France Company Registration | Set Up a Company in France (SAS)
Planning a France company registration or looking to set up a company in France to reach the EU market? The most common company type is the simplified joint-stock company, the SAS (Société par actions simplifiée). After signing the articles of association, depositing the capital and publishing a legal notice of incorporation, you register online with the Trade and Companies Register (RCS) through the one-stop portal for business formalities. Official guidance states that foreigners can set up a company without living in France, foreign owners can hold 100% of the shares, and a single shareholder can form an SASU.
The minimum capital of an SAS is EUR 1, and the RCS registration fee is EUR 33.83. The standard corporate tax rate is 25%, qualifying small and medium-sized companies pay 15% on the first EUR 42,500 of profit, and the standard VAT rate is 20%. NSS Group (戰國策集團) provides one-stop France company formation, from assessing the shareholding structure, preparing the articles of association and depositing the capital, to publishing the legal notice, registering through the one-stop portal and reminding you of annual filings, so you can complete your France SAS setup.
The shareholders decide the capital of an SAS, with a minimum of EUR 1. For cash contributions, half must be paid in at formation and the rest within 5 years.
Small and medium-sized companies with turnover of no more than EUR 10 million that meet the shareholding conditions pay 15% corporate tax on the first EUR 42,500 of profit.
Registration is filed online through the one-stop portal for business formalities, and the company is then entered automatically in the National Business Register (RNE) and the RCS.
The standard TVA (VAT) rate is 20%, with other rates of 10%, 5.5% and 2.1%. In 2026, the exemption thresholds are EUR 85,000 for goods and EUR 37,500 for services.
company in France
The SAS, the most common company type in France, has flexible articles of association and a minimum capital of only EUR 1, and a single shareholder can form an SASU. Official guidance states that foreigners can set up a company in France without living there. Registration is done online through the one-stop portal for business formalities, and the RCS registration fee is EUR 33.83. The standard corporate tax rate is 25%, and qualifying small and medium-sized companies pay 15% on the first EUR 42,500 of profit. France suits companies planning to enter the EU market that want flexible articles to arrange ownership and management.
in 3 steps
In France, the most common company type is the simplified joint-stock company (SAS). It needs at least 2 shareholders, whose liability is limited to their contributions; with only 1 shareholder, you can form an SASU. Once the company has signed its articles of association, deposited its capital and published the legal notice of incorporation, it files its registration through the one-stop portal for business formalities. It is then entered in the National Business Register (RNE) and the RCS and receives a SIREN number.
You can file a France company registration online, but the bank deposit, the articles of association and the legal notice all need to be prepared in advance, and after formation the company must file corporate tax returns and its annual accounts. NSS Group helps you plan the shareholding structure, prepare the documents and arrange annual maintenance, so your France company stays clear and compliant from setup to operation.
Choose an SAS or SASU, the company name and the registered address (a business address is required to form the company). The shareholders sign the articles of association and appoint the president. Open a bank account in the company’s name and deposit the capital; for cash contributions, at least half must be paid in. Then obtain the bank’s certificate of capital deposit.
After signing the articles, publish the notice of incorporation in an authorized legal notice medium in the company’s département (a JAL newspaper or an SPEL online service). In 2026, the flat rate in mainland France is EUR 199 for an SAS and EUR 142 for an SASU (excluding tax). Keep the proof of publication for the registration.
On the one-stop portal for business formalities, submit the formation form, the beneficial owner declaration, the signed articles, the proof of publication and the certificate of capital deposit. The RCS registration fee is EUR 33.83 and the DBE is EUR 19.33. The company is then entered automatically in the RNE and the RCS and receives its SIREN and other identification numbers.
end-to-end service
- Company name search and reservation
- Preparation and filing of registration documents
- Drafting of governing documents
- Collection of the registration certificate
- French bank account and capital deposit document advice
- Account opening document preparation
- Appointment scheduling and accompaniment
- Post-opening support
- Registered address
- Company secretary appointment
- Annual filing services
- Document custody and management
- Bookkeeping
- Tax filing and planning
- Financial statement preparation
- Audit arrangement
- Trademark search and assessment
- Trademark application filing
- Trademark maintenance and renewal
- Infringement protection advice
- Company change filings
- Share transfer support
- Company dissolution
- Legal advisory support
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- Assessment of SAS or SASU type and shareholding structure
- Preparation of the articles of association and capital deposit documents
- Help publishing the legal notice of incorporation
- Online registration through the one-stop portal and beneficial owner declaration
- Reminders for corporate tax form 2065 and annual accounts filing
Official fees: RCS registration EUR 33.83, beneficial owner declaration EUR 19.33, legal notice EUR 199 for an SAS or EUR 142 for an SASU (mainland France 2026, excluding tax); other items as quoted
France company registration at a glance
The points people ask about most when registering a company in France, checked against official notices (updated November 2026).
