FR — France · European Market Entry

France company registration — a complete loop from filing to compliance.

End-to-end France SAS / SARL registration, TVA tax compliance, bank account setup and CIR R&D tax-credit planning for Chinese cross-border and outbound businesses. Fully remote — no travel to France — with transparent pricing.

Book a free consultation → See the process

20+ European countriesLocal legal team in ParisEnd-to-end in your languageCIR R&D credit planning

Registry Brief

Legal formSAS / SARL

RegistryRCS · Greffe

Min. capital€1 min. (SA €37,000)

Timeline15–30 business days

Standard rates20% TVA · 25% IS

ProcessFully remote · no travel

JWHELP · France Registry Brief● Remote-friendly

01 / Services

Choose the right structure

From company form to tax compliance, a clear path into France for outbound businesses at every stage.

001

SASSimplified Joint-Stock Company

France’s most foreign-investor-friendly form: flexible governance, limited shareholder liability, ideal for fundraising and brand expansion, and available as a single-shareholder SASU.

Minimum capital from €1
Limited shareholder liability
Flexible governance
Ideal for fundraising & brand
Single-shareholder SASU available

Key figurefrom €1Service fee tailored · free consultation for a quote

002

SARLLimited Liability Company

France’s traditional SME form: solid structure, low running costs, ideal for family businesses and steady trading companies.

Minimum capital from €1
Solid structure
Low running costs
Ideal for family / trading
Clear manager structure

Key figurefrom €1Service fee tailored · free consultation for a quote

003

Tax ComplianceFull Package

Covers TVA registration, OSS filing, EORI application and CIR R&D tax-credit planning — keeping your France and EU business fully compliant.

France TVA number application
EU OSS unified filing
EORI operator number
CIR R&D credit planning
Ongoing filing service

Key figureTVA 20%incl. quarterly filing · free consultation for a quote

02 / Compare

SAS vs. SARL, choose precisely

Both are limited liability; the difference is governance flexibility, fundraising ease and social-charge cost. The table below helps you decide quickly.

Criteria	SAS	SARL	Best for
Minimum capital	€1 (more advised in practice)	€1	Both can start lean
Governance flexibility	Highest	Medium	SAS for fundraising / brand
Single shareholder	SASU (yes)	EURL (yes)	Both allow sole ownership
Social charges	President taxed on salary	Manager (TNS) lower	SARL if cost-sensitive
Fundraising	High — multiple share classes	More limited	SAS for raising capital
Timeline	15–30 business days	15–30 business days	—
Corporate tax (IS)	25%	25%	Small firms may get 15%

03 / Process

Clear and transparent, every step

From first consultation to bank account — five stages, each with clear deliverables.

Week 1

Consultation & structure design

We assess your business model, ownership and tax needs and design the SAS or SARL structure, registered address and director arrangements.

You providePassport scan / business description / expected revenue / ownership split

Weeks 1–2

Document prep & notarization

We draft the articles of association (Statuts) and shareholder documents and coordinate notarization and certification — entirely remote.

Key documentsArticles of association / shareholder register / proof of registered address / beneficial-owner declaration

Weeks 2–3

Capital deposit & bank account

We deposit the capital into a temporary French bank account and obtain the funds certificate (Certificat de dépôt) in preparation for registration.

OutputTemporary capital account / funds certificate / account-intent confirmation

Weeks 3–4

Commercial registration (RCS / Greffe)

We file with the commercial court registry (Greffe) and obtain the Kbis extract and SIREN / SIRET numbers — the company is officially formed.

OutputKbis extract / SIREN · SIRET / copy of articles

After completion

TVA registration & ongoing compliance

We apply for the TVA number, EORI and OSS registration, plus ongoing tax filing and CIR R&D-credit planning.

OngoingTVA number / EORI number / OSS registration / quarterly filing

04 / European Tax Guide

Key tax concepts explained

The France and EU tax concepts cross-border sellers meet most often, condensed into quick-reference entries.

VAT

France TVA basics

France’s standard TVA rate is 20%, with reduced rates of 10% / 5.5% / 2.1% on some goods. Storing FBA inventory in France triggers registration.

Standard 20% · Reduced 10% / 5.5% · FBA storage requires registration

OSS Filing

EU OSS one-stop filing

Since July 2021, ecommerce sellers can file VAT for all EU countries through OSS in a single member state. Above €10,000 in annual EU sales, you charge each destination country’s rate.

EU threshold €10,000/yr · Quarterly · One window

Corporate Tax

France corporate tax (IS)

The standard IS rate is 25%. Eligible small firms get a reduced 15% rate on taxable profit up to €42,500.

Standard 25% · Small-firm 15%

CIR Credit

R&D tax credit (CIR)

France offers an R&D tax credit (CIR) of up to 30% of qualifying spend — a key tax-optimization tool for businesses that invest in R&D.

Up to 30% credit · Key France tax optimization

EORI Number

EU operator registration number

EORI is the unique identifier in the EU customs system, required for import/export clearance. A French company can apply after tax registration; one number works across the entire EU.

Required for clearance · EU-wide · 2–5 business days

Tax Treaty

China–France tax treaty

China and France have a double-taxation treaty with preferential withholding rates on dividends, interest and royalties — using it well lowers the tax on repatriating cross-border profit.

Avoids double taxation · Preferential dividend / interest WHT

05 / FAQ

Clear answers to key questions

RegistrationDo I need to travel to France to register a SAS?
+

Not at all. The whole process can be done remotely. You provide notarized power-of-attorney and identity documents, and we handle the rest in France — about 15–30 business days in total.
StructureShould I choose a SAS or a SARL?
+

If you want flexible governance, outside investment or a brand, a SAS (or single-owner SASU) fits better; for a steady family or trading company focused on running costs, a SARL (or single-owner EURL) is more economical. We advise based on your situation during the initial consultation.
TaxDo I need a TVA number to sell on Amazon France?
+

Yes. If you store FBA inventory in France, a French TVA number is required regardless of sales volume. Amazon also requires a valid TVA number or it restricts selling rights.
FeesWhat is the total cost to register a French company?
+

The total depends on company form, capital and add-on services, and includes service fees plus notary and registration official fees. We quote transparently with no hidden costs — request a free consultation for a breakdown for your situation.
BankingHow do I open a bank account after registering?
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Traditional French banks are strict with non-resident directors, usually requiring a funds certificate and business description. We recommend combining a local French bank with digital accounts like Wise or Qonto for both compliant receipts and daily operations.
TaxWhat is CIR, and can my company use it?
+

CIR (the R&D tax credit) lets companies offset up to 30% of qualifying R&D spend against tax. If you invest in product development or technical improvement, claiming CIR properly can meaningfully lower your effective tax — we can help assess and file it.

06 / Contact

Start your France journey

Free initial consultation
30 minutes to tailor your plan

Whether you’re considering France for the first time or already have a company that needs compliance work, our experts give clear, actionable advice.

Emailjwhelp-eu@outlook.com

WeChatjwhelp-eu

ResponseWithin 24h on business days

LanguageEnglish · French · Chinese

Coverage20+ EU countries