Company Incorporation France

France has been slower than many of its EU counterparts to embrace a truly liberal business culture. At the same time, it has aggressively sought to attract foreign investment – and with considerable success.

One result is that French company formation is now very simple and straightforward, although local advice is essential in order to ensure compliance with legal and financial regulations.

For further information about registering a company in France, please contact us.

You can also read more on how to set up or expand a business in France

Company Formation FAQs

  • What is the best way to deal with company registration in France?
  • Is a foreign-owned company at a disadvantage?
  • What is the most common type of French company formation?
  • What are the requirements for an SA company?
  • What are the requirements for a SARL company?
  • What is an SAS company?
  • What are the requirements for an SAS company?
  • How easy is it to recruit staff?
  • What is the regulatory environment like?
  • Are there financial incentives available – and what about banking facilities?
  • How easy is it to close a French company?

Branch and Subsidiary Information

Open a Branch in France

France has a relatively strong economy and there are advantages such as financial incentives for foreign investors establishing a branch there.

The procedure is a fairly simple process comparable to establishing a company, but branch formation is a longer process due to the documentation and applications required.

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Open a Subsidiary in France

Establishing a subsidiary in France may be preferential to setting up a branch; local clients, suppliers, and government authorities are generally more inclined to do business with a company that is locally incorporated.

A subsidiary is regarded as a limited liability company and as a result it must have its own name – the parent company is advised to organise this before registration. The process of obtaining a name for the subsidiary is free of charge and can be fully completed online.

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