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🇫🇷 Turnkey Company Formation in France

Form a Company in France in 1-2 Weeks

SARL, SAS or SASU — fully digital via INPI's Guichet Unique. RCS registration, URSSAF enrolment, VAT number and your K-bis extract, all in one package. Direct access to the EU single market.

Free ConsultationSee the Process
✓ RCS registration in 7-10 days✓ Guichet Unique INPI included✓ VAT + URSSAF enrolment
EXTRAIT KBIS
RCS NumberRCS PARIS B 982 654 321
Legal FormSociété à Responsabilité Limitée (SARL)
Commercial Court RegistryGreffe du Tribunal de Commerce de Paris
Date of Incorporation22 April 2025
✓ RCS — REGISTRE DU COMMERCE

Our official process partners

INPIRCS GreffeURSSAFService-Public.frQontoBNP Paribas

Company Types

Which French Entity Should You Choose?

In France, SAS/SASU dominates for startups and venture-backed projects, while SARL remains strong for traditional SMEs. Both can be formed with €1 of symbolic capital.

SAS / SASU (Société par Actions Simplifiée)

🚀 The gold standard for startups and funding rounds

💰 Min capital: €1 (symbolic — €1,000-€10,000 realistic)
📋 1+ shareholder · 1 Président · flexible bylaws (statuts)

Ideal for tech startups, French Tech ventures planning to raise capital, multi-shareholder setups and international operations. Governance is freely designed in the statuts. SASU = single-shareholder SAS, perfect for freelancers and solo founders.

SARL / EURL (Société à Responsabilité Limitée)

✅ Classic SME — safe for family businesses

💰 Min capital: €1 (realistic: €4,000-€7,500)
📋 1-100 partners · 1+ gérant (manager) · standard statutes

Best for retail, restaurants, small manufacturing, family businesses and any owner seeking a tried-and-tested legal framework. EURL = single-partner SARL — a majority gérant qualifies for the TNS social regime, which often reduces social charges materially.

SA (Société Anonyme)

🏛️ Large-scale + Euronext IPO route

💰 Min capital: €37,000 (€225,000 if listed)
📋 2+ shareholders (private), 7+ (listed) · Board of Directors

Large industrial, financial and listed companies targeting Euronext Paris. Strict corporate governance and mandatory statutory auditor (commissaire aux comptes). Overkill for SMEs — SAS is almost always the better alternative.

Auto-entrepreneur / Micro-entreprise

👤 Freelance — simplified sole trader

💰 No capital
📋 SIRET number from INSEE · revenue caps (€188,700 goods / €77,700 services)

Freelancers, consultants, small craftspeople and side-income earners. Flat turnover-based tax (versement libératoire) available. Beyond the revenue cap you must convert to SARL/SAS. Registration takes minutes.

Formation Process

From Guichet Unique to K-bis — 1-2 Weeks

Since 2023, INPI's Guichet Unique consolidates every filing in one portal. Here is a realistic timeline.

  1. 1
    Day 0

    Consultation & Structuring

    We choose the right entity (SARL vs SAS vs SASU) and shareholding structure. Company name is checked against the INPI trademark database and RCS register. Registered office (siège social) is selected — domiciliation provider, real office or gérant address.

  2. 2
    Day 1-3

    Drafting the Statuts

    Bylaws tailored to your entity. SAS allows wide flexibility — share classes, governance bodies, exit mechanics. SARL uses a standard template. We collect ID documents for all shareholders and directors.

  3. 3
    Day 3-5

    Capital Deposit & Blocked Account

    A temporary corporate bank account is opened (Qonto, Shine, BNP and others), capital is deposited and frozen. The bank issues the attestation de dépôt de capital required by the Guichet Unique application.

  4. 4
    Day 5-7

    JAL Publication & Guichet Unique Filing

    A formation notice is published in a Journal d'Annonces Légales. The complete dossier — statuts, capital attestation, IDs, electronic equivalent of the M0 form — is uploaded to the INPI Guichet Unique.

  5. 5
    Day 7-12

    RCS Registration & K-bis

    The Greffe du Tribunal de Commerce reviews the file. Once approved the company is entered on the RCS register. SIREN (9 digits) and SIRET numbers plus an APE/NAF code are assigned. The K-bis extract is delivered electronically.

  6. 6
    Day 10-14

    VAT + URSSAF + Operations

    Intracommunity VAT number requested from the SIE tax office. URSSAF social security enrolment (président assimilé-salarié for SAS, TNS regime for EURL gérant). Bank account unfrozen — you can issue your first invoice.

Why Form Your Company in France?

France is the EU's second-largest economy, a 68-million-strong domestic market, home of the French Tech ecosystem and one of the world's deepest grant and tax-credit landscapes.

🇪🇺

Direct Access to the EU Single Market

450 million consumers, frictionless intra-EU trade, simplified VAT through the One-Stop-Shop. A French SAS or SARL is your safest legal vehicle for selling across the EU, banking with EU institutions and complying with GDPR and the EU AI Act.

