Dmitri Mihhailov
Managing Partner
Founder of Prifinance. 15+ years structuring international companies, banking and licensing for founders worldwide.
Register a company in France
- access the EU’s second-largest market.Company registration in France gives founders a remotely established SAS with capital from €1, one-stop online filing and a 25% corporate tax rate, including a 15% SME band. Innovative companies can also benefit from the CIR research credit, which refunds 30% of qualifying R&D expenditure. The cost side is equally important: employer charges approach 45%, labour regulation requires careful administration, and day-to-day compliance runs in French.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
6,000+
companies servedcompanies served
Updated
France · at a glance
Legal formSAS / SARL
Time to set up1-2 weeks
Corporate tax25% · SME 15%
R&D credit (CIR)30% - cash-back
Minimum capital€1
Remote setupYes - online + POA
4.7
★★★★★
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France in brief
One registration gives access to a market of sixty-eight million consumers.
France is the EU’s second-largest economy and one of its most centralised markets: 68 million consumers, globally recognised luxury and aerospace industries, and a deliberately built startup ecosystem around La French Tech and BPI funding. Corporate administration has modernised too: since 2023, companies have registered through the single INPI online portal, while the SAS gives founders flexible governance with capital from €1. The state also actively supports innovation through the CIR, which refunds 30% of qualifying R&D expenditure, including cash reimbursement where there is insufficient tax to offset.
The costs should be understood before launch. Corporate tax is 25%, with a 15% rate on the first €42,500 for qualifying SMEs, while distributions to individuals are subject to the flat 30% PFU. The main expense is often payroll: employer charges approach 45% on top of gross salary, and employment procedures require careful documentation. Administration runs in French through URSSAF and the tax authorities, while banking ranges from traditional institutions to Qonto-class fintechs. Business registration in France is therefore especially relevant for companies that need local market access, engineering talent and the CIR framework.
Packages & pricing
Company registration in France - cost and packages.
01 - SAS · SOCIÉTÉ PAR ACTIONS SIMPLIFIÉE
Company
from€2,400EUR · all-in
Remote registration of a French SAS includes the statutes, capital-deposit certificate, INPI filing, legal-notice publication and the first year of the registered address.
✓Statutes drafted around your governance model✓Capital deposit and certificate arranged✓INPI one-stop filing - fees included✓Legal-notice publication included✓Registered address in Paris - first year✓Free pre-incorporation consultation
Optional add-ons: VAT and EORI setup - from €300 · payroll and URSSAF setup - from €400 · accounting support for businesses in France - from €300/month · annual renewal - from €2,500/year.
Start with Company →02 - SAS · SOCIÉTÉ PAR ACTIONS SIMPLIFIÉE
Most popularCompany + Bank Account
from€4,400EUR · all-in
A working SAS with a French bank account: the capital-deposit account is converted into full banking, or a Qonto-class fintech account can go live within days.
✓Everything in Company✓Account with a French bank or Qonto-class fintech✓Account application and KYC file preparation✓Introduction to 2-3 suitable institutions✓Compliance onboarding support✓Dedicated account manager
Start with Banking →These are starting prices; the final quote is confirmed before work begins. Registry, publication and legal-notice fees are itemised separately.
What you can do
Popular uses for a French company.
An SAS can conduct almost any lawful business. Financial services require ACPR or AMF authorisation, so a financial licence in France is handled separately depending on the regulated activity; other regulated professions follow their own professional rules.
Market entry
Access to 68 million consumers and to a public sector that places significant demand on domestic suppliers.
Tech & startups
La French Tech, BPI grants and the CIR, which offsets part of qualifying engineering expenditure.
Luxury & consumer brands
The ecosystem around LVMH and L’Oréal - suppliers, ateliers and distribution.
Trade & distribution
Road, rail and port infrastructure linking northern and southern Europe.
Real estate
French property held through the appropriate structure, typically SAS or SCI depending on the objective.
Financial serviceslicensed
Payment and investment companies operate under ACPR / AMF authorisation.
Why France
Key advantages of the jurisdiction.
✓
Market scale
The EU’s second-largest economy and access to around 68 million consumers.
✓
CIR - 30% R&D
The research credit refunds 30% of qualifying expenditure and can be paid in cash to eligible young companies.
✓
SAS flexibility
Flexible governance, preferred shares and straightforward investor entry.
✓
One-stop registration
Since 2023, core filings have gone through the INPI online portal; minimum capital is €1 and the standard timeline is 1-2 weeks.
✓
Startup ecosystem
BPI funding, French Tech programmes and one of Europe’s largest venture-capital markets.
✓
Infrastructure
TGV, major ports and a developed energy system support the physical economy.
How it compares
France alongside the main European alternatives.
