France Company Formation 2025 | SARL, SAS from €1
Form your SARL or SAS in France. Capital from €1, formation in 1-2 weeks. RCS registration, legal support. Complete guide to company formation in France.
In summary: Form your French company with legal support. The SARL (Limited Liability Company) and SAS (Simplified Joint-Stock Company) require no minimum capital. The SA (Public Limited Company) requires €37,000 minimum capital. Formation takes 1-2 weeks via the INPI business formalities portal.
Forming a Company in France in 2025
France offers a stable legal environment, privileged access to the European market of 450 million consumers, and an attractive ecosystem for entrepreneurs. Company formation has been significantly simplified with the one-stop-shop portal at INPI.
French Legal Forms
SARL - Société à Responsabilité Limitée
The SARL is a popular form for French SMEs with a regulated structure. It offers simplicity and limited liability.
- Capital: No legal minimum (€1 possible)
- Shareholders: 1 to 100 (individuals or legal entities)
- Liability: Limited to contribution
- Management: One or more managers (gérant)
- Social status: Manager with >50% is self-employed (TNS), otherwise employee-equivalent
SAS - Société par Actions Simplifiée
The SAS is the most flexible French company form, popular for startups, joint ventures, and subsidiaries of foreign groups.
- Capital: No legal minimum (€1 possible)
- Shareholders: 1 or more (SASU if single shareholder)
- Liability: Limited to contribution
- Governance: President mandatory, rest freely structured
- Shares: Transfer rules freely defined in articles
SA - Société Anonyme
The SA suits larger companies and projects requiring significant fundraising. It allows stock exchange listing.
- Capital: Minimum €37,000 (50% paid up at incorporation)
- Shareholders: 2 or more (7 if listed)
- Governance: Board of directors or dual board (directoire/conseil de surveillance)
- Shares: Freely transferable (unless restricted by articles)
Formation Process
| Step | Description | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Preparation | Draft articles, choose registered office, prepare ID documents | 1-3 days |
| 2. Capital deposit | Open bank account and deposit capital (certificate issued) | 1-2 days |
| 3. Legal notice | Publish notice in legal announcements journal (JAL) | 1 day |
| 4. RCS registration | File with INPI business formalities center (guichet unique) | 3-5 days |
| 5. K-bis extract | Receive company registration certificate | Immediate |
Corporate Taxation
French corporate tax (IS) rate is 25%. SMEs benefit from a reduced rate of 15% on the first €42,500 of profits, subject to conditions (turnover <10M€, 75% held by individuals).
For holding companies, the participation exemption regime (régime mère-fille) allows 95% exemption on dividends received from qualifying subsidiaries (5% minimum participation, 2-year holding).
Why France?
- EU market access: Gateway to 450 million consumers
- R&D incentives: CIR (research tax credit) up to 30% of R&D expenses
- Talent pool: Highly educated workforce, excellent engineering schools
- Infrastructure: Central European location, extensive transport network
- French Tech: Dynamic startup ecosystem with government support
Frequently Asked Questions
For SARL (Limited Liability Company) and SAS (Simplified Joint-Stock Company), there is no legal minimum capital - you can theoretically start with €1. The SA (Public Limited Company) requires a minimum capital of €37,000 with at least 50% paid up at incorporation.
Formation typically takes 1-2 weeks: document preparation (few days), bank deposit of capital (1-2 days), legal notice publication (1 day), RCS registration at the business formalities center (3-5 days). Online incorporation via INPI portal is now standard.
Yes, foreigners (EU and non-EU) can form a company in France without nationality restrictions. There is no residency requirement for shareholders. Directors may need a visa if they will reside in France and are non-EU nationals.
SARL suits SMEs with simpler governance: 1-100 shareholders, manager(s), regulated by law. SAS offers maximum flexibility: 1+ shareholders, customizable governance (President mandatory), freely structured articles. SAS is increasingly popular for startups and subsidiaries of foreign groups.
No, notarial deed is not mandatory for SARL or SAS in France. Articles can be signed privately (sous seing privé). However, notary is required if real estate is contributed as capital. SA formation requires specific formalities but not necessarily a notary.
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