🚀

French Tech & BPI Funding

The French Tech label, Station F (the world's largest startup campus) and BPI France's full chain of grants, soft loans and co-investment. France hosts one of Europe's most active VC ecosystems — particularly in deeptech and fintech.

🔬

JEI Status + CIR R&D Tax Credit

Jeune Entreprise Innovante (JEI) status grants social-charge exemption and corporate-tax relief. The Crédit d'Impôt Recherche (CIR) refunds 30% of eligible R&D spend as a tax credit — among the most generous R&D incentives in Europe.

💼

Optimised Tax Structure

Corporate tax (IS) standard 25%, reduced 15% rate on the first €42,500 of profit. The régime mère-fille makes holding structures highly efficient. With CIR, CICE and sectoral incentives the effective burden can drop sharply.

🏦

Modern Banking Ecosystem

Traditional banks (BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole) and neobanks (Qonto, Shine, N26 Business) open a business account in under 24 hours. Fully plugged into SEPA, IBAN and EU payments rails.

🌍

Gateway to Francophone Markets

A French entity offers legal and linguistic proximity to Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec, North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) and sub-Saharan Francophone Africa — combined market of 300+ million French speakers.

What We Need From You

Just provide these documents — we handle the Guichet Unique, Greffe, URSSAF and tax office.

  • ✓Passport or EU ID card (for every shareholder and director)
  • ✓Proof of address less than 3 months old (utility bill, bank statement)
  • ✓3 proposed company names (we run an INPI trademark pre-check)
  • ✓Registered office (siège social) — own office, domiciliation or gérant address
  • ✓Business activity (we suggest the matching APE/NAF code)
  • ✓Shareholding structure and capital allocation

France Company Formation Enquiry

Send us your details and within 24 hours you will receive a tailored quote, timeline and transparent cost breakdown. Free, no obligation.

COUNTRY-SPECIFIC

Built for the France Market

Local marketplaces, carriers, payment methods and compliance frameworks — from a single panel

Local Marketplaces

  • Amazon.fr
  • Cdiscount
  • Fnac/Darty
  • La Redoute
  • ManoMano
  • Rakuten France

Carrier Integrations

  • Colissimo
  • Chronopost
  • Mondial Relay
  • DPD France
  • Colis Privé
  • GLS France

Payment Methods

  • Stripe
  • Lyra (PayZen)
  • Carte Bancaire
  • PayPal
  • KlarnaBNPL
  • AlmaBNPL

Compliance & Legal

  • RGPD
  • CNIL
  • INSEE/SIREN
  • Factur-X
  • TVA %20
  • Factur-X / Chorus Pro
SUCCESS STORY

A kozmetik markası in Paris

"Cdiscount + Amazon.fr ile DACH+FR pazarında 5 ayda 120K€ ciro"

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I form a SARL or SAS in France from abroad?

Yes. There is no residency requirement for shareholders. A non-EU director (gérant SARL / président SAS) may need a carte de séjour for certain activities, but EU/EEA citizens or non-EU capital owners are not required to be physically in France. Full remote formation is possible — some banks only ask for a video-KYC session.

Should I choose SARL or SAS?

SAS if you plan to raise funding, want flexible governance and multiple share classes, or anticipate an IPO. SARL if you run a family business or a traditional SME, or want a majority gérant on the lower TNS social regime. Roughly 90% of French Tech startups choose SAS/SASU.

Is there a double-tax treaty between my country and France?

France has double-tax treaties with most major economies (UK, US, Germany, Turkey, Japan, China, India and many more). Dividends, interest and royalties typically benefit from reduced withholding. We confirm the exact rates for your jurisdiction during the consultation.

What does formation actually cost?

JAL publication €150-€220, Greffe RCS registration €37-€60, BODACC €50. Drafting of statutes, capital attestation and domiciliation (if needed, €30-€100/month) on top. No notary is required for SARL or SAS. Typical total: €500-€1,500. Our package quote is fully transparent — no surprises.

How long does the VAT number take?

After the K-bis you receive the intracommunity VAT number from your SIE tax office within 2-4 weeks. Mandatory for intra-EU B2B trade. If your turnover is low you can opt for the franchise en base de TVA exemption (€85,800 goods, €34,400 services). We recommend the optimal choice for your case.

What are the criteria for JEI status?

Jeune Entreprise Innovante: under 8 years old, fewer than 250 employees, turnover under €50M, at least 15% of expenses devoted to R&D, and at least 50% of capital held by individuals or other JEI / research entities. Benefits: full social-charge exemption for researchers, full corporate-tax exemption year one, 50% year two. We handle the application.