Germany combines a larger industrial base with heavier overall taxation and federal administration; Spain is cheaper on labour but smaller in market scale; Belgium stands out in selected IP niches; Italy offers comparable economic depth with more administrative friction. France’s differentiators are market size and the CIR. Figures current as of 2026.
| Country | Corporate tax | Employer on-costs | Signature edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 25% · 15% SME | ~45% | Scale · CIR 30% · SAS |
| Germany | ~30% combined | ~21% | Industrial weight |
| Spain | 25% · 15% new | ~30% | Costs · talent retention |
| Belgium | 25% · 20% SME | ~27% | IP at 3.75% |
| Italy | ~27.9% combined | ~30% | Manufacturing depth |
FranceScale · CIR 30% · SAS
Corporate tax25% · 15% SME
Employer on-costs~45%
GermanyIndustrial weight
Corporate tax~30% combined
Employer on-costs~21%
SpainCosts · talent retention
Corporate tax25% · 15% new
Employer on-costs~30%
BelgiumIP at 3.75%
Corporate tax25% · 20% SME
Employer on-costs~27%
ItalyManufacturing depth
Corporate tax~27.9% combined
Employer on-costs~30%
Requirements
What French law actually requires.
01
One shareholder - an individual or company of any nationality; a single-shareholder SAS is formed as an SASU.
02
President - the SAS is managed by a président, which may be an individual or company with no residency requirement.
03
Capital - €1 - the symbolic minimum is deposited before filing, with the bank certificate used for incorporation.
04
Registered address - a French siège social is mandatory and included in the package.
05
One-stop filing - statutes, beneficial-owner information and publication formalities are processed through the INPI portal.
06
Accounts & filings - annual accounts are filed with the registry, while French-language tax and URSSAF calendars must be maintained throughout the year. Accounting support for businesses in France covers these ongoing obligations.
How it works
From application to an operating company in weeks.
The entire process runs through our lawyers and the INPI portal: documents are signed remotely, and most companies are operational within around two weeks.
01Same day
Free consultation
We confirm whether France fits the case and flag Spain or Belgium where either may serve the objective better.
022-4 days
KYC & statutes
Passports, proof of address and statutes drafted around the planned governance and investor structure.
031-3 days
Capital deposit
Capital is placed into a blocked account and the bank issues the deposit certificate.
043-7 days
INPI filing
The company is registered through the one-stop portal together with the required legal-notice publication.
053-5 days
Kbis & tax setup
The Kbis extract is issued, followed by VAT and payroll registrations.
063-10 days
Banking
The capital-deposit account converts into a full operating account, or a fintech account is activated.
Quick facts
Legal formSAS / SASU
Shareholders1+, any nationality
Corporate tax25% · 15% SME
Dividends (PFU)30% flat
Standard timeline1-2 weeks
Capital€1
Renewal & accountingFrom €2,500/year
Where R&D is part of the business plan, CIR documentation should be structured from incorporation rather than left until the tax return.
On the ground
On the ground in France.
Prifinance - France
Paris
Paris, France
01
France-desk specialists
Your setup is run by a team registering French companies for international founders every month.
02
INPI & URSSAF handled
Statutes, Kbis, VAT, payroll. Filed correctly, in French, on time.
03
CIR from day one
Research-credit eligibility documented at setup, so the 30% actually arrives.
04
Also in Tallinn, London, Dubai & more
A network of offices across Europe, the Gulf and the Americas. One team for your whole international structure.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Väike-Paala tn 1
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
5/F, Yau Lee Centre, 45 Hoi Yuen Road, Kwun Tong
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Berlin
Germany
Rankestraße 26
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Istanbul
Türkiye
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
Toronto
Canada
1110 Finch Avenue West, suite 406
Singapore
Singapore
3 Church Street, #29-68 Samsung Hub
Bangkok
Thailand
Unit P01, Penthouse, VASU1, 1 Sukhumvit 25 Alley
Foshan
China
A-Tower, Yuneng Digital Plaza, 46 Lishui Avenue South
Almaty
Kazakhstan
Republic Square 13
Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan
32 Razzakov Street
Taxation 2026
Standard corporate taxation with additional tools for SMEs and innovative companies.
French companies pay 25% corporate tax, while qualifying SMEs pay 15% on the first €42,500 of profit. Dividends to individuals are subject to the flat 30% PFU, while qualifying EU parent companies can receive dividends at 0%. The innovation framework can reduce the effective burden: the CIR refunds 30% of qualifying research expenditure, while additional innovation and JEI regimes may apply to younger companies. Standard VAT is 20%.
Corporate - 25% / 15%
The 15% SME band applies to the first €42,500 of profit for qualifying companies with turnover ≤€10M and standard conditions.
Dividends - PFU 30%
Flat levy for individuals; qualifying EU parent companies at 0%.
CIR - 30% of R&D
Qualifying salaries, contractors and associated expenditure can generate a tax credit.
VAT - 20%
Standard EU treatment; exports and qualifying intra-EU supplies are zero-rated.
Levies in 2026
Corporate income tax25%
SME band (first €42,500)15%
Dividends (PFU)30% flat
CIR research credit30% back
VAT20%
Renewal & accountingFrom €2,500/year
Employer charges of around 45% above gross salary remain one of the largest cost items for French businesses, so total employment cost should be modelled before hiring begins.
