Company creation: formalities for registering a business
Verified 19 September 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
It is important to anticipate all business creation steps in order to save time when applying for registration. It is once all these steps have been completed that it is possible to proceed with the application for registration on the site of the companies formalities desk.
In order to apply for registration, a number of steps and formalities must therefore be carried out upstream:
- Choice of legal form : each legal status has a different functioning and social or tax systems
- Choice of company name : giving a name to a business is mandatory, we speak of a corporate name
- Domiciliation of the business : it is a matter of determining the headquarters of the business
- Deposit of share capital : once incorporated, the share capital of the business must be deposited in a bank account. It can be recovered after the registration of the business
- Appointment of officer : the partners or sole partner must appoint the business manager
- Drafting of statutes : the statutes of the business contain all important information concerning the functioning of the business. In the event ofcontribution in kind, it is necessary to appoint a contribution commissioner to assess the amount of the contribution and indicate it in the articles of association
- Publication of the creation in a legal advertising medium : once the statutes have been adopted, the creation of the business must be published in a medium authorized to receive legal announcements (Shal)
Please note
It is possible to start the activity before the registration of the business. In this case, it is important to indicate on all documents the words "Business in training". An annex to the statutes must also be drawn up indicating all the acts performed before the application for registration.
In the event ofregulated activity, it is necessary to carry out certain preliminary steps depending on the regulated activity, such as the application for authorization to the town hall of the municipality in which the establishment is located or the application for approval.
To check whether the proposed activity is regulated, it is possible to consult the following directory:
The application for registration of the business must be made on the website of the company formalities office:
Once the application has been made, the business is automatically entered in the national register of companies (RNE) and at RCS: titleContent.
FYI
In case of activity ofcommercial agent, it is also necessary to register for the SFCR: titleContent.
On the single body responsible for company formalities
The documents to be provided vary according to the type of business:
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SAS / SASU
The documents to be provided differ according to the status of the officer (natural person or legal person).
Leader (natural person)
When applying for registration of a SAS or a SASU on the website of the company formalities desk, a number of information must be provided and the following documents must be attached
Documents concerning the business :
- Statutes of the business dated and signed
- In the event that the director is not appointed in the articles of association: his or her act of appointment
- Proof of address with the address clearly identifiable (water, electricity or gas bill, copy of commercial lease, domicile contract, etc.)
- Certificate of publication of the notice of creation of the business in a support authorized to receive legal announcements
- Original copy of the custodian's certificate dated and signed (or certificate of deposit of funds), accompanied by a dated and signed list of subscribers indicating the number of shares subscribed and the sums paid by each of them
- In case of signature of a company project support contract (Cape) for creating or resuming an activity: copy of the contract (only for the SASU)
- In the event ofregulated activity : copy of the authorization to practice, diploma or title
Documents concerning the natural person director :
- Copy of the officer's ID
- Original of the declaration on honor of non-conviction and filiation dated and signed by the officer
- In case of collaborating Civil partnership or partner: proof of marriage or Civil partnerships
Officer (legal person)
When applying for registration of a SAS or a SASU on the website of the company formalities desk, a number of information must be provided and the following documents must be attached
Documents concerning the business :
- Statutes of the business dated and signed
- In the event that the director is not appointed in the articles of association: his or her act of appointment
- Proof of address with the address clearly identifiable (water, electricity or gas bill, copy of commercial lease, domicile contract, etc.)
- Certificate of publication of the notice of creation of the business in a support authorized to receive legal announcements
- Original copy of the custodian's certificate dated and signed (or certificate of deposit of funds), accompanied by a dated and signed list of subscribers indicating the number of shares subscribed and the sums paid by each of them
- In the event ofregulated activity : copy of the authorization to practice, diploma or title
Documents concerning the corporate officer :
- Copy of Kbis extract less than 3 months old from the governing business (if the business is not registered: Siren number the business or a document attesting to its existence)
- If the business is not registered within theEuropean Union : copy of its statutes translated into French and certified by its permanent representative
- Copy of the identity card of the permanent representative of the business
- Original of the declaration on honor of non-conviction and filiation dated and signed by the permanent representative of the business
SARL / EURL
When applying for registration of a LLC or a EURL on the website of the company formalities desk, a number of information must be provided and the following documents must be attached
Documents concerning the business :
- Statutes of the business dated and signed
- In the event that the director is not appointed in the articles of association: his or her act of appointment
- Proof of address with the address clearly identifiable (water, electricity or gas bill, copy of commercial lease, domicile contract, etc.)
