UNAPL

What UNAPL does

UNAPL (Union Nationale des Professions Libérales) is the national employers' federation representing liberal professions in France, founded in 1977 and headquartered at 46 boulevard de la Tour-Maubourg, Paris 7th arrondissement. It is a private association governed by the loi 1901, federating 69–71 national member organizations (syndicats) across three professional families: Health (Santé), Law (Droit), and Technique et Cadre de vie. It is a founding member of U2P (Union des entreprises de proximité), the first nationally representative employer organization for micro-businesses and SMEs, through which it participates in national social dialogue. The organization operates with approximately 35 permanent staff led by a Déléguée générale (Chirine Mercier) and an elected President (Denis Raynal, since March 2025), and is governed by a Bureau with Vice-Presidents delegated to each professional family plus regions, overseas territories, and thematic commissions (Social Affairs, Retirement, Training, Parity, AI, European/International Affairs).

UNAPL's core "products" are representational and informational rather than commercial: the bimonthly magazine L'Entreprise Libérale, the annual Guide de l'installation en profession libérale, the Les chiffres clés statistical publication, the Liseuse digital reading platform, UNAPL Formation training programs, and the annual Congress of liberal professions. Its underlying technology is minimal — a content-management website, digital reader, and a newsletter — with no proprietary AI, no public API, and no software development footprint. Revenue is generated almost entirely through membership dues paid by its 71 national member organizations, supplemented by congress sponsorships (Interfimo, Groupe VYV, FIF-PL, OPCO EP) and ancillary training revenue. Outreach is conducted through member syndicats, regional and departmental UNAPL chapters, the Maisons des professions libérales (pilots in Bordeaux and Nice), press releases, Twitter/X, and the annual congress (33rd edition scheduled February 2026).

The "customers" UNAPL serves are the syndicats themselves and, through them, an estimated 2.8 million liberal professionals representing 28.6% of French companies and 11% of national value added, organized across three families (Health, Law, Technique) with 53.4% women representation. The organization targets the Cap 100 initiative (reaching 100 member organizations), the international expansion of reach (partnerships with German BFB, European Commission co-funded SP4SE/SD4EU programs), and the integration of new segments such as auto-entrepreneurs (via the 2023 UAE tripartite convention). Overseas territories (Guadeloupe, Guyane, Martinique, Réunion, Mayotte, Nouvelle-Calédonie) are operationally distinct segments with dedicated representation. The go-to-market is community-led: UNAPL does not sell subscriptions to individuals but extends representational services through its member-organization network.

Name

UNAPL

Legal name

Union Nationale des Professions Libérales

Website

https://unapl.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UNAPL (Union Nationale des Professions Libérales) is the national employers' federation founded in 1977 that represents 69–71 French liberal-profession syndicats across health, law, and technical sectors, serving roughly 2.8 million professionals through advocacy, publications, training, and social dialogue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: UNAPL generates revenue through membership fees paid by its 71 national member organizations, which in turn represent professionals across the health, legal, and technical sectors. These dues fund the federation's advocacy, representation, and operational activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

UNAPL is a non-profit employers' federation that represents, defends, and promotes the interests of France's liberal professions across three professional families — Health, Law, and Technique/Cadre de vie — through 71 national member organizations. It delivers advocacy, social dialogue, training, publications, and practical guides to support liberal professionals in their establishment, business management, and career development.

Product overview

UNAPL is a professional association representing liberal professions in France, not a technology company. Its offerings consist of publications (magazines, practical guides, statistical reports), professional training services, and a digital reading platform (Liseuse) for accessing publications. The organization also facilitates networking events including an annual congress and maintains regional presence through UNAPL regional and departmental offices and Maisons des professions libérales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• L'Entreprise Libérale Magazine Bimonthly official magazine of UNAPL covering economic, legal, and professional development topics relevant to French liberal professions. Available digitally via the Liseuse platform and in physical form to member organizations.
• Guide de l'installation en profession libérale Annual practical guide for liberal professionals establishing their practice, covering administrative formalities, business creation aid, social protection, and management essentials.
• Les guides pratiques UNAPL Collection of practical guides supporting liberal professionals at every stage of their activity, from establishment through business management, including the micro-enterprise guide.
• UNAPL Formation Professional training programs for liberal professionals, including continuous professional development (formation professionnelle continue) offerings.
• Liseuse (Digital Reader) Digital reading platform for accessing UNAPL publications including L'Entreprise Libérale magazine and practical guides.
• Les chiffres clés des professions libérales Annual statistical publication presenting key figures and data on liberal professions in France, including sector size, demographics, and economic contribution.
• Congrès des professions libérales Annual national congress of liberal professions bringing together hundreds of practitioners, institutional leaders, and experts for dialogue, presentations, and networking.

