About French Bridge
A bridge between Baltic businesses and francophone markets.
We don’t hand out advice – we work in your name. We help Baltic companies enter and grow in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and other francophone markets.
01Mission
We fill the gap between institutional advice and going it alone.
Francophone markets work differently from German or Nordic ones. The French want to speak their own language first, their ‘yes’ doesn’t always mean yes, and the decision-making etiquette has its own rules.
Export agencies and chambers of commerce give good advice. But none of them picks up the phone and calls in French on your behalf. Between their advice and ‘doing it yourself’ there’s a wide gap. That’s where we are.
We don’t hand out advice. We work in your name.
What French Bridge is
A focused competence, not a mass consulting firm. We work with few clients at a time – as many as we can actually serve. When needed, we draw on trusted freelance partners in francophone markets.
02Who we help
Is your company the right partner?
We say upfront, honestly, who we work with and who we don’t. It saves both sides time and misunderstandings.
We fit if
Your company meets these criteria
- Baltic B2B company, already exporting or ready to start
- Any size – from a one-person shop to 1000+ employees, no limits
- Manufacturing, distribution, or services sector
- Product or service already proven in your home market (product-market fit)
- Looking for long-term clients and partners, not one-off deals
- Ready to participate in the process, not just wait for results
We don’t fit if
We can’t help right now
- B2C business aimed directly at the end consumer
- You need only a one-off translation or a single letter in French
- Product not yet proven in your home market
- You expect a quick sales injection within 2-4 weeks
- You’re looking only for free advice or a single call
- You compete with our current clients in the same niche
Such a ‘no’ list isn’t a rejection. It’s honesty – the kind that helps avoid projects that have no point from the start.
03Where we work
All of francophonie, not just France.
One language, similar business etiquette, similar strategy – works across all these markets. In practice, that means your product has five possible gateways, not one.
FR
France
The main market – 68 million people, strong industry, B2B deals structured by region.
BE
Belgium
Wallonia and Brussels – close, open to Baltic businesses, often the first step into francophonie.
CH
Switzerland
Suisse romande – high margins, long decision cycles, valuable long-term contacts.
LU
Luxembourg
A finance and services hub – a specific but profitable market for selected sectors.
FR Africa
Francophone Africa
Morocco, Senegal, Ivory Coast – growing markets, especially in infrastructure.
Foundation
Behind French Bridge stands real experience, not future promises.
12+
years of real export experience with francophone clients
200+
active business contacts across FR, BE, CH markets
500+
companies engaged with over the course of a career
5
languages: LT, FR, EN, ES, RU
B2B
manufacturing
starting in professional kitchen equipment and metal distribution
This experience is the foundation French Bridge is built on. Not a projection, not a future ambition.
04Network
The number means little. What kind of contacts matters more.
200+ active contacts isn’t a LinkedIn list. It’s people we’ve worked with directly, who pick up the call and know our name.
Geography
- France – the majority of contacts
- Belgium – second by volume
- Switzerland – smaller volume, high value
- Luxembourg, Monaco – selective
- Francophone Africa – expanding
Levels
- Company owners and executives
- Commercial and purchasing directors
- Distributors and trade partners
- Installers and technical partners
- Affiliated institutions and associations
Sectors
- Professional kitchen equipment (HoReCa)
- Stainless steel products
- B2B manufacturing and distribution sectors
- Industrial components
- Expanding into new sectors as needed
05Principles
Four principles that guide our work.
01
Real work, not promises
We work with what can be measured – concrete contacts, meetings, replies. No ‘network building,’ no ‘visibility,’ no abstractions.
02
In the local language
In a francophone market, we speak French. Always. It’s not a service, it’s a necessity – English-language outreach often goes unanswered.
03
Long-term relationships
We build relationships that last years, not one-off deals. The French need time to buy – we have the patience and the structure to hold the course.
