France at a glance
France is one of the EU jurisdictions founders most often use today, especially while the EU-wide 28th Regime (EU Inc) is still a proposal. Below are the verified essentials: company types, tax, capital, timing and whether you can set up remotely.
Company types in France
- SAS (Societe par Actions Simplifiee) The default for startups and foreign founders. Limited liability, no minimum capital, governance set freely by the articles, and easy to issue shares to investors.
- SASU (single-shareholder SAS) The one-founder version of the SAS, with the same flexibility and investor-friendly share structure.
- SARL (Societe a Responsabilite Limitee) A limited liability company with more rigid statutory governance, common for owner-run and family businesses. The single-member version is the EURL.
| Corporate tax | Standard corporate income tax is 25%. A reduced 15% rate applies to the first EUR 42,500 of profit for small companies with turnover up to EUR 10 million that are at least 75% held by individuals. |
|---|---|
| VAT rate | Standard VAT (TVA) is 20%, with reduced rates of 10% and 5.5% and a super-reduced 2.1% on a few items such as certain medicines and the press. |
| Minimum share capital | No legal minimum for the SAS, SASU, SARL and EURL: they can be formed with as little as EUR 1. For cash contributions an SAS pays up at least 50% at incorporation and an SARL at least 20%, with the balance within 5 years. An SA requires EUR 37,000. |
| Setup time | Filed fully online via the Guichet unique. Once the file is complete and capital deposited, the Kbis registration extract is typically issued within about 3 to 7 business days; the whole process usually runs 1 to 2 weeks. |
| Remote setup | Yes. Since 2023 all formation formalities are filed online through the INPI-run Guichet unique. Non-resident founders can incorporate remotely, often via a lawyer or agent, and the share capital can be deposited online through fintech banks such as Qonto or Shine. |
| Director / residency | No French or EU residency requirement to be a director or president of an SAS, SASU, SARL or SA. A non-EU national who wants to live in France to run the business needs a residence permit, but not merely to hold the director role from abroad. |
| Banking options | A French or EU account is needed to deposit the share capital (into a blocked account) and to operate. Options include traditional banks (BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, Credit Agricole) and online business banks popular with founders, such as Qonto, Shine and Finom, which handle the capital deposit remotely. |
| Our formation service | from around €100 to €200 (estimated). You get a fixed quote in your free plan before you commit. |
Since 2023 the INPI Guichet unique is the single mandatory online portal for forming any French company. The SAS and SASU dominate among startups because governance is set freely by contract and shares are easy to issue. France keeps no minimum capital for these forms and no director residency requirement, plus innovation incentives like the R&D tax credit and Jeune Entreprise Innovante status.
How to register a company in France
The process is straightforward and, in France, largely digital. In outline:
- Choose your company type and name. Most founders pick the SAS (joint-stock); we confirm the name is available.
- Verify your identity. Yes. Since 2023 all formation formalities are filed online through the INPI-run Guichet unique. Non-resident founders can incorporate remotely, often via a lawyer or agent, and the share capital can be deposited online through fintech banks such as Qonto or Shine.
- File the incorporation. Once documents are signed, registration usually completes in around 1-2 weeks.
- Open a business account and register for tax/VAT. A French or EU account is needed to deposit the share capital (into a blocked account) and to operate. Options include traditional banks (BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, Credit Agricole) and online business banks popular with founders, such as Qonto, Shine and Finom, which handle the capital deposit remotely.
We handle each step with licensed local counsel, so the paperwork, registered address and filings are done correctly the first time.
Form your French company in days
Tell us where you live and what you are building. Our formation service starts from around €100 to €200 (estimated); we confirm the right structure for France, give you a fixed quote, and form the company with licensed counsel.
Get your free planWho can form a company in France
Founders from outside the EU can own and run a French company, with the cross-border requirements handled for you. We flag any residency or local-agent rule for France up front, so there are no surprises.
France and the 28th Regime (EU Inc)
EU Inc, the proposed 28th Regime, would let you register one company valid across all 27 EU member states. It is not law yet (expected around 2027-2028), so a French company is one of the ready options you can use today. Forming an EU company now also positions you to adopt EU Inc later, as we cover in how to prepare an EU Inc company. To weigh France against other countries, see company formation in Europe.