Fast-track your company creation

Starting a business in France is no small task, and requires solid legal knowledge.

Indeed, you might encounter several challenges if you tackle the process on your own:

• difficulty in crafting bylaws that align with your business needs;
• potential back-and-forth with authorities due to missing documents or incorrect forms;
• risk of the Guichet Unique Registry (INPI) rejecting your application;
• using multiple platforms and entering the same information repeatedly.

With Qonto, you avoid the hassle and focus on getting your business on its feet, while we manage your paperwork.

Our teams do everything possible to speed up your company creation process by:

• dispatching your bylaws in under 24 hours;
• providing your capital deposit certificate within 12 business hours after funds are received;
• filing your company's registration application as soon as it's signed and received;
• giving you an anti-rejection guarantee.

Qonto supports you at every step of your company creation. Our experts take care of all the paperwork:

• creating your company’s bylaws;
• ensuring your registration file is compliant;
• submitting all documents to the Commercial Court Registry through the INPI's Guichet Unique;
• obtaining and sending your Kbis certificate.

In addition to completing these steps, our specialists are always on hand to address your inquiries.

In France, you can contact them 24/7 via chat, email, and phone.

We commit to delivering your company bylaws within 24 hours, and to submitting your completed file to the Registry as soon as you sign it.

For the key documents needed to set up your company, Qonto will email your digital capital deposit certificate in 12 business hours.

Please keep in mind that getting your Kbis extract depends on the Registry's processing time, averaging 5 days, but it varies based on where your company's headquarters are.

Based on your objectives and needs, various legal structures might fit your business start-up plans.

Here are the key traits of the options you can consider.

Going solo in your business venture

If you're starting your business on your own, a sole proprietorship (Entreprise Individuelle) is a solid option to kick off your venture. This legal structure has simplified accounting and tax obligations.

Additionally, the micro-business framework offers tax advantages, with a flat-rate deduction on earnings and social contributions based on actual revenue, for solo entrepreneurs.

If creating a legal entity for future growth appeals to you, there are two options for forming a company with a sole partner:

• the EURL;
• the SASU.

The tax structure of the EURL is a notable advantage, as it's subject to personal income tax by default, unlike other company types that fall under corporate tax.

The SASU provides full flexibility in creating your bylaws alongside improved social protection for the company’s leader.

Starting a company with partners

If you're teaming up with others on your entrepreneurial journey, you’ll need to form a commercial company.

Here are the main options available:

• the simplified shareholder company (SAS);
• the limited liability company (SARL);
• the public limited company (SA).

The SAS is especially favored by SMEs and startups for its flexible bylaws. Additionally, the SAS can have unlimited partners, and its dividends are free from social charges.

The main downside of the SAS is the higher social contributions on executive compensation.

The social framework for the majority manager and its secure legal structure are key benefits of the SARL for your business setup.

However, this structure limits you to 100 partners.

The SA is highly recommended for large-scale ventures. This legal structure provides shareholder anonymity and a solid governance framework.

Unlike SAS and SARL, establishing an SA requires a minimum share capital of €37,000.

Other legal structures are available for specific needs, like the real estate civil company (SCI) and cooperative production company.

In general, the steps to setting up a business are very similar, with the exception of specific nuances tied to certain legal structures.

Apart from sole proprietorships, creating bylaws is a required step. The bylaws help structure the company's operations and manage relations between shareholders or partners.

Certain details must be included in a company's bylaws, for example:

• the corporate name;
• the trade name of the company;
• the company's purpose;
• the legal structure;
• the share capital amount.

As an indication of how important bylaws are, every page must be initialed by each individual partner, with the last page signed by all partners together.

If you choose to create a commercial company, you’ll need to make a capital deposit. The capital deposit can be made with a bank, a notary, or an online provider like Qonto.

With Qonto, you deposit your capital fully online and receive your digital certificate within 12 business hours.

Likewise, forming a commercial company requires publishing an incorporation notice in a legal announcements journal (JAL).

The M0 form is the document that must be completed by the company's legal representative or their agent.

If you’re employing an agent, you'll need to provide authorization allowing them to act on your behalf.

After completing the above steps and the M0 form, you’ll need to submit your file to the Commercial Court Registry near your company’s HQ.

To do this, you must use the French Guichet Unique platform.

Your business setup file must include several documents, like:

• the M0 form;
• a signed and dated copy of the bylaws;
• proof of your company's headquarters;
• your fund deposit certificate;
• the proof of a publication notice in a legal announcements journal (JAL);
• the declaration of beneficial owners.

Check out our dedicated section for a complete list of the documents to submit to the authorities.

There's nothing stopping you from handling the process to set up your business on your own, as long as you meet the administrative requirements.

The main advantage of handling the formalities yourself is avoiding extra fees. So, you'll only need to cover the fixed administrative costs, like:

• the cost for publishing an incorporation notice in a legal announcements journal (JAL);
• the registration costs at the Guichet Unique.

To draft your company's bylaws, you can use online templates and adjust them to your needs.

However, we would advise against completing these steps on your own. There are several downsides to doing it on your own including:

• a significant time spent on these formalities rather than actually getting your business started;
• the potential back-and-forth with authorities due to missing or incorrect documents;
• the lack of help in drafting articles and preparing the essential documents, such as the declaration of beneficial owners.

Company registration needs several documents attached to the M0 form, including:

• an original copy of the company's bylaws, signed and dated by the sole partner, or all partners;
• proof of company address (like an electricity bill or lease agreement);
• proof of publication of the incorporation notice in a legal announcements journal (JAL);
• share capital deposit certificate;
• list of subscribers for forming a public limited company (SA), SASU, or SAS.

If the company manager or president is an individual, you’ll also need to provide:

• a copy of identification (ID card, passport, or residence permit);
• a sworn statement of no criminal convictions, and certificate of filiation;
• a copy of the appointment act for the manager or president, if not listed in the bylaws.

If the director is a legal entity, for an SA, SASU, and SAS only, you’ll need to attach the following to your company setup request:

• your company's SIREN number;
• a copy of identification for the permanent representative of the company, alongside a sworn statement of no criminal convictions, plus a certificate of filiation;
• a copy of the act confirming the permanent representative’s role as the company administrator.

Lastly, some specific cases need the following documents added to your company registration file:

• a copy of the report issued by the contribution auditor;
• a proof of being on the official statutory auditors list if using a statutory auditor (CAC - commissaire aux comptes);
• a copy of your authorization to practice if in a regulated profession, such as lawyers;
• a copy of the act of sale, in the case of a purchase of a business.