Renting a friend: is it legal in France?
The idea can be surprising at first. Here is what the law really says, how much it costs, and how a platform like Rent a BFF frames the practice so that it stays strictly friendly.
Blog · Updated on 23 October 2026
“Renting a friend”: the expression makes people smile, or wince, the first time they read it. Yet it describes a very concrete service, already widespread in the United States and Japan for more than a decade: paying someone to share a moment of friendly company, by the hour, with no other expectation. In France, the practice is growing with the arrival of platforms like Rent a BFF. One legitimate question remains, and it is often the first one new visitors ask: is it legal?
This article describes the French legal framework. If you live in another country, the rules that apply there may be different.
What “renting a friend” actually means
On Rent a BFF, a “BFF” offers their company by the hour for everyday activities: a coffee and a chat, a walk, company at an event, a meal, a cultural outing, or simply a reassuring presence for an errand. The member chooses a BFF whose identity has been verified and sends them a request. Once the request is accepted, the member pays a 15% booking fee online, then pays the BFF, when they meet, the hourly rate shown from the start: no haggling and no hidden fees.
The service is closer to that of a local guide or a coach than to a romantic date. It is precisely this distinction that makes the service legal and sets Rent a BFF apart from a typical dating site.
The short answer: yes, it is legal
In France, nothing prohibits selling a friendly companionship service charged by the hour, as long as it stays strictly platonic and the provider (the BFF) declares their income. Rent a BFF, for its part, acts solely as an intermediary that puts people in touch, on the same principle as a service booking platform: it does not provide the service itself and is not a party to the contract between the member and the BFF. Each BFF remains independent and responsible for their own legal and tax obligations.
Why more and more people rent a friend
Loneliness is no longer a marginal issue in France: studies published every year by the Fondation de France show that it affects a significant share of adults, including young workers and people who have moved for their job. Renting a friend meets very concrete needs (see also renting a friend to ease loneliness):
- Arriving in a new city with no social network there.
- Not wanting to show up alone at a wedding, a party or a gallery opening.
- Looking for a motivating partner to get back into sport or go out more often.
- Needing a reassuring presence for a move, an administrative appointment or a stressful errand.
- Simply wanting to talk, without the stakes of a romantic date.
Renting a friend vs a dating site: the difference at a glance
Goal
Rent a BFF (renting a friend)Friendly, platonic company
Dating siteA potential romantic or sexual relationship
Payment
Rent a BFF (renting a friend)Hourly rate set by the BFF and paid in person, plus a 15% booking fee paid online; total shown before payment
Dating siteUsually a subscription, no service paid by the hour
Entry rules
Rent a BFF (renting a friend)Platonic charter and declaration of legal age accepted before publishing
Dating siteVaries by platform
Meeting framework
Rent a BFF (renting a friend)Activity agreed in advance (coffee, walk, outing)
Dating siteOpen, non-contractual
Romantic ambiguity
Rent a BFF (renting a friend)Forbidden, immediate exclusion after any advance
Dating siteIt is the purpose of the service
The safeguards that keep the practice safe
Being legal is not enough: the practice also has to stay safe for everyone. That is the role of the rules Rent a BFF sets for every BFF and every member.
Commitment at sign-up
Every BFF and every member declares they are of legal age and accepts the platonic charter before they can publish a profile or book.
Booking confirmed online
The booking fee is paid online once the BFF has accepted the request. The BFF's rate is paid to them in person when you meet.
Strict charter
Any request of a sexual or romantic nature leads to the immediate exclusion of the profile concerned.
Secure messaging
Messages before the meeting go through the platform, so you never have to give out your personal number.
Instant reporting
A report button is available at all times. Every report is read by the Rent a BFF team.
No fake reviews
We never display made-up reviews or ratings.
Full details of these commitments are on the Safety & trust page.
How much does it cost to rent a friend?
On Rent a BFF, each BFF freely sets their own hourly rate, from €10 per hour, depending on the city, the activity and their experience. The rate is shown directly on the profile, before you even start a conversation. Rent a BFF adds a 15% booking fee, paid online by the member; the BFF's rate is paid directly to them when you meet. How pricing works is detailed on the Pricing page, and the full price guide is in our article How much does it cost to rent a friend?.
How to book a BFF
It takes four steps: choose a profile by activity and city, send the BFF a request, pay the booking fee online once the request is accepted, then enjoy the moment in a public place, pay the BFF in person and leave a review. The full step-by-step details are on the How it works page, and an overview of the concept is in our complete guide to renting a friend.
Frequently asked questions
Is renting a friend really legal in France?
Yes. Renting a friend means paying for a friendly companionship service charged by the hour, exactly as you would pay a sports coach or a guide. As long as the service stays strictly friendly and platonic and the provider declares it for tax purposes, no law prohibits it. It is different from a dating or escort service, which fall under other frameworks.
What is the difference between renting a friend and a dating site?
A dating site aims at a potential romantic or sexual relationship. Renting a friend on Rent a BFF rules this out completely: the goal is friendly company (coffee, a walk, an outing, support) with no ambiguity. Any romantic or sexual advance leads to the immediate exclusion of the profile concerned.
How much does it cost to rent a friend by the hour?
On Rent a BFF, each BFF freely sets their hourly rate, from €10 per hour, depending on the city and the activity. Each profile shows its hourly rate right away. Rent a BFF adds a 15% booking fee, paid online by the member (for example, for a BFF at €25/h the total is €28.75/h, of which the €3.75 fee is paid online and the €25 is paid to the BFF in person). The total is shown before payment, with no hidden fees.
Who rents a friend on this kind of platform?
All kinds of people: someone who has just moved to a new city, someone who does not want to go to an event alone, an isolated person who simply wants to talk, or a professional passing through who wants to discover a city with a local.
How does Rent a BFF stop it from being misused for escorting?
Every BFF goes through an identity check before their profile is published, a strict charter explicitly forbids any service of a sexual or romantic nature, and a report button is available at all times. Every booking is confirmed and recorded on the platform, with a booking fee paid online, which leaves a record of every meeting. If something is reported, the team can review the messages exchanged.