Differences between business and personal bank accounts in France: the complete guide

What are the differences between a business bank account and a personal bank account in France? Are you legally required to open a business account? When must you open an account dedicated to your professional activity? And in which cases can you still use a personal account? We’ll explain everything clearly in this guide.

With Wise, you can open a Business account (€50) — required for EURL, SARL, SASU, or SAS — or an account dedicated to your professional activity (mandatory for freelancers whose turnover exceeds €10,000 over two consecutive years) by opening a free multi-currency account (no monthly fees). This payment solution could be a great alternative to traditional banks in terms of cost, efficiency, and speed.

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Should you open a business or a personal account?

That depends on your legal status.

You are required to have a Business account if:

• You plan to create a company such as an EURL, SARL, SASU, or SAS.

You can request to open a business account if:

• You have a micro-enterprise / auto-entrepreneur / sole proprietorship carrying out commercial, artisanal, liberal, or agricultural activities.

You must have an account dedicated to your professional activity — meaning either a business account or a personal account used exclusively for business — if:

• You have a micro-enterprise / auto-entrepreneur / sole proprietorship conducting commercial, artisanal, liberal, or agricultural activities, and your turnover exceeds €10,000 for two consecutive years.¹

You can use a personal account if:

• You have a micro-enterprise / auto-entrepreneur / sole proprietorship conducting commercial, artisanal, liberal, or agricultural activities, and your turnover is less than €10,000 for two consecutive years.¹

Or

• You are an individual managing only your personal finances.

Which account should you choose based on your status?

Here’s a quick summary of which bank account type applies depending on your situation:¹

• Business account — for companies.
• Account dedicated to your professional activity (business or personal account) — for auto-entrepreneurs.
• Personal account — for private use only, separate from your professional finances.

Is a business account mandatory in France?

You are a (future) company director

A business account is mandatory for companies such as EURL, SARL, SASU, and SAS. It is required to deposit share capital before the company’s registration.¹

You have micro-enterprise status

Note: This also applies to sole proprietorships and auto-entrepreneurs.

Your turnover exceeds €10,000 over two consecutive years

If your turnover exceeds €10,000 over two consecutive years, you are required to open an account dedicated to your professional activity. This can be a business account or a personal account used solely for business income and expenses.¹

Your turnover is less than €10,000 over two consecutive years

If your turnover is below €10,000 for two consecutive years, opening a separate account for your professional activity is optional.

In this case, you may use your personal current account to receive payments from your clients.

Summary of differences between business and personal accounts

Summary of which account to choose by profile

Business accounts: opening conditions based on your status

You are creating or managing a company

If you are setting up a company, you will need a business account before registering it. The share capital must be deposited into this account.

Required documents:¹

• Application for a business account.
• Proof of identity of the director.
• Draft company articles of association.
• Proof of company address.

You are a micro-enterprise

To open a business account as a micro-enterprise, auto-entrepreneur, or sole proprietorship conducting commercial, artisanal, liberal, or agricultural activities, you must provide:²

• Proof of identity.
• Proof of use of a business space (for example, a commercial lease if operating from professional premises).

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FAQ: Differences between business and personal bank accounts in France

Is it mandatory for auto-entrepreneurs to have a business account?

No. Auto-entrepreneurs are not required to open a business account. However, they must have an account dedicated to their professional activity — either personal or business.¹

What is a personal account?

A personal account is a standard bank account used to receive income (such as a salary) and manage private expenses.

Auto-entrepreneurs, micro-enterprises, and sole proprietors may also open a personal account dedicated exclusively to their business activities.

What is a business account?

A business account is a bank account used by companies to manage their business income and expenses. It is required for certain legal statuses (EURL, SARL, SAS, etc.) and optional for others.

Can a bank refuse to open an account?

Yes, a bank can refuse to open a business or personal account.

However, in France, you benefit from the right to an account. If your bank refuses, the Banque de France can designate a banking institution to open an account for you.¹

This article is a translation of the original article published in French and was translated within 365 days of publication. While the content has been translated for accessibility, the data and sources referenced have not been updated since the original publication date.