How to start a business in France

France, as one of the world’s largest economies and the most visited countries on the planet, is a popular destination for expats looking to settle. Around 8,400 Brits moved there in 2024,¹ and around 148,000 UK expats live in France in total.²

As a vibrant, modern country with a developed economy, many expats choose France as the place to launch their own business. If you're considering following this route, then you’ll need to know a bit about the processes and legalities of starting a business there.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about starting a business in France. This includes types of corporate structure, how to register a business and your legal obligations as a business owner.

And while you start the process of expanding overseas, make sure to check out Wise Business - a powerful multi-currency account, which could help you manage company finances in France, Europe, the UK and worldwide.

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What types of corporate entities are there in France?

The most important initial decision you'll need to make is which type of corporate structure will suit your needs in France. This matters because different business types are treated differently in law and by the tax authorities.

There are many different types of corporate entities used in France - here are some of the most common:

• Micro-enterprise - a tax status designed for freelancers, with limited accounting obligations
• Entrepreneur individuel à responsabilité limitée or EIRL - this provides sole trader status with a type of limited liability, where you’ll work under your own or a company name
• Entreprise unipersonnelle à responsabilité limitée or EURL - similar to SARL but for a single person/shareholder (although you can hire others later), where personal and professional assets are kept separate
• Société par Actions Simplifiée Unipersonnelle or SASU - this is a separate legal entity for sole traders, with no upper limits on turnover and the option to open up the business to multiple shareholders
• Société à responsabilité limitée or SARL - a limited liability company with between 2 and 100 partners
• Société par actions simplifiée or SAS - a simplified stock corporation which functions like a SASU but for collective projects. Its flexibility makes it a popular choice for startups.

Things to know before getting started

Choosing a company structure and setting up your business legally can be complex, especially for more sophisticated business structures. Taking legal advice and getting the support of an accountant early on is advisable, and in the case of some business structures, absolutely necessary.

If you’re not fluent in French, you may also need multi-lingual support - to translate documents, help you fill out forms, understand your obligations and generally avoid missteps and mistakes.
The amount you need to invest varies by business type - sole proprietors don’t need to invest any money to register their activities.

The amount you need to invest varies by business type - sole proprietors don’t need to invest any money to register their activities.

If you're registering a company, one of the first things to do is to check that the name you've chosen isn't already taken. The best way to do it is here at the Sirene database.

Can a UK citizen start a business in France?

Yes, a UK national can start a business in France. However, you’ll need to have a residence permit, as well as a French social security number and a local address in France.³

For some fields of work, a particular qualification or diploma may be required (and it’ll need to be one recognised by French authorities).³

What is the company registration process in France?

Exactly how you go about opening your business in France depends on the type of structure you select.
But to give you an idea what to expect, here’s a general overview of the process:³

1. Choose a business structure and a company name

The first step is to get some professional advice and then choose a legal structure for your new company that best matches its profile. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the future, as you may want to expand or develop the business later on.
You can also choose a company name, checking that it’s not already in use by another French business.

2. Get your documents together

To register a business in France, regardless of company type, you’ll need valid ID (such as a passport), proof of address and your French social security card.. As a foreign national, you may also be asked for residency and visa documents.

For certain kinds of businesses such as EURL, SARL or SAS, you’ll also need:³

• Articles of association
• Previous tax statements and other relevant financial documents
• Proof of authorisation relating to the intended use of your business premises.

You’ll also need to complete the relevant registration form, providing all details about the company and its owner(s).

3. Register your business with the relevant Centre de Formalités des Entreprises (CFE)

There's no one central authority for registering a business in France. Instead, you’ll need to register at one of a number of registration centres depending on which industry you’re in. These are known as Centre de Formalités des Entreprises (CFEs).

Here are your options:³

• Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie (CCI) – for commercial companies and retail shops with no artisan, craft or trade element
• Chambre de Métiers et de l’Artisanat (CMA) - for craftspeople and manual trades
• Les Greffes des Tribunaux de Commerce - for regulated professionals.
• URSSAF - for liberal professions and services such as translation or website design.
• Chambre d’agriculture - for agriculture-related businesses.

