6. Registering a Business in France
- 6.1. Business Registration Centres
- 6.2. Business Registration Number
- 6.3. Cessation of Business Activities
Once you have decided to start a business, then you need to register the new business with the authorities.
If you are not proposing to set up a separate company then the registration process is very easy and cheap, as you merely need to go along to your local business registration centre to do so. It is possible to register a business 'on-line', but you would do well to acquaint yourself with your local business registration centre.
Things are a bit more expensive and complicated if you want to create a limited company, such as an EURL or SARL. In this case you need to proceed through a good accountant, notaire or avocat who should be able to advise you on the most appropriate structure, and complete the formalities for you.
They will probably charge you circa €1000-€1500 for the pleasure of setting up the company for you.
If you know your way around, or you can get some informal help, then you can actually do it yourself, by purchasing and completing the pre-printed documents from APCE, the French business start-up agency!
The total cost should be circa €250.
Registration must be carried out before you begin to trade.
6.1. Business Registration Centres in France - Centre des Formalités des Entreprises (CFE)
The registration of a new business is carried out at a business registration centre, called a
Centre des Formalités des Entreprises (CFE).
The CFE acts as a clearing-house for the statutory bodies who need to be made aware of your new business, notably the tax authority and social security organisations.
Your application will also be forwarded to the French commercial court
Greffe who will check that you do not have any criminal convictions that prevent you from starting a business.
There are different types of CFE, depending on your proposed business activity, but there are offices of each located in each
département.
Table: Business Registration Centres in France
| Commercial | Chambre de Commerce et d’industrie |
| Trade | Chambre de Metiers et Artisans |
| 'Profession Liberale' | URSSAF |
| 'Agent Commercial' | Greffe |
| Agriculture | Chambre d’Agriculture |
| Others | Centre d’impôts |
You will find location details of each of these bodies in your local telephone directory.
URSSAF is the L'Union de Recouvrement des cotisations de Sécurité Sociale et d'Allocations Familiales, the main social security collections agency, which has offices in each county. It will be similarly listed in the directory. It undertakes business registration as one of its related activities.
You will need to advise the CFE whether or not you wish to be TVA registered, but if you later feel you have made the wrong choice, you still have three months in which you may change your mind.
The process is fairly straightforward and the cost of registration should not be more than €150. In the case of those registering with URSAAF as one of the professions liberales there is no registration charge.
When you visit the CFE you will need to take your passport, birth and marriage certificates with you. You should also take a utility bill as evidence of your address and certificates of your qualifications, if needed.
Your spouse is also required to sign a declaration that s/he has been made aware of any debts being incurred against assets jointly held.
EU nationals need no residence or work permit to establish a business in France, although this rule is yet to apply universally to the new accession countries who joined the EU in May 05.
Non-EU nationals will need to apply for a residence permit - Visa de long sejour - that will include on it the nature of the business activity to be undertaken. The application process is best started at the local French consulate in the country where you reside.
If you are a non-EU national already resident in France with a visa that does not grant authorisation to run a business, and you wish to start one, then you need to make application to your local préfecture.
The CFE will process all necessary documentation for notifying the relevant statutory bodies. You will be provided with a receipt (Récépissé de Dépôt de Création d'Entreprise - RDCE) confirming your application.
You will receive confirmation of your registration within two weeks. The confirmation will be in the form of a document called an extrait K for sole trader or a extrait Kbis for companies. The document may be best described as your official business identity card.
All of those starting as an artisan may be required to attend (and pay for) a four-day training course about running a business at the Chambre de Metiers before they can start their business. Most regions will run the course in English, although on a less frequent basis than the regular course in French. If not, you should be permitted access to the French one!! There are non–obligatory courses available to others.
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Work & Business in France