Set up a business in France

Streamlined procedures and easy-to-access information

The website formalites.entreprises.gouv.fr is the single-entry point for businesses to carry out their formalities. The formalities for setting up, modifying and terminating activities must be carried out online through this one-stop shop.

The websites entreprendre.service-public.fr and investinfrance.fr, which are both available in English, provide information about the process for setting up a business in France. The first site provides information on administrative procedures for businesses and the second provides general information on the establishment of companies in France.

Selecting the legal structure and tax regime

It is essential to choose the appropriate tax regime for your business.

The Entrepreneur’s Tax Handbook (livret fiscal du créateur d’entreprise) provides essential information on the choice of regimes for VAT and the taxation of your business’s profits, the obligation for professionals to file returns online, deadlines and practical details on eligibility for exemptions.

A business’s tax regime is conditional upon its legal structure, the type of business activity carried out and the turnover recorded. For more information on the choice of the tax system, visit economie.gouv.fr/entreprises/impot-revenu-impot-societe-statut.

A foreign national may be obliged to complete different procedures to carry out a business activity in France, which will vary according to their nationality and place of residence. For more information on this topic, visit: entreprendre.service-public.fr.