How to Create a Company in France: Complete Guide 2024

Starting a business in France is an exciting adventure that requires good preparation. Whether you want to become an auto-entrepreneur, create an SARL or SAS, this comprehensive guide will accompany you through each step of the process.

1. Preliminary Steps

Defining your project

Before diving into administrative procedures, it's crucial to properly define your entrepreneurial project:

• Market research: Analyze your target market, competition, and opportunities
• Business plan: Write a business plan detailing your strategy, financial forecasts, and objectives
• Financing: Assess your capital needs and identify funding sources (personal contribution, loans, grants)
• Location: Choose the location of your headquarters and any establishments

Checking legal prerequisites

Some activities are regulated in France and require specific qualifications or authorizations:

• Craft activities: mandatory professional qualification
• Regulated liberal professions: diplomas and registrations with professional orders
• Specific commercial activities: licenses (beverage sales, transport, etc.)

2. Choosing Your Legal Form

The choice of legal form is a strategic decision that impacts your taxation, liability, and social protection.

Main legal forms

Selection criteria

• Number of partners: Alone or with others?
• Asset protection: Do you want to limit your liability?
• Social regime: Self-employed (TNS) or employee-like status?
• Taxation: Personal income tax (IR) or corporate tax (IS)?
• Scalability: Do you plan to bring in investors?

3. Administrative Procedures

The one-stop shop for business formalities

Since January 1, 2023, all business creation formalities are done via the guichet unique (one-stop shop) of INPI on formalites.entreprises.gouv.fr.

Required documents

Depending on your legal form, you will need:

• ID document of the manager(s)
• Proof of registered office address
• Declaration of no criminal record
• Company bylaws (for companies)
• Certificate of capital deposit (for companies)
• Legal announcement published in a legal journal (for companies)

Processing times

Once your complete file is submitted, processing times vary by legal form:

• Auto-entrepreneur: 1 to 3 business days
• Sole proprietorship: About 1 week
• Companies (SARL, SAS, etc.): 1 to 2 weeks

4. Getting Your SIRET Number

Once your company is registered, you will automatically receive your identification numbers:

How to receive your SIRET?

INSEE will send you a SIRENE directory situation notice containing your SIREN and SIRET numbers by postal mail within 1 to 2 weeks after registration.

You can also find your information on avis-situation-sirene.insee.fr as soon as your company is registered.

5. Creation Costs

Mandatory fees

Creation grants and aids

Many grants are available for business creators:

• ACRE: Partial exemption from social contributions in the first year
• ARCE: Payment of unemployment capital in two installments
• Honor loan: Interest-free loan from France Initiative or Réseau Entreprendre
• Regional subsidies: Vary by region

6. After Creation

First obligations

Once your company is created, several obligations apply:

• Open a professional bank account
• Take out mandatory insurance (professional liability, etc.)
• Set up your accounting
• Display your legal notices (SIRET, etc.) on your documents
• Declare and pay your social contributions and taxes

Useful resources

• Service-public.fr - Professionals
• Impots.gouv.fr - Professional area
• URSSAF
• BPI France Creation