Quantifiable outcome

• Liberal professions represent 28.6% of all French companies and 11% of national value added, with 1.7 million businesses employing 1.2-1.3 million people — demonstrating UNAPL's significant represented economic footprint.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• UAE (Union des Auto-Entrepreneurs)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2023UNAPL and UAE signed a tripartite convention (with the ARAPL Conference) on 11 July 2023 at the Ministry of Economy, signed in the presence of Minister Olivia Grégoire. The convention aims to improve support for liberal professionals in business creation. UAE joined UNAPL as an associate member, bridging the gap in support for liberal professionals exercising under the auto-entrepreneur regime — 70% of auto-entrepreneur creations correspond to activities affiliated with liberal professions.
• Conférence des ARAPL (Associations Régionales Agréées des Professions Libérales)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2023Part of the July 2023 tripartite convention (with UAE). The ARAPL network provides regional management support, training, and accounting assistance to liberal professionals. This partnership also led to the creation of the Association nationale d'accompagnement aux formalités des professions libérales to support the Single Business Gateway (Guichet Unique) for company formalities.
• OPCO EP (Opérateur de Compétences des Entreprises de Proximité)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOPCO EP is the Operator of Competencies for proximity businesses, supporting training and skills development for TPEs and SMEs including liberal profession businesses. Listed as a partner of UNAPL on the official website partners section.
• FIF-PL (Fonds Interprofessionnel de Formation des Professions Libérales)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFIF-PL is the inter-professional fund for continuing professional development of liberal professions. UNAPL works closely with FIF-PL on training matters and co-organized the 32nd Congress. The organization is undergoing a rapprochement with FAF-CEA (artisans' fund) to reform professional training for liberal professions.
• InterfimominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA financial partner supporting liberal professionals. Listed as a partner and sponsor of the 32nd UNAPL Congress, providing financial solutions to liberal professionals.
• Groupe VYVminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA mutual insurance and provident group active in health and social protection. Listed as a partner and congress sponsor. VYV Group covers areas relevant to liberal professionals' health coverage and social protection.
• Le Cercle des IndépendantsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAn independent professionals' network. Listed as a partner of UNAPL, representing a community of independent workers aligned with liberal profession values.
• ARAPL IDF (Association Régionale Agréée des Professions Libérales Île-de-France)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional association of liberal professions providing management support and training to liberal professionals in the Île-de-France region. Listed as a partner on the UNAPL website.
• OMPL (Office Messagerie des Professions Libérales)minorOthersListed as a partner of UNAPL. OMPL handles professional mail and communication services for liberal professions.
• CIPAV (Caisse Interprofessionnelle de Prévoyance et d'Assurance Vieillesse)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIPAV is the primary pension fund for liberal professions in France. UNAPL supported electoral lists ('CIPAV Ensemble') won 10 candidate pairs in the 2025 CIPAV administrative council elections, giving UNAPL significant influence over pension governance for its represented professionals.
• SP4SE (Social Protection for Self-Employed)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNAPL participates in the SP4SE European program co-financed by the European Commission, aimed at strengthening social protection for self-employed workers and equality of access to protection schemes, with particular focus on women in liberal professions.
• SD4EU (Social Dialogue for an Union of Equality)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNAPL participates in SD4EU, a European project integrating gender equality considerations into upcoming reforms for liberal businesses in Europe, in partnership with the European Commission.
• BFB (Bundesverband der Freien Berufe)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman counterpart of UNAPL representing German liberal professions. UNAPL and BFB jointly published a white book and manifesto for the 2024 European elections, calling on candidates to recognize the role of liberal professions in Europe. Together, France and Germany represent 46.2% of EU's liberal profession workforce. This partnership represents UNAPL's primary European advocacy alliance.
• U2P (Union des entreprises de proximité)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNAPL is the founding member of U2P, described as the first nationally representative employer organization for TPEs at the inter-professional level. Through U2P, UNAPL participates in national social dialogue, pension reform discussions, and broader employer advocacy. Michel Picon served as President of U2P from January 2024. UNAPL Vice-Président is also Vice-Président of U2P.
• CESE (Conseil économique, social et environnemental)minorOthersThe Economic, Social and Environmental Council is the constitutional assembly for civil society consultation. UNAPL participates through its attached representative (Christophe YUEN, Attaché du groupe des professions libérales au CESE). The 33rd Congress of liberal professions is held at the CESE.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights11 records

Broad incumbents

• MEDEF (Mouvement des Entreprises de France): Main French employer federation with a much broader constituency across all company sizes and sectors. Competes with UNAPL for political influence in national social dialogue and legislative consultation, though MEDEF serves a wider employer universe while UNAPL represents the specific liberal professions slice.
• CPME (Confédération des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises): French confederation representing SMEs, with overlapping constituency interests with UNAPL through the U2P relationship. Competes for political representation of small businesses in social dialogue, while UNAPL specializes in liberal professions specifically — making CPME a broader-incumbent peer rather than a direct competitor.

Others

• U2P (Union des entreprises de proximité): Inter-professional employer federation where UNAPL is a founding member, representing the broader French TPE/SME constituency. UNAPL channels inter-professional advocacy through U2P, but U2P also encompasses artisans (ex-UPA), making it a parent umbrella rather than a direct competitor in the same organizational niche.
• FIF-PL (Fonds Interprofessionnel de Formation des Professions Libérales): Inter-professional fund for continuing professional development of French liberal professions. UNAPL works closely with FIF-PL on training matters and co-organized the 32nd Congress; the fund is currently undergoing rapprochement with FAF-CEA — adjacent enabling organization rather than direct peer.
• OPCO EP (Opérateur de Compétences des Entreprises de Proximité): French operator of competencies for proximity businesses, supporting training and skills development for TPEs and SMEs including liberal profession businesses. Listed as a partner of UNAPL on the official partners section — adjacent ecosystem participant rather than competitor.

Regional players

• BFB (Bundesverband der Freien Berufe): German counterpart organization representing German liberal professions. UNAPL and BFB jointly published a white book and manifesto for the 2024 European elections, and together represent 46.2% of the EU's liberal profession workforce — making BFB UNAPL's primary European advocacy ally in a different national market.

Direct peers

• ELPL / CEPLIS (European Liberal Professions): European-level federation of liberal professions organizations where UNAPL participates. Provides a continental platform for UNAPL's advocacy while serving similar representational functions across EU member states — a direct peer in function operating at a broader geographic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unapl_officiel
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=foWIgs2jN0s&list=PLkD4NFg0YTRo9Qu34Adqod2UalzoEifgE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/union-nationale-des-professions-lib%C3%A9rales

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UNAPL