France Starting a Business

France flag France: Operating a Business in France

Starting a business in France

Legal Forms of Companies

Sole propietorship ("entreprise individuelle")
Number of partners: 1 person only.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital required.
Shareholders and liability: Unlimited liability.
Limited liability company (SARL)
Number of partners: Between 1 and 100 partners/shareholders maximum.
Capital (max/min): Minimum: EUR 1
Shareholders and liability: Limited to the amount of capital contributed.
Private limited company under sole ownership (EURL)
Number of partners: 1 person only (legal or natural).
Capital (max/min): Minimum: EUR 1
Shareholders and liability: Limited to the amount of capital contributed.
Public limited company (SA)
Number of partners: Minimum 2 shareholders (7 for listed companies)
Capital (max/min): EUR 37,000, of which half as to be paid-up at the moment of incorporation.
Shareholders and liability: Limited to the amount of capital contributed.
Simplified joint-stock company (SAS).
Number of partners: Minimum 1 natural person or legal entity with no maximum.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital required.
Shareholders and liability: Limited to the amount of capital contributed.
General partnership (SNC).
Number of partners: Minimum 2 partners
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital required.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is joint and indefinite.
Limited joint-stock partnership (SCS)
Number of partners: 2 partners: the active partners and the silent partners
Capital (max/min): No minimum required.
Shareholders and liability: The active partner: joint and indefinite;
The silent partner: limited to the amount of capital contributed.
 

Business Setup Procedures

Setting Up a Company France OECD
Procedures (number) 5.0 5.2
Time (days) 4.0 9.5

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.

 
The Competent Organisation
The Portal for the Company Formalities Centres
The Register of Commerce
For Further Information
Consult the Doing Business Website, to find out about procedures to start a Business in France.
Registry of the Tribunal de Commerce de Paris, in French.
 

Financial Information Directories

Dun & Bradstreet - Worldwide directory with financial information on businesses

Infogreffe - Certified financial information on companies

Manageo - French companies directory

Societe.com - Company directory in France.

Verif.com - Financial information on French companies

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Latest Update: September 2024