Looking to set up your business operations in France? Our expert-led guide walks international entrepreneurs through every legal and administrative step of starting a company. From creating a company, to choosing the right property solutions, and hiring qualified staff: here is our 7-step guide to setting up a business in France.
1 – Find legal and accounting experts for business setup in France
- Determine your exact needs and prepare your questions
- Look for recommendations for French legal consultants
➞ Contact us if you need help - Check their credentials, their specialisation and the languages they can speak
- Schedule a consultation to evaluate if they suit your business and your way of working
2 – Select the right legal form and register your company name
- Decide your company’s legal presence in France: liaison office (non-commercial), branch or full subsidiary based on your objectives
- Decide on the legal structure of your business: SAS (simplified joint-stock company), SARL (limited company), SA (corporation)
- Choose and register a business name which is not yet being used in France
3 – Open a French business bank account
- Choose a reliable bank (first, check with your bank to see if they are established or partnered in France)
- Bring the necessary documentation, including proof of address
- Make an initial deposit (and you will need to deposit the entire share capital before registering your business)
4 – Complete company registration with french authorities (SIRET, Kbis, VAT)
- Register your business through the CFE or Infogreffe platforms; obtain SIREN/SIRET numbers alongside VAT identification and Kbis extract
- Obtain a SIRET number (unique French business identification number)
- Obtain the relevant business licences and permits adapted to your activity
- Register for taxes
5 – Find the right premises for your company
- Define what you are looking for: commercial lease, acquisition of real estate, construction of new premises
- Search for the perfect fit
➞ Check our real estate search engine or contact our business advisors - Equip, design and decorate your premises by relying on the know-how of our companies
6 – Relocate your staff or hire employees
- Register with the French social security system (Sécurité sociale)
- Benefit from local accompaniment relocation solutions
- Discover the best training organisations near you
- Find talent online, during recruiting events or through a talent acquisition company
➞ In Atlantic France, you can create a recruiter account on our website nosemplois.fr
7 – Connect with other entrepreneurs
- Meet business leaders from your own country
➞ More than 1,000 internationally-owned companies are established in Atlantic France: learn more about them and contact us to join our ECE business club - Find providers, partners and clients
➞ Join some of the regional business clusters and federations and benefit from their networks and know-how - Benefit from collaborative platforms to innovate and to contribute to open innovation projects
➞ Learn more about the Technocampus network in Atlantic France