With a size nearly as large as the State of Texas and a population of around 58 million people, France is considered as the largest West European country.

There are a lot of things that the French are proud about. For one, they treat education with utmost importance, as demonstrated by the fact that schooling is almost free of charge from primary school through Ph.D. level for French citizens.

Another aspect is that the French are proud of their heritage. They boast of their long history and their important roles in world affairs.

France is considered by many as the world center of culture. It is a fusion of traditional European customs and as well as various foreign cultures that the French have embraced.

If your company is considering to conduct business in France, here is a basic guideline on what you should expect in their business environment.

Courtesy is given utmost importance – Formality and courtesy holds the foundation of French business etiquette. Appointment schedules and hierarchical titles are expected to be respected. Correspondence, whether by mail or by fax, should be acknowledged promptly. Mutual trust and respect, which is earned by proper behavior, is required to get things done.

Shaking hands is customary – An aggressive handshake that American usually do is considered impolite in France. They do it with a light grip and a single, quick shake, accompanied by a short eye contact. Remember to shake hands when meeting a person and when the meeting is over.

Kissing is a form of greeting – Friends often greet each other by lightly kissing on both cheeks, even between men.

Be conscientious of your looks – The French take great care to dress fashionable, whether in formal attire or in casual clothing. Invest in well-tailored and conservative clothing. Patterned fabrics and dark colors are also acceptable, while avoiding bright colored clothes.

Women should also avoid wearing flashy jewelry. Meanwhile, casual clothing is not relaxed like often seen among North Americans. Your business colleagues would feel more at ease with visitors who show the same degree of attention to appearance.

English is not a problem, but you need to learn French – Although a lot of business people in speak French, it is important to provide documents, correspondence, and negotiations in the French language. This provides a distinct advantage over competitors who use only English.

Try learning basic French phrases, as it shows interest in establishing a long-term business relationship. You should bear in mind that other EU suppliers are accustomed to dealing in the French language. However, if you do not know how to speak French, apologize for your lack of knowledge.

Be aware of your personal habits – Be discreet when sneezing, blowing the nose, and other bodily hygienic practice. Also, avoid using personal items like combs, toothpicks, and even hand sanitizers, in public.

Conversation is an art form – The French have a great appreciation for conversing with each other. It is free-flowing as interruptions and arguments happen often. Lively conversation like this is considered a form of entertainment.

It is best to join in the debate, as the French often accuse North Americans of lecturing rather than conversing. They are impressed with people who possess good debating skills as this indicates a good grasp of intelligence.

Lower your voice – North Americans are known in France to be annoying, as their loud voices and braying laughter often disturb and offend everyone in a restaurant, meeting, or on the street.

Apply frequent eye contact – It may seem intimidating for most North Americans, but the French usually converse with deep and intense eye contact. This shows their sincerity for you. In presenting your proposal, make sure to make direct eye contact as well.

Mind your body language – The American “OK” sign (index finger touching the tip of the thumb) means “zero” among French. If you would like to do a positive hand signal, use the “thumbs up” sign.

Another hand gesture to avoid is slapping the open palm over a closed fist; it's has a vulgar meaning. Sitting with legs spread apart is considered impolite, while the feet are not placed on tables or chairs.

You are expected to greet when entering shops – It is customary for the French to greet the shopkeeper “bon jour” or “bon soir” (good morning and good evening) with the honorific title Monsieur or Madame when going in a shop, while greeting “au revoir” (good bye) when leaving.

Even foreigners are expected to do so, because you don't want to be considered a North American pig.

Greet your neighbors – When passing by a neighbor, you are also expected to greet them with the same designation of “bon jour” or “bon soir” and their title.

Create a wide business network – Surviving the business scene in France includes earning, and keeping, a network of business alliances. Remember that proper behavior is the key to attain business success in this country.