Fast-track your company creation

Starting a business in France is no small task, and requires solid legal knowledge. Indeed, you might encounter several challenges if you tackle the process on your own:

• difficulty in crafting bylaws that align with your business needs;
• potential back-and-forth with authorities due to missing documents or incorrect forms;
• risk of the Guichet Unique Registry (INPI) rejecting your application;
• using multiple platforms and entering the same information repeatedly.

With Qonto, you avoid the hassle and focus on getting your business on its feet, while we manage your paperwork.

Our teams do everything possible to speed up your company creation process by:

• dispatching your bylaws in under 24 hours;
• providing your capital deposit certificate within 12 business hours after funds are received;
• filing your company's registration application as soon as it's signed and received;
• giving you an anti-rejection guarantee.

Qonto supports you at every step of your company creation. Our experts take care of all the paperwork:

• creating your company’s bylaws;
• ensuring your registration file is compliant;
• submitting all documents to the Commercial Court Registry through the INPI's Guichet Unique;
• obtaining and sending your Kbis certificate.

In addition to completing these steps, our specialists are always on hand to address your inquiries.

In France, you can contact them 24/7 via chat, email, and phone.

We commit to delivering your company bylaws within 24 hours, and to submitting your completed file to the Registry as soon as you sign it.

For the key documents needed to set up your company, Qonto will email your digital capital deposit certificate in 12 business hours.

Please keep in mind that getting your Kbis extract depends on the Registry's processing time, averaging 5 days, but it varies based on where your company's headquarters are.

Depending on your goals and needs, several legal forms may suit your company creation project. Here are the main characteristics of the different options available to you.

You are starting alone

If you are starting your company creation project alone, a sole proprietorship (Entreprise Individuelle) appears to be a good option to start your business. This legal structure has simplified accounting and tax obligations.

Moreover, the micro-enterprise regime offers a favorable tax framework with a flat-rate deduction on your income, and your social contributions depend only on your turnover.

If you prefer to create a legal entity for future business development, you have two options for setting up a company with a sole partner:

• EURL; 
• SASU.

The tax regime of the EURL is advantageous as it is subject to income tax (IR) by default, while other companies are subject to corporate tax (IS).

The SASU offers total freedom in drafting your bylaws and better social protection for the manager.

Starting a company with partners

If you're teaming up with others on your entrepreneurial journey, you’ll need to form a commercial company.

Here are the main options available:

• the simplified shareholder company (SAS);
• the limited liability company (SARL);
• the public limited company (SA).

The SAS is especially favored by SMEs and startups for its flexible bylaws. Additionally, the SAS can have unlimited partners, and its dividends are free from social charges. The main downside of the SAS is the higher social contributions on executive compensation.

The social framework for the majority manager and its secure legal structure are key benefits of the SARL for your business setup. However, this structure limits you to 100 partners. The SA is highly recommended for large-scale ventures. This legal structure provides shareholder anonymity and a solid governance framework. 

Unlike SAS and SARL, establishing an SA requires a minimum share capital of €37,000. Other legal structures are available for specific needs, like the real estate civil company (SCI) and cooperative production company.

In general, the formalities for creating a company are identical, except for some specificities related to certain legal forms.

Except for sole proprietorships, drafting the articles is a mandatory step. The articles organize the company's operation and govern relationships between shareholders or partners.

Several mandatory mentions must be present in the articles, such as:

• the company name; 
• the trade name; 
• the corporate purpose; 
• the legal form; 
• the amount of the share capital.

Each page of the articles must be initialed by each partner, and the last page signed by all.

If you choose to create a commercial company, you will need to deposit the capital. The capital deposit can be made with a bank, a notary, or an online provider like Qonto.

With Qonto, you make your capital deposit 100% online and receive your digital capital deposit certificate within 12 business hours.

Similarly, creating a commercial company requires the publication of a notice of incorporation in a legal announcements journal (JAL) to inform third parties.

The M0 form must be completed by the company's legal representative or their proxy.

If using a proxy, provide the power of attorney authorizing the proxy to act on behalf of the principal.

Once all steps are completed and the M0 form is duly completed, submit your file to the Commercial Court Registry of your registered office location.

Use the Guichet Unique platform for submission.

Your company creation file must include several supporting documents, such as:

• M0 form; 
• dated and signed copy of the articles; 
• proof of the company's registered office; 
• certificate of deposit of funds; 
• proof of publication of a notice of creation in a JAL; 
• declaration of beneficial owners.

Consult our dedicated section below for all required documents.

You can carry out the procedures to set up your company yourself, as creating a commercial company is accessible to everyone if administration requirements are met.

The main advantage of handling the formalities yourself is the absence of additional fees. Only administrative fees will remain at your expense:

• cost of publishing a notice of incorporation in a legal announcements journal; 
• registration fees at the Registry.

For drafting your company's articles, you can rely on articles templates available online that you can adapt to your needs.

However, we advise against handling these procedures yourself. This approach presents many disadvantages:

• significant time to devote to these formalities instead of launching your business; 
• possible back-and-forth with the administration in case of missing or incorrectly completed documents; 
• no help in drafting articles and preparing essential documents, such as the declaration of beneficial owners.

The registration of a company requires attaching several documents to the M0 form:

• original copy of the company's articles, dated and signed by the sole partner or all partners; 
• proof of the company's address (electricity bill or lease contract, for example); 
• proof of publication of the notice of incorporation in a legal announcements journal; 
• certificate of deposit of share capital; 
• list of subscribers for the creation of a public limited company (SA), SASU, or SAS.

If the manager or president of the company is a natural person, you will also need to provide the following documents:

• copy of the identity document (ID card, passport, or residence permit); 
• declaration of non-conviction and proof of filiation; 
• copy of the act of appointment of the manager or president if not appointed in the articles.

If the manager is a legal entity, only for SAs, SASUs, and SASs, you will need to attach to your company creation request:

• company's SIREN number; 
• copy of the identity document of the company's permanent representative and a declaration of non-conviction and proof of filiation; 
• copy of the act confirming the position of permanent representative of the company administrator.

Finally, certain specific cases require attaching these documents to your company's registration file:

• copy of the report issued by the contribution auditor; 
• proof of registration on the official list of statutory auditors if using a statutory auditor; 
• copy of the authorization to practice the activity if you practice a regulated profession, such as lawyers; 
• copy of the deed of sale in case of purchase of a business.