training centers approved by the Customs Directorate to become tobacco wholesalers

You can also contact the customs department from your region to find training.

Who shall I contact

After you complete the initial training, you sign a stewardship contract with theState.

This contract is renewable every 3 years.

It is not permitted to operate a tobacco store as a legal business except for one CNS: titleContent.

Individual exploitation

The only legal form allowed isindividual business.

The manager is a natural person.

He is liable for all his assets (e.g. professional debts) except for his principal residence.

CNS: titleContent

The CNS: titleContent is theunique a permitted form of business to run a tobacco office.

The partners must be natural persons, unless the manager owns a public domain occupation (PAL). In this case, they may be legal persons.

Obligation to acquire goodwill

To obtain the contract to manage a tobacco office, you must be able to purchase the goodwill associated with him.

You must be sole proprietor of the goodwill.

Warning  

you cannot share the purchase among multiple partners.

Get a bank loan

If you need a loan to buy the goodwill, you need to be able to bring a large personal amount at the outset.

You have right to aid if necessary.

It's you who stare the days and opening hours of your tobacco office.

Warning  

if you have an associated business (bar, press), the tobacco office must be open at the same time. Conversely, the tobacco office can be opened even if the associated store is closed.

You should not close more than 2 days a week.

These 2 days may or may not be consecutive.

Renewal of the management contract

You must renew the stewardship agreement every 3 years.

To do this, you must follow a compulsory continuing training.

It's the indispensable condition to continue your business.

It updates your knowledge.

Training will need to be validated within 6 months before the date of renewal of your stewardship contract.

For find training, you should consult the list of training centers approved by the customs department.

List of training centers approved by the Customs Directorate to become tobacco wholesalers

You can also contact the customs department from your region to find training.

Who shall I contact

Please note

in 2023, continuing education must be followed by managers whose initial contracts were signed in 2020, 2017, 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002, 1999, 1996, 1993, 1990, 1987 or 1984.

Other obligations

The obligations to carry out your business as a stockist are as follows:

Warning  

to know in detail everything you need to know to carry out your business, you can consult our dedicated page the operation of a tobacco office. Here you will find information on the carrot mandatory, tax, taxes, supplier credit, etc.

Extending a business with a tobacco office

You must first verify that you meet the conditions to be eligible to hold a tobacco office.

These criteria are as follows:

  • Being of age
  • Have a blank criminal record on slip 2 (no criminal conviction)
  • To be French, European (EEA) or Swiss
  • Not already running another tobacco store
  • Have passed a mandatory medical examination favorable to the practice of the trade with a doctor approved by the Regional Health Agency (ARS)
  • Not be under guardianship, or trusteeship

You must ask to have the medical examination with a certified medical practitioner by theARS: titleContent. She makes available a list of doctors.

Warning  

you must commit to to keep the tobacco office during Minimum 3 years.

You want to add a tobacco office to your existing store.

It is usually a bar or a press.

Apply to the Customs Directorate

The 1re gait consists of check whether or not your business is located in a perimeter.

To do so, you must make a request to the customs department of your region.

Who shall I contact
Obtain a favorable opinion

If the opinion of the Customs Directorate is favorable, you must receive initial training mandatory.

It's the indispensable condition to have the right to carry out that activity.

Attend mandatory initial training

You must take initial training.

Training lasts for 3 or 4 days.

You have to pay for it. Its cost varies depending on the training centers. It takes about €800.

If you validate this training, you receive one operating permit.

Warning  

do not register for the training until the customs department has responded positively to your application.

Where to take the training?

The training center must be approved by the State.

For find a center, you should consult the list of centers approved by the customs department.

List of training centers approved by the Customs Directorate to become tobacco wholesalers

You can also contact the customs department from your region to find training.

Who shall I contact

After you complete the initial training, you sign a stewardship contract with theState.

This contract is renewable every 3 years.

It is not permitted to operate a tobacco store as a legal business except for one CNS: titleContent.

Individual exploitation

The only legal form allowed isindividual business.

The manager is a natural person.

He is liable for all his assets (e.g. professional debts) except for his principal residence.

CNS: titleContent

The CNS: titleContent is theunique a permitted form of business to run a tobacco office.

The partners must be natural persons, unless the manager owns a public domain occupation (PAL). In this case, they may be legal persons.

Obligation to acquire goodwill

To obtain the contract to manage a tobacco office, you must be able to purchase the goodwill associated with him.

You must be sole proprietor of the goodwill.

Warning  

you cannot share the purchase among multiple partners.

Get a bank loan

If you need a loan to buy the goodwill, you need to be able to bring a large personal amount at the outset.

You have right to aid if necessary.

It's you who stare the days and opening hours of your tobacco office.

Warning  

if you have an associated business (bar, press), the tobacco office must be open at the same time. Conversely, the tobacco office can be opened even if the associated store is closed.

You should not close more than 2 days a week.

These 2 days may or may not be consecutive.

Renewal of the management contract

You must renew the stewardship agreement every 3 years.

To do this, you must follow a compulsory continuing training.

It's the indispensable condition to continue your business.

It updates your knowledge.

Training will need to be validated within 6 months before the date of renewal of your stewardship contract.

For find training, you should consult the list of training centers approved by the customs department.

List of training centers approved by the Customs Directorate to become tobacco wholesalers

You can also contact the customs department from your region to find training.

Who shall I contact

Please note

in 2023, continuing education must be followed by managers whose initial contracts were signed in 2020, 2017, 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002, 1999, 1996, 1993, 1990, 1987 or 1984.

Other obligations

The obligations to carry out your business as a stockist are as follows:

Warning  

to know in detail everything you need to know to carry out your business, you can consult our dedicated page the operation of a tobacco office. Here you will find information on the carrot mandatory, tax, taxes, supplier credit, etc.