A French translator adrift in a foreign land

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Original post address: http://www.proz.com/forum/getting_established/156239-starting_a_freelance_translation_activity_in_paris.html Good morning, I am currently working as a freelance technical French translator in Lisbon and would like to move back to Paris after 13 years of working in this field. I would like to turn to French freelance translators who work in Paris or in France with the following questions: – What is the simplest and cheapest way to start a freelance translation business in France (working alone, without employees, from home)? – What social contributions and taxes must be paid each year if one works with translation agencies based in Europe and has an annual income of around 70,000 euros? – When are taxes due? On a monthly basis, semi-annually, or annually? – What are the administrative requirements regarding accounting (keeping records of expenses and costs)? Can this be handled by the translator themselves, or is it necessary to hire an accountant for this purpose? I’ve read that taxes can account for up to 49% of a translator’s annual income, which seems extremely high to me. In Portugal, the tax rate is 30%, which allows one to live a decent life. My concern is whether moving to France is really worth it given such high tax rates. Thank you very much to everyone who is willing to help me clarify my doubts about running a one-person translation business in France!!!