About France
France is a founding EU member and the eurozone's second-largest economy, with over 20,000 foreign companies operating in the country. Key sectors include aerospace, pharmaceuticals, tourism, and luxury goods.
Remotely Process Your France SARL Company Incorporation (Complex Structure)
France company incorporation with TKEG Expat — we form your French SARL (Société à responsabilité limitée) private limited company: name reservation, articles of association, capital deposit, commercial court (Greffe) filing, and publication in the Bulletin officiel (BODACC). Minimum share capital is 1 EUR (founders set the amount freely). A French registered office is mandatory — our Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse and Nice address services cover it. SARL single-shareholder (EURL) structures trigger French social security charges on the sole shareholder up to ~5,000 EUR/year; we recommend two shareholders to avoid this. TKEG Expat manages remote incorporation end-to-end for non-resident founders.
Service Included
-
- Register a French SARL company;
- Power of Attorney (PoA) for remote registration of a French company by a lawyer;
- Shareholder background check;
- Apply for a French VAT number;
- Open a capital verification account by a French lawyer.
Number of services already included in this product: 0.00
Memo
- Due to the SARL company type, it requires shareholders to pay annual social security tax in France (up to 5000 euros/year), we recommend that clients provide two shareholders to register the SARL company in France to omit this requirement.
Product Requirement
France SARL Company Incorporation (Complex Structure)'s Requirements
TKEG Expat ™ (Norway) aims to provide the most straightforward and professional service to our clients. Please use this "Product Requirement Table" to determine if you meet the basic requirement of this product, and if you need services that are not included in this product.
To authorize a lawyer to exercise rights, or to personally register a company in France
To register a company in France, it is necessary to authorize a lawyer to exercise rights, or to personally visit France to sign the registration papers. If you are unable to personally visit France to register the company, you can choose the lawyer authorization service provided by TKEG Expat. (Please note that the price of this service is the minimum price. The lawyer's authorization price may vary depending on your place of residence; please consult the customer relationship manager to obtain the final quotation).
Has Solutions?: Yes
Service Not Included in Product
Need to have a French address
To register a French company, it is necessary to have a French address. If there is no French address available, you can choose the address hosting service provided by TKEG Expat.
Has Solutions?: Yes
Service Not Included in Product
Ownership
Consolidated Ownership
Limited Liability
Positive
Publicly Participates In Capital Market
Negative
Requirements For Shareholders
Due to the SARL company type, it requires shareholders to pay annual social security tax in France (up to 5000 euros/year), we recommend that clients provide two shareholders to register the SARL company in France to omit this requirement.
Requirements For Directors
At least one
Legal Representative Not Mandatory
Negative
Local Directors Not Mandatory
Positive
Local Secretaries Not Mandatory
Positive
Minimum Registered Capital Requirement
1. Starting from 1 euro.
Capital Injection Not Required
Negative
Capital Injection Requirement
At least 50% of the registered capital must be paid in cash before company incorporation. If the cash deposit is less than 100% of the registered capital, an auditor is required for contribution in kind. Thus TKEG Expat recommend paying 100% of the registered capital in cash.
Memo
N/A
Document Requirement
We Need These To Help You With France SARL Company Incorporation (Complex Structure)
TKEG Expat ™ (Norway) aims to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information to our clients. Please use this "Document Requirement Table" to determine which documents you will need to submit to fulfill the product requirements. Please note, the requirements of document can change depending on your case.
Natural Person Shareholders & Directors's Required Documents
Passport
Info Page Scan
Document Process: Not Applicable
Document Format: Scan Copy
Proof of Address
Two different institutions' scanned water, electricity, gas bills, or bank statements with the same address need to be translated into English. The documents must clearly indicate the shareholder/director's name, address, and date, and must not be older than one month.
Document Process: Not Applicable
Document Format: Scan Copy
Legal Entity Shareholders's Required Documents
Proof Of Registration / Business License
English translation + English notarization
Document Process: Notarization
Document Format: Scan Copy
Company Bylaw
English translation + English notarization
Document Process: Notarization
Document Format: Scan Copy
Passport
The legal representative of the holding company and the scanned copy of the front page of the passport for shareholders holding 25% or more of the shares.