Your team
The specialists who'll handle your case.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
International Business Consultant
Guides clients from the first consultation to a working setup - companies, accounts and substance in 60+ jurisdictions.
Alex Danila
Corporate Services Specialist
Handles incorporation paperwork, KYC and bank introductions so your French company launches without delays.
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Watch: opening a company in France with Prifinance
Europe's second market with the paperwork done right: company, bank, CIR and payroll in one project. Full support, start to finish.
Talk to a specialist →FAQ
French company registration: common questions.
Can I open a French company without visiting?+
Yes. INPI operates online: statutes can be signed electronically, capital can be deposited remotely, and the Kbis can be issued without a notary - none is required for an SAS. Fintechs such as Qonto onboard by video, while traditional banks may request an in-person meeting.
How much does it cost?+
Turnkey registration starts from €2,400, including the capital-deposit certificate, INPI fees, legal notice and the first year of the registered address. Packages with a bank account start from €4,400. Renewal with accounting starts from €2,500 per year.
What taxes will the company pay?+
Corporate tax is 25%, with 15% on the first €42,500 for qualifying SMEs. Dividends to individuals are subject to the 30% PFU, while qualifying EU parent companies may receive dividends at 0%. VAT is 20%, and the CIR can refund 30% of qualifying R&D expenditure.
How does the CIR actually work?+
The Crédit d’Impôt Recherche refunds 30% of qualifying R&D expenditure, including researcher salaries with a 43% overhead uplift, subcontracting and IP-related costs. Profitable companies offset tax, while eligible young companies can receive cash. CIR eligibility should therefore be documented from the start of the project.
SAS or SARL?+
The SAS offers more flexible governance, preferred shares and easier investor entry, with a président as its executive. The SARL follows more prescriptive statutory rules and is often used by family businesses. For startups and investor-backed structures, the SAS is generally the standard form.
What do employer charges really cost?+
For mid- and higher-level salaries, plan on roughly 40-45% on top of gross pay, with lower effective rates near minimum wage because of reductions. An engineer earning €60,000 costs around €85,000 before any CIR recovery on qualifying R&D activity.
Is labour law really that difficult?+
Hiring is relatively straightforward, but dismissals and restructuring follow formal procedures involving notice, documentation and sometimes negotiated termination. The 2017 reforms made compensation outcomes more predictable where the process is handled correctly.
How is banking?+
Qonto, Shine and similar fintechs can launch core French business banking within days, while BNP, SocGen and Crédit Agricole offer broader services with slower and more detailed onboarding. The right route depends on the owners, business profile and expected flows.
France or Germany / Spain?+
Germany offers a larger industrial base but with heavier combined taxation and federal administration. Spain has lower labour costs but fewer R&D incentives. France combines a market of 68 million consumers, CIR support, flexible SAS governance and one of Europe’s largest venture-capital ecosystems.
How long does it take?+
Usually one to two weeks: several days for the statutes and capital certificate, up to a week for INPI and the legal notice, followed by the Kbis and tax registrations. A fintech account can be active within days, while traditional banking may add another one to two weeks.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
“As a software development crew at FewMoreTaps OÜ, we've had the pleasure of working with Prifinance on some key financial moves.First of all, navigating the world of corporate banking and finance can be a maze, but Prifinance made it feel like a walk in the park. They helped us set up a corporate bank account without the hassle of jumping on a plane or drowning in paperwork. Everything was done remotely, smoothly…”
Google
“I had their assistance in company registration and I would recommend them. They were answering all my clarification during the process and offering all their supportThank you Daniel and Irinia”
Google
“We found PRIFINANCE COMPANYvia the Internet and asked for help in organizing the opening of their company in Estonia. PRIFINANCE COMPANY specialists helped us a lot with this. Their professional, competent approach and knowledge of their business left us with only the best impressions.”
Google
“I'm thrilled with my experience with PriFinance! They helped me obtain a crypto license in Estonia without any hassle. The team was super understanding and always available to answer my questions and assist. It was great to see how they put effort into preparing the documents to ensure everything went smoothly. I'm delighted with the outcome and highly recommend PriFinance to anyone looking to get a license…”
Google
“Opening an account with Prifinance in a Swiss bank was such an easy and quick process that I was shocked. It all started with the first call, where I received detailed guidance on the required documents and the entire procedure.One of the key highlights was their attention to detail. As someone who usually gets tangled up in paperwork, I was pleasantly surprised when they sent me all the documents and…”
Google
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Boris.. and I must say, it was a fantastic experience. Boris went above and beyond to assist me with my residency needs. His professionalism, knowledge, and dedication truly stood out. I highly recommend working with Boris and the team!”
Google
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Free consultation
Start your French company today.
Tell us about your business, and a specialist will reply within one business day with a recommendation (SAS, SARL, or a different flag), a timeline and a fixed quote.
✓No obligation; the first consultation is free✓A clear recommendation, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · FR speaking team