Company Registration in France

Starting a business in France offers a strategic opportunity to enter a dynamic and appealing market. However, the administrative and legal procedures can apper complex, especially for international entrepreneurs. From choosing a legal structure to meeting administrative, tax, and banking requirements, each step demands close attention.

At French Partner, we guide you through every phase of your project. Our goal is to simplify all administrative and legal procedures so you can focus on developing your business in France. This guide presents the key steps for successful company registration, ensuring both compliance and piece of mind. For more in-depth information on each step, visit our dedicated company formation page and explore our legal consulting services.

Understanding the Steps to Register a Company in France

Registering a company in France involves completing several administrative and legal steps. Understanding this process is esential to ensure your company remains compliant and your interests are protected.

Choosing the Right Legal Structure

Selecting the appropriate legal structure is a strategic decision that affects your company’s management, tax obligations, liability, and internal organization. Here’s an overview of the most common legal forms in France:

• SARL (Limited Liability Company): A good choice for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the SARL offers limited liability and relatively straightforward management. It’s especially well-suited to family-owned businesses or companies with several partners.
• SAS (Simplified Joint Stock Company): Known for its flexibility, the SAS allows you to tailor its statutes to fit your specific business project. This structure is ideal for startups, companies conducting fundraising, and businesses with evolving shareholding and ownership structures.
• EURL (Single-Member Limited Liability Company) and SASU (Single-Member Simplified Joint Stock Company): These forms cater to individual entrepreneurs seeking limited liability and a flexible legal framework that can evolve as the business grows.
• SA (Public Limited Company): Recommended for businesses that require substantial share capital and formal governance structures. This form is often chosen by publicly listed or rapidly growing companies.

Example: A foreign entrepreneur looking to establish a subsidiary in France will often opt for the SAS due to its statutory flexibility and adaptable ownership structure, which simplifies bringing in investors.

At French Partner, we guide you in choosing the structure best suited to your needs, considering your objectives, number of partners, desired level of protection, and tax implications (corporate tax, income tax, social contributions).

Comparative Table of Main Legal Forms of Companies in France

To help you make an informed decision, the comparative table outlines the main legal structures of companies in France, along with key criteria to consider.
All of these forms can be created through the online one-stop portal and require the drafting of statutes, proof of business address (domiciliation), and declaration of beneficial owners.

Complying with Legal and Administrative Obligations

To successfully launch your business in France, you must meet the following legal and administrative requirements:

• Drafting the Statutes: Define the company’s rules of governance, share capital distribution, the roles and powers of directors, and the rights of shareholders or partners.
• Deposit of Share Capital: The share capital must be deposited into a blocked bank account and will be released once the company is officially registered. The minimum capital requirement varies depending on the legal structure (e.g., €1 for an SAS or SARL).
• Domiciliation: Declare the address of your company’s registered office. French Partner offers tailored domiciliation services, particularly suited for foreign entrepreneurs.
• Declaration of Beneficial Owners: Since 2017, French law requires companies to declare their beneficial owners in order to promote transparency and prevent financial misconduct..
• Appointment of Directors: Appoint company directors (such as a manager or a president) and crearly define their roles and powers in the company’s statutes.
• Legal Publication: Publish a formal announcement in an approved legal journal to make the company’s creation official.

Online Procedures: Since 2023, all company formation procedures have been handled through a centralized online portal, enabling fast registration with the National Business Register (NBR) and the Trade and Companies Register (TCR). While this more streamlined, digital process reduces delays, it also requires greater attention to detail when preparing your file.

We ensure the compliance of your documents, monitor deadlines, and flag potential obstacles to guarantee a smooth registration process.

Key Steps in Registration

Successfully registering a company in France depends on careful preparation and proactive handling of all formalities. Below are the essential steps:

Preparing and Assembling the Registration File

This stage involves:

• Drafting the Statutes: We provide personalized templates tailored to your business activity and chosen structure.
• Gathering Supporting Documents: This includes ID, proof of residence, capital deposit certificate, proof of business address, etc.
• Declaration of Beneficial Owners: A mandatory step to prevent money laundering and ensure transparency.
• Company Domiciliation: Choose a physical address or professional domiciliation solution.
• Appointment of Directors: Draft appointment minutes and file the declaration with the appropriate register.

Practical Example: A foreign entrepreneur must provide a certified translation of identity documents and, if applicable, proof of residence in France.

We simplify this phase by verifying each document and anticipating specific requirements related to your situation—whether you’re an expatriate, setting up a subsidiary, or launching a startup.

Finalizing Registration and Starting Business

Once your complete application is submitted online through the centralized portal, you’ll receive:

• The Kbis Extract: This official document certifies your company’s legal existence and is required to open a professional bank account or sign contracts.
• Opening a Professional Bank Account: We facilitate this step, which is often complex for non-residents.
• Registration with Tax Regimes: Depending on your activity, you’ll be registered for VAT, corporate tax, and/or income tax.
• Subscription to Mandatory Insurance: This includes professional liability insurance and premises insurance, depending on your business.
• Affiliation to Social Security: Mandatory registration of directors and employees with the social regime.

Managing Deadlines: If your file is incomplete, the administration grants a 15-day window to submit the missing documents. Our support helps you avoid delays and get your business up and running faster.

We ensure proactive follow-up until all necessary documents are obtained, anticipate potential delays, and facilitate critical steps like bank account opening, domiciliation, and registrations with various regimes.

Comparative Services for Business Creation Support

To choose the right partner for your establishment project, it is essential to compare support services. Here is a summary table of the main services offered by French Partner, with their specificities and advantages.

Why Choose French Partner for Your Project in France

Establishing in France requires in-depth knowledge of administrative, legal, and tax procedures. French Partner distinguishes itself with an integrated approach, combining consulting, administrative management, and personalized support.

Our Advantages for International Entrepreneurs

• Tailor-made Support: We adapt our services to your situation (individual entrepreneur, foreign subsidiary, startup, etc.) and your development objectives.
• Legal Structure and Taxation Advice: We guide you to the most advantageous structure (SARL, SAS, EURL, SASU, SA) considering taxation, capital management, and social obligations.
• Complete Formalities Management: From drafting statutes to legal publication, including declaration of beneficial owners and bank account opening, we handle everything.
• Multilingual Support: Our teams speak English, French, German, Russian and Spanish, facilitating communication and understanding of French law.
• Proactive Deadline Monitoring: We anticipate regulatory requirements and manage interactions with administrations.
• Assistance with Installation in France: Beyond company creation, we assist with professional immigration, finding premises, recruitment, etc.

What Sets Us Apart

Unlike many service providers, French Partner offers end-to-end support—from company creation to full operational launch. Our clear, jargon-free communication helps foreign entrepreneurs make confident, informed decisions.

Ready to create your company in France? Contact us for tailored and secure support at every step of your entrepreneurial project.