| Company type | Simplified joint-stock company SAS / SASU |
|---|---|
| Registry | One-stop portal for business formalities, entered in the RNE and the RCS |
| Foreign ownership | 100% foreign ownership allowed; no need to live in France |
| Minimum capital | EUR 1 (for cash contributions, half paid in at formation) |
| Corporate income tax | Standard 25%; 15% on the first EUR 42,500 for SMEs |
| VAT | TVA standard rate 20% |
| Setup time | Depends on the review |
| Annual filings | Corporate tax return form 2065 and filing of annual accounts |
| Who can help | NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw), free assessment and written quote |
France company formation cost: fee breakdown
The main official costs of registering a company in France are the RCS registration fee, the beneficial owner declaration fee and the legal notice of incorporation, which has a flat rate in mainland France. The official figures are listed below so you can check every line of a quote.
| Item | Fee | Details |
|---|---|---|
| RCS registration fee for a commercial company | EUR 33.83 | Paid when filing the registration through the one-stop portal for business formalities. |
| Beneficial owner declaration (DBE) | EUR 19.33 | Must be filed together with the registration, except for listed companies. |
| Legal notice of incorporation | SAS EUR 199 / SASU EUR 142 (excluding tax) | 2026 flat rate in mainland France; EUR 148 for an SARL and EUR 124 for an EURL. |
| Capital | Minimum EUR 1 | For cash contributions, pay in at least half at formation and obtain a bank deposit certificate; pay in the rest within 5 years. |
| Bookkeeping and annual filings | Quoted by bookkeeping volume | Corporate tax form 2065 and the annual accounts must be filed on time. |
| NSS Group advisory fee | Written quote after a free assessment | Based on the shareholder structure, the design of the articles, bank account needs and tax planning. Every item is listed in the quote, with no hidden fees. |
Fees follow notices on the French government business site Entreprendre Service Public (registration fees checked June 2026, legal notice fees checked January 2026). The latest official notices prevail.
France company tax and compliance: corporate tax, TVA and annual accounts
A French company pays corporate tax (IS), with a reduced rate on the first part of profit for small and medium-sized companies. Once turnover exceeds the exemption threshold, TVA (VAT) applies. Each year the company files a corporate tax return and its annual accounts. Foreign shareholders should check whether their country has a tax treaty with France and any controlled foreign company (CFC) rules at home.
| Item | Rule | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax (IS) | Standard 25% | SMEs with turnover of no more than EUR 10,000,000, fully paid-up capital and at least 75% held by individuals pay 15% on the first EUR 42,500 of profit. |
| TVA (VAT) | Standard rate 20% | Other rates are 10%, 5.5% and 2.1%; in 2026, the exemption thresholds are EUR 85,000 for goods and EUR 37,500 for services (based on the previous year's turnover). |
| Dividend withholding tax | 0 / 25% for non-treaty countries | According to the PwC tax summary; a lower rate under a tax treaty applies where your country has one with France. |
| Corporate tax return form 2065 | Within 3 months after the year ends | For a year ending December 31, the deadline is the 2nd working day after May 1; filing must be electronic. |
| Filing of annual accounts | Within 1 month after approval | 2 months if filed electronically, with the commercial court registry; for an SAS, the approval deadline is set by the articles. |
| Beneficial owner declaration | Filed at formation | Required for every company registered with the RCS (except listed companies); the data is not open to the general public. |
Tax rates and rules follow the French government business site Entreprendre Service Public and the EU Your Europe portal; some rates follow the PwC tax summary (a secondary source). Have an accountant review how they apply to your actual structure.
SAS, SASU or SARL: which should you choose in France?
When foreign founders set up a company in France, they usually compare the simplified joint-stock company (SAS), the single-shareholder SASU and the limited liability company (SARL).
| Item | Simplified joint-stock company SAS | Single-shareholder SASU | Limited liability company SARL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of shareholders | 2 or more | 1 | 2 to 100 (an EURL with 1) |
| Minimum capital | EUR 1 | EUR 1 | No minimum capital requirement |
| Management | President (président), with an optional managing director | President (président) | Manager (gérant) |
| Shareholder liability | Limited to contributions | Limited to contributions | Limited to contributions |
| Legal notice fee (mainland France 2026, excluding tax) | EUR 199 | EUR 142 | EUR 148 |
These are general principles. Base the actual choice on your shareholder background, business model and tax planning.
