France - Société à Responsabilité Limitée Company Incorporation

Documents and Information

To get started on incorporating your offshore company in the France all we require the following:

• Proposed company name
• The companies objects - a brief description of the intended activities of your company.
• One director and two shareholders are required for a Sàrl.
• The names and addresses of the directors and shareholders.
• A copy of the passports of the directors and shareholders.
• Details of the marital status of any shareholders, including names of spouses.

Incorporating your French Sarl

To incorporate your French company we will first check your company name for uniqueness with the Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle (INPI). After confirmation of the name and order, we will help you open a French bank account and deposit the start-up capital. Once the capital is paid the bank will issue a certificate. A notice will need to be published with a legally approved journal. This must state the name, company director (gérant), share capital and registered office.

The company statutes will have to registered at the local tax office, this is to be presented to the tax authorities within one month of signing. Afterwards we file the company registration with the Centre de Formalités des Entreprises, buy company books, (minute books, inventory books, ledgers), have these stamped and initialed by the clerk of the Commercial Court. These company books are compulsory in France. The next step is to file a request for a company's registration with the Centre de Formalités des Entreprises (CFE) and inform the post office of the new enterprise by presenting the receipt given by the Centre de Formalités des Entreprises.

Ready made companies are available from us with bank accounts and VAT/ TVA numbers. Our ready made companies have all been incorporated and have thenfilled dormant accounts. They are immediately available and fully inclusive of all documentation. 

Click here or more information on ready made companies.

Company Names

France is very liberal about which company names are allowed.

All départements in France have a register of company names and so most company names are allowed so long as it is not used by another company in the same département and so long as the name is not against public policy.

A common name, such as Hôtel de la Gare Sarl, will therefore, be repeated several times throughout France.

• Names can be in any language. However typically, foreign names should be avoided, as well as adding the word France after the company name. This is usually perceived to mean that it is a non French company.
• Names which are compatible with French usage should be generally adopted.
• The use of recognised trademark names, can mean that a company name, such as 'MacDonalds Hamburgers SàRL' may be accepted, but may prove impossible to use, because of trademark restrictions.
• Some local commercial courts may approve a name for incorporation, but may not register the approved names on the central register which we use.

We will check your chosen company name with the the Register of the Commercial Courts and the Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle free of charge.

Director (Gérant)

• Only one director is required.
• Directors may be of any nationality and may reside anywhere.
• There is no requirement to appoint a local/resident director.

Shareholders

• The minimum number of shareholders in an Sàrl is one.
• Shareholders may be of any nationality and may reside anywhere.
• Shareholders may be either individuals or corporate bodies.
• Formacompany does not offer a nominee shareholder service. 
• No annual general meeting of shareholders, if less than 25 shareholders.

Registered Office

A company in France must have its own Registered Office. A written agreement by the owner of the property authorising the specific use of the address for the Registered Office of the company must be supplied tothe French company registrar. Further proof of consent may also be required. Typically the last rates bill (taxe de foncière), needs to be produced along with any incorporation documents. Formacompany can provide a registered office service.