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 Directories

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

To go further, check out our service Business directories.

 

Professional Associations

General Professional Associations

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

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.