How Do You Send Money to France for a Custom Furniture Order?
Quick answer: Split the payment into milestones tied to the manufacturer's build schedule. Collect the IBAN and BIC directly from the manufacturer, in writing. Confirm the Incoterm before you agree to a price. Hold the final balance until a pre-shipment inspection confirms the pieces match the signed-off design. Most French ateliers ask for 30 to 50 percent of that at the first milestone.
This guide covers a made-to-order production run, not a service payment and not an off-the-shelf catalog purchase. A custom order carries its own timing risk. A workshop can hold finished pieces until the balance clears, and one wrong account detail or a missed VAT document can cost you weeks you do not have before a showroom launch or a client install date.
Key Insight: France has a long history of building furniture for export, from Paris's Faubourg Saint-Antoine district (a working furniture-making quarter since the 1700s) to active ateliers today in the Vosges and Rhône-Alpes. A Minneapolis retailer's first custom order is entering an established supply chain, not a one-off arrangement.
Why a Minneapolis Retailer Ends Up Paying a French Manufacturer Directly
A home-goods or furniture retailer building a distinct showroom collection eventually outgrows what a domestic wholesaler catalog offers. Commissioning a custom run directly from a French manufacturer gets the retailer a piece its competitors down the street cannot stock: a specific wood species, a finish, or an upholstery detail built to the retailer's own spec rather than picked from a supplier's existing line.
Once the design is signed off and a purchase order is placed, paying the manufacturer becomes its own repeatable process, separate from the design and freight conversations. Most workshops ask for 30 to 50 percent of the order value upfront, more of the total held back for a newer relationship, less once you have a completed order on file. The sections below walk through exactly how to structure that, and what to hold back until the pieces are inspected.
Stock Furniture vs. a Custom Production Order: Why One Payment Doesn't Fit Both
Buying stock furniture from a French supplier's existing catalog is usually one payment against an in-stock invoice. A custom production order splits payment across milestones tied to the build, because the manufacturer is committing materials and shop time to a piece that does not yet exist. Here is where else the two diverge.
| What Changes | Stock/Catalog Order | Custom Production Order |
|---|---|---|
| Typical payment structure | One payment, full amount, against an in-stock invoice | Split across two or three milestones tied to production stages |
| Timing trigger | Before the goods leave the warehouse | Tied to design sign-off, an optional mid-production check, the pre-shipment inspection, and freight handover |
| Inspection point | Received-goods check on arrival | A pre-shipment inspection before the final payment leaves your account |
| Currency exposure | Low, single payment date | Meaningful; a rate move between deposit and balance can shift landed cost per piece |
| Freight terms | Often bundled into the supplier's standard pricing | Negotiated separately per order, tied to the Incoterm agreed upfront |
The currency-exposure row matters more than it looks on paper. Take a $30,000 balance due four months after the deposit: a modest 2 percent move in the euro over that window works out to roughly $600. That is enough to eat into a thin margin on a showroom collection, even if it rarely reopens a signed purchase order on its own.
The Deposit-to-Balance Framework for a Custom Furniture Order
Structure the payment around what the manufacturer's shop is actually doing at each stage, not around a fixed calendar date. Here is how that maps onto a typical custom order.
| Production Stage | What It Pays For | What Should Trigger the Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Design sign-off / order confirmation | Locks the wood species, finish, and upholstery fabric or leather, and reserves a build slot in the shop's schedule | Written design and materials sign-off from both sides |
| Mid-production check (larger or multi-piece orders) | Confirms joinery and frame work is underway and matches the signed-off spec | Production photos or a video call, not a full inspection |
| Pre-shipment inspection passed | Confirms finish, dimensions, and upholstery color match the sign-off | An inspection report or documented photo and video sign-off |
| Freight pickup or handover | Final balance, timed to whichever Incoterm you agreed to | Confirmed freight booking and the agreed Incoterm handover point |
A useful rule of thumb: do not send more than half the order value as a deposit to a workshop you have not yet completed one fully inspected order with, regardless of how strong the design renderings look.
Incoterms: Who Pays for Freight, and When Do You Own the Furniture?
Furniture is bulky, crated, and often fragile, so the Incoterm your manufacturer quotes changes the real cost of the order more than most buyers expect. Confirm which one applies before you agree to a price, not after the freight invoice arrives.
| Incoterm | Freight Arranged/Paid By | French Export Customs Cleared By | US Import Customs Cleared By | Risk Transfers to You | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXW | You, from the workshop door | You (via a customs broker), since the manufacturer has no obligation to help | You | At the manufacturer's own door | An experienced importer with a customs broker and freight forwarder already in place |
| FCA | You, once goods reach the agreed carrier | Manufacturer | You | Once handed to your carrier at the agreed point | A repeat buyer with a broker relationship who wants direct control over freight costs, and wants the manufacturer to keep handling French export paperwork |
| DAP | Manufacturer, to your named US destination | Manufacturer | You | On arrival at destination, before unloading | A first-time buyer without a broker who still wants to handle import customs directly |
| DDP | Manufacturer, including duties | Manufacturer | Manufacturer | At delivery to your showroom door | A first-time buyer who wants one landed price and no customs coordination |
A first-time buyer without an existing customs broker relationship is usually better off asking for DAP or DDP, even at a higher quoted price, since the manufacturer absorbs the coordination. A retailer placing repeat orders with a broker already in place often moves to FCA, since the manufacturer still clears French export customs under that term. EXW shifts export clearance to you as the buyer, which most US retailers are not set up to handle directly, so treat EXW as the term that needs the most caution, not the default choice. Whichever term you agree to, get it named in writing on the invoice, not just discussed by email.
