Business bank account of a business

Verified 09 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The opening of a professional bank account is a mandatory formality when creating a business, especially for the deposit of the share capital. Once the business is registered, maintaining this account is no longer a legal requirement, but remains key in practice to ensure clear and compliant financial management. It is also possible to close or change it.

One business bank account is an account opened in the name of the company, used only to manage transactions related to its activity: receipts, payments, miscellaneous charges, etc. separate the business operations of the business from those of the person who directs it (on legal representative of the business).

Unlike a personal bank account which is specific to a natural person and intended for its private expenses, the professional account is designed to meet the specific needs of a business: accounting, monitoring and reporting tools billingetc.

Opening a business bank account is one of the essential steps before the creation of the business, as the choice of legal form or the domiciliation of the registered office, for example.

Any business with a share capital must have a professional bank account. It's a obligation to carry out the deposit of share capital. This is the case, for example, with SAS or LLC.

Once the business is set up, the law does not require you to keep a professional bank account. But, it is common to keep it active to ensure a separation of personal and professional finances.

FYI  

The opening of a account dedicated to the professional activity of a micro-company is mandatory if the annual turnover of the activity exceeds €10,000 for 2 consecutive years.

The opening of a account dedicated to the professional activity of a is also mandatory for traders. However, it is optional for other activities. In these two cases, it is not a question of necessarily opening a professional bank account but a bank account dedicated to the activity.

The documents required to open a business bank account differ depending on whether the business is being created or already created.

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Business being created

As part of the creating a business, theopening a business bank account is an indispensable step, in particular for carrying out the deposit of share capital. To do this, a number of documents must be sent to the bank:

  • Proof of identity of the head of the business next:
    • If the legal representative of the business is a legal person : proof of registration of the business
    • If the legal representative of the business is natural person : valid identity document (identity card, valid passport or residence permit)
  • Copy of one of the proof of domicile of the businessfollowing:
    • Lease receipt less than 3 months
    • Invoice for water, gas, electricity, internet or landline telephone less than 3 months old, in paper or dematerialized printed form
    • Certificate of housing insurance less than 3 months
    • Certificate on the honor of the host stating that the declarant resides at his home, identity document and proof of residence of the host less than 3 months
    • Last tax or non-tax notice
    • Title to the principal residence
    • Contract of commercial lease or professional
    • Domiciliation contract if the business is located in a domiciliation business)
  • Draft of statutes of the business or any document justifying the application for registration of the business

Once all the necessary documents have been gathered, the banking institution may open an account in the name of the business in training.

This account is provisional: it allows the deposit of share capitalin return for which the bank issues a certificate of deposit of funds to be attached to the registration file.

After registration, a proof of registration must be transmitted to unlock the funds and finalize the opening of the business bank account.

Please note

Some additional documents may be requested depending on the bank chosen (certificate of publication of a legal advertisement in a legal advertisement journal, business forecast, business plan, etc.).

Business already created

For open a business bank account, a number of documents must be sent to the banking institution:

  • Proof of identity of the head of the business next:
    • If the legal representative of the business is a legal person : proof of registration of the business
    • If the legal representative of the business is natural person : valid identity document (identity card, valid passport or residence permit)
  • Copy of one of the proof of domicile of the businessfollowing:
    • Lease receipt less than 3 months
    • Invoice for water, gas, electricity, internet or landline telephone less than 3 months old, in paper or dematerialized printed form
    • Certificate of housing insurance less than 3 months
    • Certificate on the honor of the host stating that the declarant resides at his home, identity document and proof of residence of the host less than 3 months
    • Last tax or non-tax notice
    • Title to the principal residence
    • Contract of commercial lease or professional
    • Domiciliation contract if the business is located in a domiciliation business)
  • Number Siren of the business

FYI  

Some additional documents may be requested depending on the bank chosen (certificate of publication of a legal advertisement in a legal advertisement journal, business forecast, business plan, etc.).

If the chosen bank refuses to open a bank account in the name of the company, it must provide a attestation or a rejection letter account opening.

This refusal letter then makes it possible to approach the Banque de France for the latter to designate a banking institution which will be obliged to open a business bank account in the name of the company. This is the so-called account entitlement procedure.

The right to the account allows any business to benefit from a bank account with an institution designated by the Banque de France with a access to basic benefits guaranteed by law (account keeping, collection, bank transfers or payment card for example).

The refusal to open a business bank account does not therefore prevent you from having a business account in another banking institution determined by the Banque de France.