France Starting a Business

Step by Step Guide to Incorporating a Sàrl

France Key Points

  • Time – 2 weeks to incorporate your company
  • Directors – only one director of any nationality, is necessary for your Sàrl company
  • Shareholders – only one shareholder is required
  • Shareholders – shareholders may be either individuals or corporate bodies
  • Share Capital – the share capital requirement is only €1
  • Support – using our 20 years experience we guide you throughout every step of the company formation process

Select the company name for your Sàrl

First select a name for your corporation.

  • France is very liberal about which company names are allowed
  • Names can be in any language. However typically, foreign names should be avoided
  • Adding the word France after the company name is usually perceived to mean you are a non French company
  • Some local commercial courts may approve a name for incorporation, but may not register the approved names on the central register which we use
  • 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
  • A common names, such as Hôtel de la Gare Sarl, will be repeated several times throughout France
  • A company name check can be carried out free of charge to see if a required name has already been registered
  • We can then reserve your Sàrl name for up to ten days.

Share Capital

Select the number of shares each shareholder will have.

  • Share Capital requirement is only €1
  • The minimum fixed share capital of a French Sàrl is rounded up to an amount which is easily divisible
  • Select Directors

Decide who will be the directors of your company

  • Only one director is required
  • Directors may be of any nationality and may reside anywhere. State Authorisation is compulsory for non EU residents
  • Non OECD citizen directors need a foreign trader’s card
  • There is no requirement to appoint a local/resident director

Select Shareholders

Select who will be the shareholders of your company.

  • 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
  • No annual general meeting of shareholders, if less than 25 shareholders

Select a Registered Office

The company must have its registered address in France.

We provide an address in Paris

Features of a French Sàrl

  • France is very liberal about which company names are allowed
  • Directors and shareholders may be of any nationality and may reside anywhere
  • Share Capital requirement is only €1
  • In a Sàrl the directors/gérants have to be individuals
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