Use this skill whenever asked about forming, incorporating, or registering a company in France. Trigger on phrases like "set up a company in France", "SAS formation", "SARL création", "Guichet unique INPI", "French company formation", "register a business France", "société par actions simplifiée", "société à responsabilité limitée", "Kbis", "RCS registration", "annonce légale", or any question about starting a business entity in France. Covers entity types (SAS, SARL, EURL, SASU, SA, auto-entrepreneur), registration process, capital requirements, costs, post-formation compliance, and bank account opening. ALWAYS read this skill before advising on French company formation.
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Section 1 -- Quick Reference
| Field | Value | |---|---| | Country | France (French Republic) | | Currency | EUR | | Company registrar | Guichet unique des formalités d'entreprises (INPI) -- formalites.entreprises.gouv.fr | | Key legislation | Code de commerce; Loi Pacte (2019); Code civil | | Typical formation time | 7--15 working days | | Corporate tax rate | 25% (standard); 15% on first €42,500 for SMEs | | Skill version | 1.0 |
Section 2 -- Entity Types Comparison
| Feature | Auto-entrepreneur (Micro) | EURL/SARL | SASU/SAS | SA | |---|---|---|---|---| | Legal personality | No (sole trader) | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Liability | Unlimited | Limited to contributions | Limited to contributions | Limited to contributions | | Min. founders | 1 | EURL: 1 / SARL: 2--100 | SASU: 1 / SAS: 2+ | 2 (non-listed) / 7 (listed) | | Min. share capital | N/A | €1 | €1 | €37,000 | | Governance flexibility | N/A | Low (law-defined) | Very high (statute-defined) | Low (law-defined, board required) | | Social charges on director | ~22% on revenue | Gérant majoritaire: TNS (~45%) | Président: assimilé salarié (~80% on remuneration) | Assimilé salarié | | Tax treatment | Income tax (micro-BIC/BNC) | IS by default (can elect IR for 5 years) | IS by default (can elect IR for 5 years) | IS | | Admin burden | Very low | Medium | Medium | Very high | | Audit required | No | Only if thresholds exceeded | Only if thresholds exceeded | Yes (commissaire aux comptes) |
Name check and reservation
Check availability via INPI trademark search (not mandatory but recommended); no formal name reservation process; name is secured upon RCS registration.Section 3, Step 1
Drafting requirements
SAS: high flexibility -- define governance, voting rights, transfer restrictions. SARL: more prescribed by Code de commerce. Can be drafted privately (sous seing privé) unless real estate contributions are involved (then notary required).Section 3, Step 2
Section 1 -- Quick Reference
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Country | France (French Republic) |
| Currency | EUR |
| Company registrar | Guichet unique des formalités d'entreprises (INPI) -- formalites.entreprises.gouv.fr |
| Key legislation | Code de commerce; Loi Pacte (2019); Code civil |
| Typical formation time | 7--15 working days |
| Corporate tax rate | 25% (standard); 15% on first €42,500 for SMEs |
| Skill version | 1.0 |
Section 2 -- Entity Types Comparison
| Feature | Auto-entrepreneur (Micro) | EURL/SARL | SASU/SAS | SA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal personality | No (sole trader) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Liability | Unlimited | Limited to contributions | Limited to contributions | Limited to contributions |
| Min. founders | 1 | EURL: 1 / SARL: 2--100 | SASU: 1 / SAS: 2+ | 2 (non-listed) / 7 (listed) |
| Min. share capital | N/A | €1 | €1 | €37,000 |
| Governance flexibility | N/A | Low (law-defined) | Very high (statute-defined) | Low (law-defined, board required) |
| Social charges on director | ~22% on revenue | Gérant majoritaire: TNS (~45%) | Président: assimilé salarié (~80% on remuneration) | Assimilé salarié |
| Tax treatment | Income tax (micro-BIC/BNC) | IS by default (can elect IR for 5 years) | IS by default (can elect IR for 5 years) | IS |
| Admin burden | Very low | Medium | Medium | Very high |
| Audit required | No | Only if thresholds exceeded | Only if thresholds exceeded | Yes (commissaire aux comptes) |
Recommended default: SAS/SASU for maximum flexibility and investor compatibility. SARL/EURL for family businesses or cost-optimised structures.
