Starting a business in France
Legal Forms of Companies
- Sole propietorship ("entreprise individuelle")
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Number of partners: 1 person only.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital required.
Shareholders and liability: Unlimited liability.
- Limited liability company (SARL)
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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)
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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)
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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).
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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).
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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)
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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.
Setting Up a Company |
France |
OECD |
Procedures (number) |
5.0 |
5.2 |
Time (days) |
4.0 |
9.5 |
Source: Doing Business, 2016
- Business Setup Procedures
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Consult the Doing Business Website, to find out about procedures to start a Business in France.
Trade Register, in French.
Registry of the Tribunal de Commerce de Paris, in French.
Find out more about Operating a Business in France on GlobalTrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Service Providers.
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Latest Update: June 2022