Fixed-costs aid for the businesses hardest hit by the health crisis

Decree No. 2021-310 of 24 March 2021 creates an aid supplementing the solidarity fund, paid per two-month period during the first half of 2021, to offset the uncovered fixed costs of the businesses hardest hit by the COVID-19 epidemic. It is reserved for businesses that received the solidarity fund, were created at least two years earlier, lost at least 50% of their turnover and have negative gross operating income, and that meet a size condition (monthly reference turnover above €1m or 2019 annual turnover above €12m, for closed businesses or those in the most exposed sectors) or belong to listed sectors. The aid covers 70% of the negative gross operating income (90% for small businesses), up to €10m per group over the half-year. It was amended and extended by later decrees (notably No. 2021-625 of 20 May 2021 and No. 2021-1338 of 14 October 2021 for September 2021), then followed by the 'fixed costs rebound' aid (Decree No. 2021-1430 of 3 November 2021).