Document Process: Not Applicable
Document Format: Scan Copy
Proof of Address
Two sets of water, electricity, or gas bills or bank statements issued by different institutions but with the same address need to be scanned. The documents should be translated into English clearly indicating the name, address, and date of the shareholder/director, and should not be more than 1 month old.
Document Process: Not Applicable
Document Format: Scan Copy
Learn More About How TKEG Expat Helped Other Businesses Succeed With France SARL Company Incorporation (Complex Structure)
Case Study
Chinese Mainland Corporate Client
Start Date: November 10, 2021
Frequently Asked Questions
The French government does not impose any nationality or identity restrictions on foreigners registering a French company and does not require EU residency as a nominee director.
At least one shareholder is required to register a French company. This can be a natural person or a company. The French government does not have any requirements or restrictions on the nationality or legal domicile of the shareholders of a French company.
Legally speaking, both SAS and SARL companies are private limited liability companies. However, a SAS company is more flexible in terms of its articles of association than a SARL company, which makes it ideal for public companies.
However, the registration of a SAS company requires a capital verification, which makes the pre-registration process more cumbersome, whereas the registration of a SARL company does not.
However, the French tax office levies an annual social security tax on shareholders holding 51% or more of the shares of a SARL company (see above for a description of the types of SARL companies and how to avoid paying the social security tax), whereas a SAS company is not subject to the social security tax even if there is only one shareholder holding the shares of the company.
However, the registration of a SAS company requires a capital verification, which makes the pre-registration process more cumbersome, whereas the registration of a SARL company does not.
However, the French tax office levies an annual social security tax on shareholders holding 51% or more of the shares of a SARL company (see above for a description of the types of SARL companies and how to avoid paying the social security tax), whereas a SAS company is not subject to the social security tax even if there is only one shareholder holding the shares of the company.
The registration of a SAS company in France requires a capitalization, starting from a minimum of 1€ (1,000€ is recommended as a minimum), which must be paid in full. The registration of a SARL company does not require
Yes, the registered capital must be transferred from a bank account in the name of the shareholders in proportion to their shareholding to the company's provisional capitalization account.
The company's registered capital must be used for the company's day-to-day operating costs, such as paying for goodscosts, to pay accountants, to pay for the services of TKEG Expat.
Technology and Innovation
Technology is central to the French economy, with heavy government investment in R&D. The Sophia Antipolis technology park near Nice hosts one of the highest concentrations of tech engineers outside Silicon Valley, attracting major companies including Cisco, Intel, and IBM.
Brand Image
High-end consumer goods in France are highly esteemed internationally. Therefore, international companies establish part of or directly set up their headquarters in France, due to the high investment value and brand added value.
Investment Environment
France is one of Europe's largest markets, with Paris as a major global financial center and a leader in European venture capital. The country offers a skilled workforce, quality transport infrastructure, and strong IP protections, while the government actively expands policies to attract foreign investment.
Self-Declaration of Value-Added Tax
Since the tax reform in July 2021, all e-commerce companies registered outside the European Union need platforms such as Amazon to declare their value-added tax. Registering a company in France allows you to independently declare value-added tax and reduce tax liabilities.
General CIT Rate
Standard rate: 25%; qualifying small corporations may benefit from 15% on the first EUR 42,500 of taxable profits.
CIT Return Due Date
About the fiscal year ending on December 31st, until the end of May of the following year.
CIT Payment Due Date
About the fiscal year ending on December 31 and May 15 of the following year.
CIT Estimated Payment Due Date
By way of installment payments in four installments (i.e., for the fiscal year ending on December 31, must be submitted and paid on March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15).
Resident Withholding Tax (Dividend/Interest/Royalty)
N/A
None-Resident Withholding Tax (Dividend/Interest/Royalty)
25/0/25
General VAT Rate
20
General Capital Gain Tax Rate
Capital gains are constrained by the normal corporate income tax rate.
Composite Effective Average Tax Rate
23.66
Composite Effective Marginal Tax Rate
15.38
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