Set Up a Business in France
A business in France must be legally set up as either an individual operation with a sole proprietor, or must be registered as a company or corporation. The two most common ways of setting up as an individual are either as a self employed or sole trader called an Enterprise Individuelle (EI) or a limited liability single shareholder company called Entreprise Unipersonelle a Responsibilit Limit e (EURL). A registered company can be set up in three ways. The first is a Soci t a Responsibilit Limit e or SARL, the second, a Soci t Anonyme, or SA, and lastly a Soci t par Actions Simplifi e, or SAS.
Instructions
Setting up an Enterprise Individuelle
1. Find the Closest CFE Office
Find your nearest Centre de Formalit s des Entreprises, or CFE, office. This is the organization that processes all documents for new and existing businesses. Most larger towns have several. To find the relevant one, look at the annuaire CFE website. Select your business activity, select the company structure you require, enter your location and the contact details of your nearest office will be listed. They will give you the appropriate documents to fill out.
2. Take your completed application form back to the CFE office along with your passport or ID and proof of address. A utility bill or bank statement is sufficient. If the company you are setting up is regulated you will also need originals of any relevant diplomas or proof of expertise.
3. Get a receipt
Get a receipt from the CFE for your documents. This is called a r c piss de d pôt de dossier de cr ation d'entreprise and it confirms that your business is in the process of being set up. You will need this document to set up utility services, rent office space and open a company bank account. The whole process takes around 10 days.
4. To set up a EURL, SAS or SARL, decide how much you need to spend. To set up a limited company such as EURL, SAS or SARL you will need at least one euro. The owner's liability is limited to the amount of their capital investment. The correct documents can be obtained from your local CFE. In addition, you will also need to choose a 'statuts' for the company. This is best done with the help of a lawyer or accountant.
5. Establish a business address which can be your home or other premises. You will have to provide a certificate of domicile which can be a rental agreement or office lease contract. A notice of the company formation must be published in a legal gazette. This is best done via a notaire or notary.
6. Take your application form to the CFE along with two copies of the statutes, a copy of the gazette or documentation with the gazette details, certificate of the company's domicile and proof of identity. You will then be issued with a receipt saying the business is in the process of being formed.
