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.
Business Directories
- Financial Information Directories
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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
To go further, check out our service Business directories.
Professional Associations
- General Professional Associations
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CPME - Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises
MEDEF - Leading Network of Entrepreneurs in France
To go further, check out our service Professional associations.
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
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The Portal for the Company Formalities Centres
The Register of Commerce
- For Further Information
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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.
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Latest Update: March 2023