Legal form and corporate documents
Define the company structure and prepare the corporate information and documents required for formation.
Company formation for international founders
Start a Company in France
Choose the legal form, prepare the formation documents and file the company creation formalities in France.
For foreign founders, non-residents and international companies that need a French legal entity and a clear registration path.
Company structureRegistration fileOperational setup
How we help
From legal form to registration through the Guichet unique
We help prepare the main elements of a French company formation: legal form, corporate documents, registered office, share-capital arrangements where applicable and the information required for the online filing.
Since 2023, business creation formalities are filed through the Guichet unique des formalités d’entreprises. The company is recorded in the Registre national des entreprises (RNE) and, for commercial companies, in the Registre du commerce et des sociétés (RCS) as applicable.
Formation timing and required steps depend on the legal form, activity, document readiness, banking or capital arrangements and third-party processing.
Registered office and capital
Arrange the registered office and, where required, the share-capital deposit and supporting evidence.
Guichet unique filing
Prepare and submit the formation formalities through the French one-stop business formalities system.
Process
How company formation is prepared
The exact sequence depends on the legal form and activity, but the core formation steps are consistent.
Project review
Confirm the activity, shareholders, management structure and intended legal form.
Corporate documents
Prepare the formation documents, collect the required supporting evidence and arrange the legal notice where the company form requires publication.
Registered office and capital
Put the company address in place and complete the capital step where the legal form requires it.
Online filing
File the creation formalities through the Guichet unique and follow requests for additional information.
After registration
Confirm the company identifiers and organise the accounting, tax, payroll or customs steps that actually apply to the business.
Scope confirmed before work starts
We confirm the requested service, the information required from you and any dependencies that affect the work.
Requirements explained in plain English
You receive a clear explanation of the documents, decisions and external steps relevant to the agreed scope.
No authority outcome is presented as guaranteed
Where an authority, registry, bank or other third party decides an outcome or timing, we identify that dependency rather than promise a result.
Practical guide
How to Set Up a Company in France as a Foreigner
Common questions
Questions before you start
Can a non-resident or foreign founder create a company in France?
A foreign national can create a company in France. The formation steps depend on the legal form, activity and participants, while residence and work rights are a separate question if the founder also intends to live or work in France.
Which French company forms are commonly used by international founders?
SAS, SASU, SARL and EURL are common choices, but the appropriate structure depends on ownership, governance, activity and future plans. The project should be reviewed before the formation route is prepared.
Can the French company formation process be handled remotely?
Many preparation and filing steps can be handled remotely. Banking, capital deposit, regulated activities or identity checks can create additional steps depending on the file, so the remote process is confirmed case by case.
What is normally included in the company registration file?
The file typically brings together corporate documents, information about shareholders and management, registered-office evidence, capital documentation where applicable, activity details and the supporting documents required for the online business formalities filing.
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