Section 4 -- Capital Requirements
| Entity Type | Min. Share Capital | Min. Paid-Up at Formation | Remainder Due | In-Kind Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SARL / EURL | €1 | 20% | Within 5 years | Permitted (commissaire aux apports required if value > €30,000 or > 50% of capital) |
| SAS / SASU | €1 | 50% | Within 5 years | Permitted (same apport rules) |
| SA | €37,000 | 50% | Within 5 years | Permitted (commissaire aux apports required) |
Section 5 -- Costs Breakdown
| Cost Component | Amount (EUR TTC) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Greffe / INPI registration fee | €35.59 | Commercial activity (RCS) |
| Annonce légale (SAS, metropolitan) | €238.80 | 2026 forfait; €284.40 for Réunion/Mayotte |
| Déclaration bénéficiaires effectifs | €20.34 | Mandatory |
| Bank capital deposit | €0--€100 | Varies by bank |
| Total incompressible (government fees) | €294.73 | Minimum legal costs |
| Legal / accountant fees (optional) | €500--€2,000 | Statuts drafting, filing assistance |
| Total with professional help | €800--€2,500 |
Annual Maintenance
| Item | Cost (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Accountant (expert-comptable) | €1,500--€5,000/year |
| Greffe annual fee (Kbis renewal) | Free (Kbis available online via MonIdenum) |
| CFE (Cotisation Foncière des Entreprises) | Variable (municipality-based) |
| Commissaire aux comptes (if required) | €3,000--€10,000/year |
Section 6 -- Post-Formation Compliance
| Obligation | Deadline | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Dépôt des comptes annuels (annual accounts) | Within 6 months of year-end (7 months if filed online) | Greffe du Tribunal de commerce |
| Déclaration de résultats (corporate tax return) | Within 3 months of year-end (4 months for 31 Dec year-end) | SIE / impots.gouv.fr |
| TVA declarations | Monthly or quarterly | SIE |
| Déclaration sociale (DSN) | Monthly (if employees) | URSSAF / Net-entreprises |
| Bénéficiaires effectifs update | Within 30 days of any change | Greffe / INPI |
| Assemblée générale ordinaire | Within 6 months of year-end | Internal |
| PV d'assemblée filing | With annual accounts | Greffe |
Section 8 -- Foreign Founder Considerations
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Non-resident président/gérant allowed? | Yes -- no nationality or residency requirement |
| Physical presence required? | No -- power of attorney (procuration) accepted |
| Apostille requirements | Foreign documents require apostille + sworn translation (traduction assermentée) |
| Foreign ownership restrictions | None for SAS/SARL; regulated sectors may require authorisation |
| Registered office | Must be in France (domiciliation service companies permitted) |
| Numéro de sécurité sociale | Président of SAS must obtain one to pay social charges |
Section 10 -- Timeline
| Step | Duration | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Draft statuts | 1--5 days | Day 1--5 |
| Open bank account and deposit capital | 1--5 days | Day 2--10 |
| Publish annonce légale | 1--2 days | Day 3--12 |
| File on Guichet unique (INPI) | 1 day | Day 4--13 |
| Greffe processing | 5--10 working days | Day 9--23 |
| Kbis and SIRET received | 1--3 days after registration | Day 10--26 |
| Tax and social registrations | Automatic with Guichet unique | Day 10--26 |
| Ready to trade | ~2--4 weeks |
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Other France computations in the OpenAccountants Tax Library.
Capital deposit process
Open a dedicated account (compte de dépôt) at a bank, notary, or Caisse des Dépôts. Deposit at least 20% (SARL) or 50% (SAS/SA) of share capital. Obtain certificat de dépôt des fonds.Section 3, Step 3
Annonce légale requirements
Publish formation notice in a Journal d'Annonces Légales (JAL). Cost: €199 HT (€238.80 TTC) in metropolitan France for SAS (2026 rate). Must include: company name, form, capital, registered office, objects, duration, gérant/président details.Section 3, Step 4
Filing requirements
All filings since 1 January 2023 must go through formalites.entreprises.gouv.fr. Upload: statuts, certificat de dépôt, attestation de parution JAL, identity documents, déclaration des bénéficiaires effectifs, proof of registered office. Pay fees online (card).Section 3, Step 5
Kbis/SIRET issuance
Greffe du Tribunal de commerce processes the filing. Issues Kbis (certificate of registration) and SIREN/SIRET numbers. INSEE assigns SIRET automatically (free).Section 3, Step 6
UBO declaration
Mandatory filing concurrent with incorporation. Cost: €20.34 TTC.Section 3, Step 7
Tax registration process
Company is automatically registered with the Service des impôts des entreprises (SIE). Obtain TVA intracommunautaire (EU VAT number) if applicable.Section 3, Step 8
Section 4 -- Capital Requirements