- Certificate of publication of the notice of creation of the business in a support authorized to receive legal announcements
- Original copy of the custodian's certificate dated and signed (or certificate of deposit of funds), accompanied by a dated and signed list of subscribers indicating the number of shares subscribed and the sums paid by each of them
- In case of signature of a company project support contract (Cape) for the creation or resumption of an activity: copy of the contract (only for EURL)
- In the event ofregulated activity : copy of the authorization to practice, diploma or title
Documents concerning the manager :
- Copy of the officer's ID
- Original of the declaration on honor of non-conviction and filiation dated and signed by the officer
- In case of collaborating Civil partnership or partner: proof of marriage or Civil partnerships
FYI
It is not possible to appoint a leader legal person in SARL and EURL.
SA to Board of Directors
When applying for registration of the SA to the board of directors at the company formalities window, a certain amount of information must be provided and the following documents must be attached:
Documents concerning the business :
- Statutes of the business dated and signed by all partners in person
- Copy of the minutes of the Board of Directors designating the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the person assuming the general management, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer(s) (if applicable) certified by the legal representative
- Certified copy of the instrument conferring the status of permanent representative of a business appointed as administrator
- Original copy of the custodian's certificate dated and signed (or certificate of deposit of funds), accompanied by a dated and signed list of subscribers indicating the number of shares subscribed and the sums paid by each of them
- Proof of address with the address clearly identifiable (water, electricity or gas bill, copy of commercial lease, domicile contract, etc.)
- Certificate of publication of the notice of creation of the business in a support authorized to receive legal announcements
- In the event ofregulated activity : copy of the authorization to practice, diploma or title
Documents concerning the manager (natural person required) :
- Copy of the officer's ID
- Original of the declaration on honor of non-conviction and filiation dated and signed by the officer
Documents concerning the administrator :
Natural person administrator
- Copy of administrator ID
- Original of the declaration on honor of non-conviction and filiation of the administrator
Corporate Director
- Copy of the Kbis extract dated less than 3 months of the legal person administrator (if the business is not registered: Siren number the business or a document attesting to its existence)
- If the business is not registered within theEuropean Union : copy of its statutes translated into French and certified by its permanent representative
- Copy of the business' permanent representative's ID
- Original of the declaration on honor of non-conviction and filiation Permanent Representative of the business
SA with Management Board and Supervisory Board
When applying for registration of the public limited company (SA) at the company formalities window, a number of information must be provided and the following documents must be attached:
Documents concerning the business :
- Statutes of the business dated and signed
- In the event that the director is not appointed in the articles of association: his or her act of appointment
- Copy of the minutes of the Supervisory Board appointing the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Supervisory Board, as well as the members of the Management Board, certified by the legal representative
- Certified copy of the instrument conferring the status of permanent representative of a legal person appointed as a member of the Supervisory Board
- Proof of address with the address clearly identifiable (water, electricity or gas bill, copy of commercial lease, domicile contract, etc.)
- Certificate of publication of the notice of creation of the business in a support authorized to receive legal announcements
- Original copy of the custodian's certificate dated and signed (or certificate of deposit of funds), accompanied by a dated and signed list of subscribers indicating the number of shares subscribed and the sums paid by each of them
- In the event ofregulated activity : copy of the authorization to practice, diploma or title
Documents concerning the manager (natural person required) :
- Copy of the identity document of the Chairman of the Management Board or the sole Chief Executive Officer
- Original of the declaration on honor of non-conviction and filiation dated and signed by the Chairman of the Management Board or the sole Chief Executive Officer
Documents concerning the member :
Member of the Management Board and Supervisory Board natural person
- Copy of the identity document of the member of the Management Board or Supervisory Board natural person
- Original of the declaration on honor of non-conviction and filiation dated and signed by the member of the Management Board or Supervisory Board
Member of the supervisory board legal person
- Copy of the Kbis extract dated less than 3 months of the legal person administrator (if the business is not registered: Siren number the business or a document attesting to its existence)
- If the business is not registered within theEuropean Union : copy of its statutes translated into French and certified by its permanent representative
- Copy of the business' permanent representative's ID
- Original of the declaration on honor of non-conviction and filiation Permanent Representative of the business
Civil business (ICS, SCP, etc.)
The documents to be provided differ according to the status of the partner and the officer (natural person or legal person).
Partner and manager (natural person)
When applying for registration of a civil business (SCI, SCP, SCMetc.) on the website of the company formalities office, a number of information must be provided and the following documents must be attached:
Documents concerning the business :
- Statutes of the business dated and signed
- In the event that the director is not appointed in the articles of association: his or her act of appointment
- Proof of domicile of the registered office with the address clearly identifiable (water, electricity or gas bill, copy of commercial lease, domicile contract, etc.)