04
Transparent scope
We say upfront what we’ll do and what we won’t. Scope and timing fixed in the contract. No hidden costs, no extra invoices along the way.
06Commitments
What you actually get working with us.
Principles are philosophy. Below are concrete commitments we deliver on every project.
NDA before we start
Your clients, prices, strategy stay between us. Signed together with the main contract.
Clear deliverables
You know what you’re getting, not just what you’re paying. Every project has its concrete scope written into the contract.
Regular reports
Weekly or monthly depending on project scope. You’ll know what’s happening, even if you’re not directly involved.
Realistic timing
We say upfront how long it will take and why. The French market isn’t fast, but at least you’ll know the road.
The right language for the room
We speak English with you. With your clients in francophone markets – only French.
Transparent pricing
In the contract, not unfolded as we go. No surprise invoices, no extra hours without agreement.
07How we differ
Three roads into a francophone market. One of them is ours.
Clients usually compare us with two alternatives. Below, honestly, we show how we differ – and where the other options also fit.
| Institutions Chambers of commerce, export agencies | Doing it yourself | French Bridge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level of help | Advice, referrals, directory contacts | Months of trying without clear results | Concrete work in your name – calls, emails, meetings |
| Language | Usually English | English or a hired translator | French – like local partners |
| Representation | Don’t attend your meetings | You travel and run them yourself | We accompany, represent, translate, help you decide |
| Cost | Often free, but limited in scope | Cheap by the hour, expensive in failures | Paid service, clear return through contacts and results |
Institutions and self-managed work aren’t bad choices – they simply do a different job. French Bridge fills the practical space between them: where someone needs to speak French, accompany, represent, and execute.
“
With French Bridge you reach your goal without costly mistakes or a long road of trial and error.
08Services
Four services. One outcome.
01
Market research and consulting
We assess your product’s potential in francophone markets, sector competition, and a realistic outlook.
02
Sales development and client search
We build prospect lists, reach out in French, lead the initial conversations up to a meeting.
03
Attendance and representation
We join meetings in France or remotely, translate, and represent your position in negotiations.
04
Team building and training
We help you hire the right French-speaking employee or train your existing team to work with francophonie.
09Frequent questions
Common questions before hiring.
What size companies do you work with?
All sizes – from a one-person company to corporations with a thousand employees. What matters more than size is whether the product fits the market and whether you have the resources for a longer process. A francophone market doesn’t open in a week.
How long until the first results?
First qualified contacts within 4 to 8 weeks. First real meetings 2 to 4 months. First deal – depending on sector, often 6 to 12 months. Honestly: a francophone market isn’t fast, but it’s long-term and loyal to those who invest in relationships.
How is my company’s information protected?
Before any work begins, we sign an NDA. Your clients, prices, strategy, product specifications – everything stays between us and is used only for the purposes set in the contract. We don’t work with competing companies in the same niche at the same time.
What do you do if the work doesn’t bring results?
First – we try to keep that from starting in the first place. If we see in the first conversation that the product isn’t ready for the market or expectations are unrealistic, we say so right away – we don’t start the project. If we do start and see that the initial strategy isn’t working, we review together and look for another angle. We don’t paper over it.
10How we begin
A low threshold for the first step.
The first conversation is free. We don’t say ‘order an audit for €800.’ We see whether we fit working together – then move on.
01
Free consultation
A 30-minute call – we discuss your situation, your goals, and whether we fit working together. No commitments.
~ 30 min
02
Strategy session
A 1-hour paid session – directions, priorities, action plan. A concrete document you can use.
~ 1 hr
03
Contract and NDA
If we move on – we fix scope, timeline, and price. The NDA is signed together with the main contract.
~ 1 week
04
Work begins
Research, client search, conversations, meetings. Regular reports on what’s happening.
Ongoing
Start
Ready to expand into francophone markets?
The first 30-minute conversation is free, with no obligation. The simplest place to start.
Or call us: +370 695 85855