4. Get your SIRET, SIRENand APE numbers

Once you’ve registered at the relevant CFE, you’ll receive a number of official documents. These include your SIRET and SIREN numbers, which identify your business both to authorities and to your clients.

You will also receive an Activite principale de l’entreprise (APE) code which identifies the main category or activity of your company.³

How much does it cost to start a business in France?

The main cost involved in starting a business in France is the registration fee. This ranges from €100 to €250 EUR depending on the type of business you’re registering and the CFE you’re applying to.⁴

For some business structures such as SARL or SAS, you’ll also need to make a capital deposit.

Other initial fees may include:⁴

• Legal address services (for renting a local office or using a registered address service, until you have your business premises sorted - between €200 to €500 EUR a year
• Notarising documents (if required - €150 to €500 EUR.

You should also budget for insurance, fees related to setting up a business bank account in France, and professional services such as legal and accounting.

Don’t forget that you can also use multi-currency business accounts such as Wise Business to manage company finances in EUR. It could be extremely helpful to have a low-cost way to send and receive EUR payments while you get started in France, at least until your French bank account is open.

Legal obligations and responsibilities

If you've registered a SARL company then the CFE will pass your details onto the necessary authorities as part of your registration. They'll inform the tax authorities, social security and labour inspection agencies, as well as the national statistics bureau and any regulatory authorities required.

You'll also need to pay tax on company income. This can be fairly complex - especially if you’re not used to the French tax system - so it’s strongly recommended to find a professional accountant to help you with this.

Where can I find help to start my business in France?

Once you've decided to start your business in France, you should start to build your support network there.

If you’re registering at your local CFE, they'll be able to advise you about local networking groups and support you might benefit from. You can also get information, advice, support and perhaps even funding from:

• The Réseau Entreprendre association - a network for entrepreneurs in France and around the world
• les-aides.fr - a national directory of business grants, loans and support
• The Enterprise Europe Network - a support network for (SMEs) with international ambitions
• BGE or La French Tech - associations for entrepreneurs
• The Franco-British Chamber of Commerce

Once you’re in France and ready to get going, look for local networking events on sites such as Meetup and Eventbrite. Here you can meet new people and build your customer and business contact book.

With some planning, and a little help from your new network and friends, your business should get off to a flying start.

Grow your business in France with Wise Business

While having a corporate bank account may be an essential for starting a company overseas, you can also use Wise Business to help grow your business in France.

Open a Wise Business account and you can manage your company’s finances in 40+ currencies all in one place, including EUR, GBP, USD and all other major currencies. You’ll be able to pay suppliers and staff in euros, as well as receiving payments in multiple currencies.

Wise payments are fast and secure (even for large amounts). Best of all, you’ll only pay low, transparent fees and always get the mid-market exchange rate.

With Wise Business, you’ll also benefit from the following features:

• Issue business debit and expense cards for you and your team
• Cashback on eligible card spending
• Generate invoices and payment links to receive money easily from customers
• Access accounting integrations, batch payments and a powerful API
• Wise Interest - which lets you earn returns on balances held in GBP, USD and EUR. Capital at risk. Growth not guaranteed. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with registration number 839689. When facilitating access to Wise investment products, Wise Payments Ltd acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative of Wise Assets UK Ltd. Please be aware that we do not offer investment advice, and you may be liable for taxes on any earnings. If you’re uncertain, we urge you to seek professional advice. To find out more about the Funds, visit our website.

It’s quick and easy to open a Wise Business account in France, with a fully digital application, verification and on-boarding process. Check out the requirements here.

Wise works almost everywhere, and you can also open an account in other European countries such as Germany, Portugal, Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, Hungary and Poland.

Register with Wise Business🚀

Sources used in this article:

Sources last checked on date: 26-Aug-2025