What Your Manufacturer's Invoice Needs for VAT and for the Payment Itself
A sale by a French manufacturer to a US business is generally zero-rated for French VAT under Article 262 I of the French General Tax Code, as long as the manufacturer holds proof of export. You should not be paying French VAT on top of the order price.
Your Incoterm choice affects this. Article 262 I assumes the manufacturer ships the goods, or arranges the shipment on your behalf. If you choose EXW, you arrange the export shipment yourself, so get written confirmation that the manufacturer can still obtain proper export proof, or ask for FCA instead so the manufacturer stays responsible for that paperwork.
To pay in Zil Remit, enter the manufacturer's IBAN, BIC, and your purchase order reference. You see the exact converted amount and the fee before you confirm each milestone payment.
IBAN, BIC, and exact legal account name
Collect all three directly from the manufacturer in writing, not copied from an old email chain. A name mismatch against the invoice is the most common reason a payment to France gets held for review. If the account details ever change mid-order, confirm the change by phone with a known contact at the manufacturer before you send anything. Email threads get compromised, and a swapped account number is the most common way a large international payment gets stolen.
Proof-of-export documentation on file
Ask the manufacturer to confirm it holds the export declaration and shipping document showing the US as the final destination. That is what supports the VAT exemption on its side.
The correct customs classification, not a generic "furniture" line
Furniture generally falls under Harmonized Tariff Schedule Chapter 94, and wooden case goods are classified separately from upholstered seating. Ask the manufacturer for the specific classification it uses on its export paperwork.
A purchase order number on every payment
Reference the purchase order on each milestone payment so both sides can match it to the specific order later, especially useful if a dispute comes up after delivery.
A CITES export permit for protected wood species, if one applies
Most Dalbergia (rosewood) species are CITES-listed, though finished furniture pieces under certain weight and material thresholds are exempt from the export-permit requirement, so ask the manufacturer whether this specific order actually needs one. Brazilian rosewood, Dalbergia nigra, is an exception with no finished-goods exemption: it requires both the manufacturer's French export permit and a US Fish and Wildlife Service import permit on your side. Confirm this before you send the deposit, not after the shipment is stuck at the border.
Set up and verify your Zil Remit account well before your design deadline, not the week you need to send the deposit, since business account verification takes standard identity and registration documentation to clear. Your manufacturer doesn't need a Zil Remit account or an app of its own. The payment goes to the business account tied to the IBAN and account name you collect, as long as those details match the invoice exactly.
Payment Mistakes That Cost Furniture Retailers Their Margin
Two mistakes account for most of the real damage: paying before the design is locked, and releasing the balance before an inspection. The rest below are lower-odds but still worth checking for, since each one is cheap to avoid and expensive to fix after the fact.
Paying the full deposit before the design and materials spec is signed off in writing
Once a large deposit is sent, a workshop has less reason to stop and confirm a finish or dimension question before proceeding on its own reading of the design.
Releasing the balance before the pre-shipment inspection
Sending the full balance before an inspection report removes your leverage if the finish, dimensions, or upholstery color does not match what was signed off.
Missing wood-species export documentation
Certain rosewood species and other CITES-listed timber can need an export permit from the manufacturer's side, and Brazilian rosewood needs an import permit on your side too. Ask about this before the deposit goes out.
An IBAN or BIC entry error that delays the payment
A single wrong character in an IBAN can send a payment back or hold it for review, adding real days to a schedule that is already tight around a build slot.
Ignoring exchange-rate exposure over the production window
A deposit quoted in euros in one month and a balance sent months later can land at a meaningfully different dollar cost. Check the converted amount at each milestone instead of assuming the original quote still holds.
Never independently verifying the workshop is a real, registered business
A design relationship built over email is not the same as knowing who you are sending a deposit to. Before the first payment, check that the manufacturer's registered business name and address match what is on the invoice, independent of what the invoice itself claims.
Step-by-Step: Sending Your Custom Furniture Payment to France
These six steps run in order, from design sign-off to final payment, for any custom production order placed with a furniture manufacturer in France.
-
1
Confirm the design, materials, and Incoterm in writing
Get the wood species, finish, upholstery, and freight term agreed and documented before any deposit goes out.
