Every French company needs a registered office, or siège social, before it can be registered. The registered office is the company's legal and administrative address; it does not always have to be the place where day-to-day operations take place. Commercial domiciliation is one way to establish that address when the legal conditions are met.
What is a registered office in France?
The registered office is the official address attached to the company in its articles of association and registration records. It is used for formal correspondence and helps determine important administrative connections for the company. Because the address forms part of the registration file, it needs to be established before incorporation is completed.
A company should distinguish its legal address from a warehouse, shop, coworking desk or other operational location. Those addresses can be the same, but they do not have to be.
What are the main ways to domicile a French company?
The appropriate option depends on the company and its circumstances. A registered office may be established at eligible business premises, at the legal representative's home under the applicable conditions, or through a commercial domiciliation provider.
| Option | Typical situation | Point to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Business premises | The company occupies its own eligible office or commercial premises | Lease or occupancy terms allow the use |
| Legal representative's home | Early-stage company using the manager's eligible residence | Legal, contractual and duration restrictions |
| Commercial domiciliation | Company needs a professional legal address and mail-handling structure | Provider approval and compliant domiciliation contract |
How does commercial domiciliation work?
A commercial domiciliation company provides an address under a written domiciliation contract. French official guidance states that the provider must hold the required prefectural approval. The contract identifies the parties and the domiciliation address, and it sets out the services and obligations attached to the arrangement.
Official guidance also provides for a minimum contract duration of three months, renewable by tacit agreement unless the parties arrange otherwise within the legal framework. Before using the address for a company filing, the founder should confirm that the provider and contract meet the requirements applicable at that time.
What can a domiciliation service include besides the address?
The legal address is the core service, but a domiciliation arrangement can also include operational support such as mail reception or forwarding, telephone services, meeting or workspace access and certain administrative services. These extras should be distinguished from the legal registered-office function so the company knows exactly what it is buying.
- Registered-office address for corporate records.
- Receipt and handling of official mail.
- Mail forwarding or scanning, depending on the contract.
- Meeting-room or workspace access where offered.
- Additional administrative or communication services where included.
Can the registered office be different from where the company works?
Yes. A company can have a legal registered office at one address and carry out operations elsewhere, provided each location complies with the rules applicable to its use. This is common for companies that use a domiciliation address for legal correspondence but hold stock in a warehouse or deliver services at client sites.
For an international company, keeping those roles clear is particularly important when completing bank, tax, marketplace or logistics onboarding. A platform asking for a registered office is not necessarily asking for a warehouse address.
Foreign groups should also decide whether the French address will belong to a new French company or to an establishment of the parent. The subsidiary vs branch guide explains how those structures differ before the address and filing are finalised.
Can a company use the director's home address?
French rules allow the legal representative's home to be used in certain circumstances, but restrictions can arise from law, a lease, co-ownership rules or other occupancy conditions. Official guidance also describes time limits in some situations where a legal or contractual obstacle exists. This option should therefore be checked rather than assumed.
What happens if the registered office changes?
A registered-office change is a corporate event, not just a postal update. The company may need a corporate decision, amended articles, publication formalities and a filing through the business-formalities system. Banks, tax records, invoices, contracts and other operational systems should then be updated consistently.
If the company is still being formed, selecting the right address early can avoid an unnecessary transfer shortly after incorporation. Francosetup's business domiciliation service in France can be coordinated with company formation where both are required.
Common questions about business domiciliation
Is a virtual office automatically a legal registered office?
No. A marketing term such as “virtual office” does not by itself prove that the address can legally be used as the company's registered office. The provider and contract should satisfy the domiciliation requirements.
Does the company have to receive mail at the registered office?
The registered office is an official correspondence address, so the company needs a reliable process for receiving and acting on mail sent there.
Can a warehouse be different from the registered office?
Yes. The legal address and operational storage location can be different, subject to the rules applying to each location.
Should the registered office be chosen before incorporation?
Yes. Evidence of the registered office forms part of the company-formation file, so the address should be established before the registration is finalised.