FRA9 FILE · Business & work
Starting a company in France
From idea to registration, make the right decisions in sequence.
Archive photograph · 2018-11-20 · Celette · CC BY-SA 4.0. Proportionally resized; check current conditions with the relevant operator. Celette ↗
Four questions before filing
Comparison prompts, not automatic structure selection or individual legal advice.
| Situation | Distinguish | Evidence for the decision |
|---|---|---|
| Solo individual business | EI and any micro regime | Activity, costs and applicable regime |
| Solo company | EURL, SASU and governance | Articles, tax and social protection |
| Multiple founders | Capital, control and responsibilities | Founder agreement and funding needs |
| Cross-border project | Ownership, residence and actual work | Exact activity rights and tax framework |
See the essentials at a glance
FRA9Editorial standardsReport a correction
Reading time estimates the main text; tables, tools, references and questions take additional time.
key points: Activity before structure · Micro ≠ company · Residence and registration differ · Submission ≠ decision
Describe the activity before completing a form
Start with what you will actually sell, to whom and from where. Service Public distinguishes commercial, craft, professional and agricultural activities; a regulated activity can require qualifications, authorisation or insurance. Check that gate before choosing a structure or committing to premises. A vague description such as “consulting and trade” can conceal several different requirements. This guide provides public orientation, not a legal classification or individual approval of your project.
Legal form and tax regime are not the same
An individual business and a company are different arrangements. A solo founder might examine an EI, EURL or SASU; multiple founders face a different comparison. Micro-entreprise is a simplified regime for an individual business, not a separate company form. Compare ownership, governance, cash needs, tax and social protection. Do not choose solely by registration cost or a claim that liability is always limited: guarantees and exceptions need separate examination with appropriate support.
Registration does not automatically grant residence rights
Official guidance for foreign founders distinguishes nationality, residence and carrying on the activity. Holding shares from abroad and routinely working in France raise different questions. A non-European founder should verify with the competent authority that the intended status permits the particular self-employed activity. Registration, a bank account or purchasing premises does not replace that check. Advice on a business structure is not a visa or residence decision, and the route depends on the actual situation.
Prepare the relevant file, not a universal checklist
For a company, preparation can include its name, registered address, articles, capital and beneficial-owner disclosure. An EI does not have the same file. Use the official checklist for the chosen form and activity, and confirm who can sign or act as an authorised representative. Keep decisions and supporting documents consistent. A document described as optional for someone else’s project is not necessarily optional for yours; resolve discrepancies before signing the submission.
The single window receives; authorities examine
INPI’s Guichet unique centralises business formalities. Its EI tutorial distinguishes entry, documents, review, signature and any payment, followed by examination by the competent authorities. Clicking “validate” alone does not complete the process. Monitor the dashboard and requests to correct the file. A submission or payment receipt is not permission for every regulated activity, nor a guarantee of registration by a particular date. Keep the official status and any decision with your business records.
Plan the operating business after registration
Build a budget separating revenue, expenses, investment and cash available. Contributions, tax, insurance and accounting obligations depend on the chosen arrangement; an Urssaf simulation tests assumptions rather than issuing a binding decision. Before seeking finance, connect the amount to specific spending and dates. Do not assume an automatic start-up grant or that payment will arrive before the first rent or salary. Registration is the beginning of an operating project, not evidence that it can fund itself.
Read next