- Certificate of publication of the notice of creation of the business in a support authorized to receive legal announcements
- In the event ofregulated activity : copy of the authorization to practice, diploma or title (e.g. authorization to practice issued by the competent authority or an entry on the list or register of the professional order for the Professional civil business)
Documents concerning the partner or officer natural person :
- Copy of the identity document of the partner and/or the officer
- Original of the declaration on honor of non-conviction and filiation of the partner and/or the director
Partner and officer (legal person)
When applying for registration of a civil business (SCI, SCP, SCMetc.), a number of information should be provided and the following documents should be attached:
Documents concerning the business :
- Statutes of the business dated and signed
- In the event that the director is not appointed in the articles of association: his or her act of appointment
- Proof of domicile of the registered office with the address clearly identifiable (water, electricity or gas bill, copy of commercial lease, domicile contract, etc.)
- Certificate of publication of the notice of creation of the business in a support authorized to receive legal announcements
- In the event ofregulated activity : copy of the authorization to practice, diploma or title (e.g. authorization to practice issued by the competent authority or an entry on the list or register of the professional order for the Professional civil business)
Documents concerning the partner or officer legal person :
- Copy of Kbis extract less than 3 months old from the governing business (if the business is not registered: Siren number the business or a document attesting to its existence)
- If the business is not registered within theEuropean Union : copy of its statutes translated into French and certified by its permanent representative
- Copy of the identity card of the permanent representative of the business
- Original of the declaration on honor of non-conviction and filiation dated and signed by the permanent representative of the business
- In case of purchase of business: copy of the deed of sale and the certificate of publication in a medium of legal announcements of the notice relating to the purchase
- In case of leasing and management of the business : copy of the rental management agreement and the certificate of publication in a medium of legal announcements of the notice relating to the rental management
- In the case of management-mandate of business: copy of the contract of management-mandate and the certificate of publication in a medium of legal announcements of the notice relating to the taking in management-mandate
In case of appointment of an external auditor :
- Proof of entry on the official list of auditors
- Letter of acceptance of designation
In the event of recourse to a report commissioner : its report dated and signed
FYI
Certain natural persons linked to the business, such as directors (managers, presidents, chief executive officers, etc.) or partners indefinitely responsible for legal persons (SNC and civil businesses partners), may request that their personal address not be included in documents accessible to the public: documents filed with the RCS (Trade and Companies Register), such as the statutes of business, the minutes of the general meeting or the Kbis extract.
The INPI makes available a model of request to hide the personal address of the natural persons concerned:
Request to hide the personal address of the natural persons concerned
The cost of registering a business varies depending on the type of business (commercial or civil).
commercial business
The cost of the formality of registration of a commercial business in RCS: titleContent is of €35.59.
To this must be added the declaration of beneficial ownership which amounts to €20.34.
The creation of a commercial business necessarily requires the publication of a legal announcement the amount of which varies according to the legal form of the business as well as the department in which the advertisement is published.
To help you find the price of publication of a legal announcement, we provide you with a simulator:
Calculate the amount of a legal ad
As a commercial agent, it is necessary to carry out a double registration:
- Registration at RCS: titleContent whose cost is €35.59
- Registration at SFCR: titleContent whose cost is €23.86
Civil business
The cost of the formality of registration of a civil business is €63.54.
To this must be added the declaration of beneficial ownership which amounts to €20.34.
The creation of a commercial business necessarily requires the publication of a legal announcement the amount of which varies according to the legal form of the business as well as the department in which the advertisement is published.
To help you find the price of publication of a legal announcement, we provide you with a simulator:
Obligation to insert a notice of business formation in a SHAL
Once the file has been deposited on the company formalities desk, the business receives a receipt for the filing of a company creation file (RDDCE) with the mention “ Pending registration ».
This receipt is important because it allows you to take all the necessary steps with public and private organizations. For example, it will be able to subscribe compulsory insurance and complementary to the needs of its activity.
The receipt is valid until she has received the notification the formalities desk of the companies confirming the company's registration. The maximum period of validity receipt is from 1 month.
Once the registration is completed, the micro-company receives a proof (or certificate) of registration containing its identification numbers (Siren, EPA code...).
If the file is incomplete, the company formalities desk sends a receipt indicating the missing items. They must then be sent within 15 years working days from receipt of this receipt.
Contractor who deliberately gives inaccurate or incomplete information when registering the business with the company Formalities Desk shall be liable to a fine of €4,500 and six months' imprisonment.
Furthermore, it is an offense to engage in a commercial, craft or professional activity without being registered in the National Register of companies (RNE) and punishable by a fine of €7,500.
Penalty for inaccurate, incomplete information
Penalty for failure to register
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