What foreign founders should know about setting up a company in France
- Visas and residence: France is in the Schengen Area, where visa-free short stays are limited to a total of 90 days in any 180-day period. To live in France or run the business there in person, you must apply for a long-stay visa and a residence permit under French rules (for example, the talent passport).
- Tax treaties and CFC rules: check whether your country has an income tax treaty with France, which can lower the withholding tax on dividends, interest and royalties, and whether your home country applies controlled foreign company (CFC) rules to a French subsidiary.
- Bank account: before formation, you must open a bank account in the company's name, deposit the capital and obtain a deposit certificate. Allow time to prepare shareholder identity, source of funds and business description documents.
- Address: a company must have a registered address (domiciliation) to be formed; without one, it cannot be registered. Directors can ask for their personal address to be kept from public view at registration.
Why work with NSS Group on your France company registration?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) is a Taiwan-based global company registration and corporate advisory brand with more than 25 years of experience and more than 30,000 companies served. It provides company formation, bank account opening, accounting, tax and annual maintenance in many countries and regions, including France, and can handle the legal notice publication and online registration through the one-stop portal. Service fees are quoted in writing after a free assessment. Call the toll-free line 0800-003-191 or use the form on this page.
Further reading
Sources: Entreprendre Service Public: Société par actions simplifiée (SAS) (checked 2026-02-06); Entreprendre Service Public: SASU (single-shareholder simplified joint-stock company); Entreprendre Service Public: Société à responsabilité limitée (SARL); Entreprendre Service Public: Comment créer une société ? (checked 2025-09-12); Entreprendre Service Public: Formalités d'immatriculation d'une société (checked 2026-06-12); Entreprendre Service Public: Annonce légale de constitution de société (checked 2026-01-01); Entreprendre Service Public: Un étranger peut-il créer une entreprise en France ? (checked 2026-06-01); Entreprendre Service Public: Impôt sur les sociétés (IS) (checked 2026-02-17); Entreprendre Service Public: Franchise en base de TVA (checked 2026-01-01); Entreprendre Service Public: Dépôt des comptes annuels; Guichet des formalités des entreprises (one-stop portal for business formalities); Your Europe: VAT rates applied in EU countries (checked 2026-07-13); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: France Withholding taxes (reviewed 2026-04-24). The latest official notices prevail. This page is general information and is not legal or tax advice.
How much does it cost to set up a company in France in 2026?
For official fees, the RCS registration fee for a commercial company is EUR 33.83, plus EUR 19.33 for the beneficial owner declaration. The legal notice of incorporation has a flat rate in mainland France: in 2026, EUR 199 for an SAS and EUR 142 for an SASU (excluding tax). The minimum capital of an SAS is EUR 1. Drafting the articles, bookkeeping, annual filings and advisory services are quoted separately as needed.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a France company?
Yes. According to the French government site Entreprendre Service Public, foreigners can set up a company without living in France. SAS shareholders can be individuals or legal entities, and an SASU can be wholly owned by 1 shareholder. A foreign shareholder who wants to live in France or run the business there needs a residence permit that allows that activity. Certain activities, such as tobacco retail and insurance, have further restrictions.
Do I need to be in France in person to set up a company?
Registration is filed online through the one-stop portal for business formalities, and official guidance states that foreigners can set up a company without living in France. However, opening the company bank account to deposit the capital and signing the articles must follow the bank’s and the documents’ requirements. To run the business in France, non-EU nationals need a residence permit.
How long does it take to set up a France company?
There is no fixed official timeline; it depends on the review. The process includes signing the articles, depositing the capital, publishing the legal notice and then filing the registration on the one-stop portal. If documents are incomplete, the portal issues a request for more information, which must be answered within 15 working days of receipt. Once complete, the company is entered in the RNE and the RCS and receives its SIREN number.
What taxes and accounts does a France company file each year?
The standard corporate tax rate is 25%, and small and medium-sized companies can pay 15% on the first EUR 42,500 of profit. The annual return, form 2065, is generally due within 3 months after the financial year ends; for a year ending December 31, the deadline is the 2nd working day after May 1. The annual accounts must be filed with the commercial court registry within 1 month after shareholder approval (2 months if filed electronically).
Who can help me register a company in France?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) can help. With more than 25 years of experience and more than 30,000 companies served, NSS Group offers one-stop France company registration: SAS or SASU type and shareholding planning, preparation of the articles and capital deposit documents, publication of the legal notice of incorporation, online registration through the one-stop portal with the beneficial owner declaration, and reminders for annual accounts and corporate tax returns. Service fees are quoted in writing after a free assessment. Call the toll-free line 0800-003-191.