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.

The Competent Organisation

The Portal for the Company Formalities Centres
The Register of Commerce

Company Directories

Société
Infogreffe
Verif.com, Financial and legal information.
Manageo.fr, Financial and legal information.

Source: Doing Business, 2016