-
2
Collect the manufacturer's IBAN, BIC, and exact legal account name
Confirm the name matches the manufacturer's invoice before the first payment goes out.
-
3
Send the deposit tied to design sign-off
Reference the purchase order number so this payment is traceable back to the exact order later.
-
4
Request a mid-production check on larger orders
Photos or a video call confirming joinery and frame work match the spec, before any mid-production milestone payment.
-
5
Review the pre-shipment inspection before sending the balance
Confirm finish, dimensions, and upholstery color match sign-off, and confirm export and any CITES documentation is on file.
-
6
Send the final balance and save the confirmation with the purchase order
Keep a reference that ties each payment back to the specific order for your own records and for customs on arrival.
Related Reading
The deposit-and-inspection discipline in this guide is not unique to furniture or to a single French corridor.
How a Charleston Aerospace Manufacturer Remits Money to a French Tooling Supplier
A different France corridor and a different industry, but the same discipline around invoice detail and export documentation.
How a Portland Wine Importer Pays a French Winery
The closest payment-timing analog on the site: a deposit-then-balance schedule tied to a production and delivery calendar, just for a different product.
How a Minneapolis Furniture Manufacturer Pays a Wood-Components Supplier in Sweden
A different corridor and a different role in the supply chain: that guide covers a manufacturer buying raw wood components, not a retailer commissioning finished custom pieces.
Zil Remit's Complete Guide to International Business Payments
The mechanics behind any international payment like the ones in this guide, in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much deposit does a French furniture manufacturer typically ask for on a custom order?
French ateliers commonly ask for a deposit in the 30 to 50 percent range before booking materials and a production slot. A first order with a new workshop usually lands at the higher end. Repeat buyers with a completed order on file can often negotiate a smaller deposit, tied more to later milestones.
What information do I need from my French manufacturer to send the deposit?
You need the manufacturer's IBAN, its BIC code, and the exact legal business name tied to that account, matched against the name on its invoice. A mismatch between the invoice name and the account name is one of the most common reasons a business payment to France gets held for review.
Should the invoice be in euros or US dollars, and who carries the exchange-rate risk?
Most French manufacturers invoice in euros, since that is their home currency. That means your business carries the exchange-rate risk between the deposit date and the balance date, which can be months apart on a custom order. Confirm the converted amount before sending each payment rather than trusting your original quote.
What do FCA, DAP, and DDP mean on my manufacturer's freight quote?
FCA, DAP, and DDP are Incoterms that decide who pays for freight, who clears customs, and when the goods become your responsibility. Under FCA, the manufacturer still clears French export customs, and you handle freight and US import customs. Under DAP, the manufacturer delivers to your door but you clear import customs. Under DDP, the manufacturer covers both, delivered as one landed price.
Do I owe French VAT on a custom furniture order, or is it zero-rated for export?
No. A sale by a French manufacturer to a US business, exported outside the EU, is generally zero-rated under Article 262 I of the French General Tax Code, as long as the manufacturer holds proof of export. If VAT does appear on the invoice, ask the manufacturer to confirm why before you send the payment.
What US customs duties or documentation apply when the furniture lands?
Duty depends on the exact customs classification. Furniture generally falls under Harmonized Tariff Schedule Chapter 94, with wooden furniture classified separately from upholstered seating at different rates. If any piece uses a CITES-listed wood species, such as certain rosewood, check with the manufacturer whether an export permit applies; Brazilian rosewood always needs one on both sides, including a US import permit.
Should I release the final balance before or after inspecting the finished pieces?
After. Sending the full balance before a pre-shipment inspection removes your only leverage if the finish, dimensions, or upholstery color does not match the signed-off design. Confirm the inspection report or photo and video sign-off first, then release the balance.
What happens if the manufacturer misses the production schedule?
Your purchase order and design sign-off are your main leverage, since together they document what the deposit was for and when the pieces were due. A milestone-based payment structure limits how much you have already sent if a delay comes up partway through production, compared with a single upfront payment for the full order.
How do I avoid delays when sending a large payment to France?
Collect the IBAN, BIC, and exact legal account name directly from the manufacturer in writing, confirm the name matches the invoice, and reference the purchase order number on the payment itself. Most delays on payments into France trace back to an account-name mismatch or a missing reference, not the payment method.
Conclusion
Match the deposit to the order, not to the workshop's asking percentage alone. Get the IBAN, BIC, and account name right before the first payment leaves your account. Settle the Incoterm and the VAT documentation before you agree to a price, since both get harder to fix after the freight invoice arrives. Do not release the balance until the inspection report is in your hand.
For the mechanics behind any international payment like this one, see our complete guide to international business payments. Do it right the first time, and this order becomes the start of a real supplier relationship in France, not just a one-off payment.
Ready to Pay Your French Furniture Manufacturer?
Send this custom-order payment to your manufacturer's France-based account through Zil Remit, using the IBAN and BIC you collected and the purchase order you already have on file.
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