🇫🇷 France · Company Registration
Entity types, registration process, required documents, costs, and official registries.
Quick answer
Companies in France (commonly a SARL or SAS) are registered through the single online business-formalities portal, which files with the national business register (RNE) and issues a SIREN number. Steps include drafting statutes, depositing capital and publishing a legal notice.
In France, all company-formation formalities are filed online through the Guichet unique operated by INPI, which since 2023 replaced the former CFE network; the company is then entered in the Registre national des entreprises (RNE).
- Common entity types include the SAS/SASU, SARL/EURL, and the simplified micro-entreprise regime for solo founders.
- Registration is completed on the Guichet unique portal, where the statutes, proof of address and director ID are uploaded.
- Share capital for an SAS/SARL is deposited in a blocked bank account before registration; most forms have no statutory minimum.
Step-by-step
- 1
Choose a legal form
Pick a structure — the flexible SAS/SASU, the more regulated SARL/EURL, or the simplified micro-entreprise regime for solo founders.
- 2
Draft the statutes and set up the company
Write the articles of association (statuts), set the registered office, and appoint the director(s); the statutes are signed by all shareholders.
- 3
Deposit the share capital
Deposit the share capital into a blocked bank account (or with a notary); the bank issues a deposit certificate needed for the formation file. Most forms have no statutory minimum.
- 4
Publish a legal notice
Publish a notice of incorporation in an authorised legal-announcements journal (journal d’annonces légales) and keep the attestation.
- 5
File on the Guichet unique
Submit the full formation file online through the INPI Guichet unique, which files with the national business register (RNE); the company receives its SIREN/SIRET numbers and a Kbis extract.
- 6
Complete tax and social registration
Activate corporate tax and VAT (TVA) with the tax authorities and register with the social bodies (URSSAF) for any employees.
Checklist
- Legal form chosen (SAS/SASU, SARL/EURL, micro-entreprise)
- Articles of association (statuts) signed
- French registered office
- Share-capital deposit certificate
- Legal notice published (journal d’annonces légales)
- Director ID + proof of address
- Guichet unique filing (INPI) → SIREN/SIRET
- Corporate tax + VAT (TVA) activated
Official authorities
- Guichet unique (formalités des entreprises)
Official one-stop portal for all company formalities (INPI).
- INPI — Registre national des entreprises
National business register and industrial-property office.
- service-public.fr — Entreprendre
Official guide to starting and running a business.
Frequently asked questions
SARL or SAS?
The SAS offers flexible governance and is popular with startups; the SARL is a more regulated limited company. Both give limited liability.
What is a SIREN number?
SIREN is the unique business identifier issued on registration, used for tax, social and administrative purposes.
Do I need to be in France to register?
Non-residents can own French companies; a French registered office is required, and some steps are easier with local support.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- Government of France — Office of the French Prime Minister — government policies, ministers, and key legislation
- France Public Services (Service-Public) — France's unified administrative services — residence permits, taxes, social security, civil records
- French General Tax Directorate (DGFiP) — French income tax, VAT, wealth tax filing; tax residency determination; French tax number (NIF) application