Export To France - Company Formation & Company Registration In France

Introduction to Incorporating in France

France has been slower than many of its EU counterparts to embrace a truly liberal business culture. At the same time, it has aggressively sought to attract foreign investment - and with considerable success. One result is that French company formation is now very simple and straightforward, although local advice is essential in order to ensure compliance with legal and financial regulations - for company registration France information please contact us to learn more about how we can help you set up business in France.

Best way to deal with company registration in France

There is no fixed pattern for French company formation. Options range from opening a small representative office - a bureau de liaison - through to acquiring an existing company or setting up a new business from scratch.

Is a foreign-owned company at a disadvantage?

To some extent. Unless foreign identity is part of the marketing strategy, most foreign investors prefer to adopt a fairly low profile and project a local image. An easy way to do this is simply to acquire a local company.

Most common type of French company formation

There are three main kinds of French incorporation business entity:

• business corporation - Societe Anonyme (SA)
• limited company - SARL
• simplified stock corporation - SAS

Requirements for an SA company

• the minimum share capital is €37,000, of which at least half must be paid up
• the company must have at least seven shareholders
• shareholders are liable up to the limit of their capital contribution
• Services accounts must be audited in line with statutory requirements
• top managers are treated as employees for tax and social security purposes

Requirements for a SARL company

• the minimum share capital was recently reduced to €1.00
• the minimum number of shareholders is one
• shareholders are liable up to the limit of their capital contribution
• accounts must be audited in line with statutory requirements
• top managers have more onerous tax and security rules than SA managers

What is an SAS company?

The Societe Par Actions Simplifiee (Simplified Stock Company) is a relatively new type of entity in France. It is a vehicle for creating a joint venture between a local company and a foreign partner. Previously, companies in France had found it difficult to enter into joint-venture relationships with foreign companies because of the rigidity of their corporate law. However SAS companies are increasingly finding favour with foreign investors, particularly in the USA, who wish to set up subsidiaries in France.

Requirements for an SAS company

• the minimum share capital is €37,000 of which half must be paid up
• the company must have at least two shareholders and a chairman
• shareholders are liable up to the limit of their capital contribution
• there is no need for a board of directors

Staff Recruitment in France

Recruitment itself is reasonably straightforward but labour laws are very complex, much more so than in most other EU countries. Employment contracts for a fixed term are only permissible in a limited number of situations. Certain collective agreements negotiated at national level are automatically applicable to certain commercial and industrial sectors. In other sectors, such agreements are only applicable when agreed to by the employer. Collective agreements cover all workers, whether or not unionised. It is essential to take legal advice before offering or entering into any kind of employment contract. We have a carefully selected team of legal and recruitment specialists based in France to help with your French incorporation project. For more details, please contact us.

Regulatory environment

France has a well-developed legal and regulatory system broadly similar to that in other EU member states. There are few restrictions on setting up companies, except in certain areas such as banking and insurance and there is no restriction on imports or capital from abroad. However state ownership is still a significant feature of the local economy, particularly in infrastructure industries and some restrictions still apply. Furthermore, the legal system is slow and expensive, which underlines the importance of securing good legal advice from the outset. Our team of local legal specialists can offer help with any French incorporation project, so please contact us for more details.

Financial incentives to forming a company in France

A world-class international banking network exists, and there is a wide range of financial institutions with expertise in arranging financial transactions and transfers. The first step to set up business in France should be to establish a local bank account - we can arrange this for you.

In addition to commercial bank loans, various types of assistance to new businesses may be available. These grants and loans from local authorities help with finding sites, shared cost access to support services, tax incentives and grants for innovative new companies.

More Information

Please contact us and we will be pleased to discuss the issues of French incorporation and company registration France in greater detail.

To find out more about how Export To France can help your business, please call us on +44 (0) 870 879 5362
or e-mail us at info@exporttofrance.net