🇹🇷 TR🇬🇧 EN🇩🇪 DE🇫🇷 FR🇪🇸 ES🇮🇹 IT🇵🇹 PT🇳🇱 NL🇵🇱 PL🇭🇺 HU🇬🇷 EL🇸🇦 AR🇨🇳 ZH🇯🇵 JA

Setting Up a Company in France: SAS, SARL and the K-bis Extract

France is the EU's second-largest economy and a self-proclaimed "start-up nation". Company formation was meaningfully simplified after 2017 — single-window guichet-entreprises.fr, digital K-bis, the rise of SAS as the default vehicle. This guide walks non-EU founders through the SAS vs SARL decision, the Greffe filing, and SIREN registration.

SAS vs SARL in 2026

SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) has captured roughly 66% of newly created French companies over the past decade. SARL, the legacy standard, still holds ~25%. SAS's flexibility — €1 minimum capital, customisable statutes, free shareholder agreements, "assimilé salarié" social cover for the president — has made it the default for SMEs and start-ups alike.

CriterionSAS / SASUSARL / EURL
Min. capital€1€1
Director titlePrésidentGérant
Director social coverAssimilé salarié (full)TNS (lighter)
Statute flexibilityVery highStatutory rigidity
Share transferFree (0.1% duty)Approval required (3%)
Corporate tax (IS)25% (15% first €42,500)25% (15% first €42,500)
Typical useStart-ups, investor-backedFamily business

Auto-Entrepreneur and Micro-Entreprise

For solo founders with low forecast turnover, the Micro-Entreprise (formerly Auto-Entrepreneur) is the easiest status. URSSAF online registration, single-click setup. Turnover caps: €188,700 (sales of goods), €77,700 (services), €188,700 (furnished rentals). Above the cap, the founder converts to SAS/SARL the following year.

Greffe and K-bis: The Company's ID Card

The filing goes to the Greffe du Tribunal de Commerce, processed digitally via the guichet-entreprises.fr single window. The Greffe processes the file, INSEE assigns a SIREN (9-digit company ID) and SIRET (14-digit establishment ID). The APE/NAF code classifies the activity.

The K-bis extract is the company's "ID card" — needed for bank account opening, lease signing, tender applications. Since 2023 it is free and downloadable from monidenum.fr.

Practical Steps for Non-EU Founders

A non-EU founder can set up an SAS in France, but a few practical requirements apply:

  • French address — A "domiciliation" provider (Sedomicilier, Kandbaz, Les Tricolores), €200-€500/year
  • Bank account — Traditional banks (BNP Paribas, Société Générale) are tough for non-residents; neobanks (Qonto, Shine, Finom) are the practical choice
  • Capital deposit — At a bank or notary, certificate issued
  • Statutes — In French, with an avocat or specialised agency
  • BODACC — Official gazette publication (~€150)
  • RBE — Registre des Bénéficiaires Effectifs (beneficial-owner transparency register)

VAT Registration and DGFiP

After incorporation the company is automatically enrolled with the DGFiP (Direction Générale des Finances Publiques). With forecast turnover under €91,900 (goods) or €36,800 (services) the "franchise en base de TVA" regime is available (no VAT charged). Above that, standard regimes apply — Régime Réel Normal or Simplifié. The intra-EU VAT number (FRxx 999999999) is issued automatically.

URSSAF and Social Security

URSSAF is the social-charge collection body. An SAS president is "assimilé salarié" — high contributions (70-80% of gross salary) but full coverage. A SARL majority gérant is "TNS" (Travailleur Non Salarié) — lower contributions (~45%) but lighter coverage.

CFE, CVAE and Local Tax Burden

Corporate tax (Impôt sur les Sociétés) is 25% (15% on the first €42,500 SME bracket). Local taxes add to the burden: CFE (Cotisation Foncière des Entreprises) is based on the registered premises value, typically 1-3% of annual rent; CVAE (Cotisation sur la Valeur Ajoutée des Entreprises) applies above €500K turnover on value added; Taxe sur les Salaires targets financial firms. JEI (Jeune Entreprise Innovante) status grants 8-year tax exemption to SMEs spending 15%+ on R&D.

Bpifrance, French Tech and Government Support

Bpifrance (Banque Publique d'Investissement) is the spine of SME and start-up financing — "Prêt Innovation" €50K-€3M, "Prêt Croissance" €300K-€5M. The French Tech Visa grants founders a 4-year work permit. The Crédit d'Impôt Recherche (CIR) credits back 30% of R&D spend against corporate tax. The Pacte Dutreil offers inheritance-tax relief on family business transfers.

Our Company-Formation Package

Zunapro's France formation package delivers SAS/SASU/SARL/EURL/Micro-Entreprise turnkey: Paris 8e or Lyon domiciliation, avocat-drafted statutes, capital deposit, Greffe filing, BODACC notice, K-bis delivery, Qonto or Shine account, DGFiP VAT registration, URSSAF enrolment. Typical turnaround 10-15 business days, fee €990-€2,490.

Post-formation operations start at €250-€450/month: bookkeeping (Pennylane or Cegid Loop), payroll (Payfit or Silae), VAT returns (monthly CA3 or annual CA12), CIR/JEI applications, and annual general meetings (AGO) prepared with avocat.

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