| Entity Type | Min. Share Capital | Min. Paid-Up at Formation | Remainder Due | In-Kind Contributions | |---|---|---|---|---| | SARL / EURL | €1 | 20% | Within 5 years | Permitted (commissaire aux apports required if value > €30,000 or > 50% of capital) | | SAS / SASU | €1 | 50% | Within 5 years | Permitted (same apport rules) | | SA | €37,000 | 50% | Within 5 years | Permitted (commissaire aux apports required) |
Section 5 -- Costs Breakdown
| Cost Component | Amount (EUR TTC) | Notes | |---|---|---| | Greffe / INPI registration fee | €35.59 | Commercial activity (RCS) | | Annonce légale (SAS, metropolitan) | €238.80 | 2026 forfait; €284.40 for Réunion/Mayotte | | Déclaration bénéficiaires effectifs | €20.34 | Mandatory | | Bank capital deposit | €0--€100 | Varies by bank | | **Total incompressible (government fees)** | **€294.73** | Minimum legal costs | | Legal / accountant fees (optional) | €500--€2,000 | Statuts drafting, filing assistance | | **Total with professional help** | **€800--€2,500** | |
Annual Maintenance
| Item | Cost (EUR) | |---|---| | Accountant (expert-comptable) | €1,500--€5,000/year | | Greffe annual fee (Kbis renewal) | Free (Kbis available online via MonIdenum) | | CFE (Cotisation Foncière des Entreprises) | Variable (municipality-based) | | Commissaire aux comptes (if required) | €3,000--€10,000/year |
Section 6 -- Post-Formation Compliance
| Obligation | Deadline | Authority | |---|---|---| | Dépôt des comptes annuels (annual accounts) | Within 6 months of year-end (7 months if filed online) | Greffe du Tribunal de commerce | | Déclaration de résultats (corporate tax return) | Within 3 months of year-end (4 months for 31 Dec year-end) | SIE / impots.gouv.fr | | TVA declarations | Monthly or quarterly | SIE | | Déclaration sociale (DSN) | Monthly (if employees) | URSSAF / Net-entreprises | | Bénéficiaires effectifs update | Within 30 days of any change | Greffe / INPI | | Assemblée générale ordinaire | Within 6 months of year-end | Internal | | PV d'assemblée filing | With annual accounts | Greffe |
Documents for bank account opening
Kbis (less than 3 months old); Statuts; ID and proof of address for all dirigeants and UBOs; Certificat de dépôt (at formation stage: pre-Kbis, bank may accept draft statuts).Section 7
Bank account opening timeline
Online banks (Qonto, Shine, Blank): 1--3 days. Traditional banks (BNP, SG, Crédit Agricole, LCL): 1--3 weeks.Section 7
Common Banks
BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, LCL (traditional); Qonto, Shine (Société Générale), Blank (Crédit Agricole) (digital)Section 7
Section 8 -- Foreign Founder Considerations
| Question | Answer | |---|---| | Non-resident président/gérant allowed? | Yes -- no nationality or residency requirement | | Physical presence required? | No -- power of attorney (procuration) accepted | | Apostille requirements | Foreign documents require apostille + sworn translation (traduction assermentée) | | Foreign ownership restrictions | None for SAS/SARL; regulated sectors may require authorisation | | Registered office | Must be in France (domiciliation service companies permitted) | | Numéro de sécurité sociale | Président of SAS must obtain one to pay social charges |
R-FR-F1 -- Ignoring social charges on président SAS
The président of a SAS is assimilé salarié and social charges (~80% of gross remuneration) apply even if the président is the sole shareholder. This is significantly higher than SARL gérant majoritaire TNS charges. Always model both structures before choosing.R-FR-F1
R-FR-F2 -- Capital of €1 without substance
While €1 capital is legal, it signals undercapitalisation to banks, clients, and creditors. Recommend at least €1,000--€5,000 for credibility.R-FR-F2
R-FR-F3 -- Missing annonce légale
Publication in a JAL is mandatory and must occur before filing with the Guichet unique. Omission will cause the filing to be rejected.R-FR-F3
R-FR-F4 -- Failing to appoint commissaire aux comptes
A CAC is mandatory when two of three thresholds are exceeded: total assets €5M, revenue €10M, 50 employees. SAS companies sometimes overlook this.R-FR-F4
R-FR-F5 -- Auto-entrepreneur trying to raise investment
The auto-entrepreneur regime does not support equity investment, multiple shareholders, or limited liability. Advise conversion to SAS/SARL if the client needs these features.R-FR-F5
Section 10 -- Timeline
| Step | Duration | Cumulative | |---|---|---| | Draft statuts | 1--5 days | Day 1--5 | | Open bank account and deposit capital | 1--5 days | Day 2--10 | | Publish annonce légale | 1--2 days | Day 3--12 | | File on Guichet unique (INPI) | 1 day | Day 4--13 | | Greffe processing | 5--10 working days | Day 9--23 | | Kbis and SIRET received | 1--3 days after registration | Day 10--26 | | Tax and social registrations | Automatic with Guichet unique | Day 10--26 | | **Ready to trade** | | **~2--4 weeks** |
Rendered from the canonical facts model. General reference only — confirm with a qualified professional before acting.
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