France branch vs subsidiary vs liaison office
Liaison office, branch or subsidiary in France: compare without a predetermined winner
A liaison office (`bureau de liaison`), branch (`succursale`) and subsidiary (`filiale`) do not give a foreign company the same operating capacity, legal autonomy, parent exposure or filing burden in France. A liaison office remains limited, a branch extends the foreign company, and a subsidiary is a separate entity, subject to applicable facts and rules. Compare contracts, employees, funding, liability, accounts and tax with the appropriate advisers. This page makes the criteria transparent; it does not rank one structure as universally best.
Jurisdiction: France · French law
Comparison without a false winner
Compare visible criteria without a total, score or automatic recommendation.
| Question to classify | Direct answer | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Can a liaison office trade? | It is designed as a limited presence; revenue-generating activity needs verification before launch. | Verify from source |
| Is a branch a separate legal person? | A branch generally extends the foreign company, making parent exposure central. | Verify from source |
| Why is a subsidiary separate? | A subsidiary is a French entity with its own governance and obligations. | Verify from source |
| Which structure can sign contracts? | Capacity and signatory authority depend on the structure and documented powers. | Verify from source |
| How can staff be employed in France? | Each mode must be connected to separate employer, payroll and immigration checks. | Verify from source |
| Which filings and accounts are needed? | Registration, publication, accounts and representative requirements differ and need confirmation. | Verify from source |
Classify the next question—without entering case facts
Choose a category only. No date, amount, name, identifier, document or free text is sent to analytics.
Can a liaison office trade?
It is designed as a limited presence; revenue-generating activity needs verification before launch.
Verify this route against the cited official source and the complete document.
- LIMITED_PRESENCE_REVIEW · It is designed as a limited presence; revenue-generating activity needs verification before launch.
- BRANCH_FACTS_REVIEW · A branch generally extends the foreign company, making parent exposure central.
- SUBSIDIARY_FACTS_REVIEW · A subsidiary is a French entity with its own governance and obligations.
- ADVISER_MATRIX · Capacity and signatory authority depend on the structure and documented powers.
Can a liaison office trade?
It is designed as a limited presence; revenue-generating activity needs verification before launch. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
Is a branch a separate legal person?
A branch generally extends the foreign company, making parent exposure central. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
Why is a subsidiary separate?
A subsidiary is a French entity with its own governance and obligations. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
Which structure can sign contracts?
Capacity and signatory authority depend on the structure and documented powers. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
How can staff be employed in France?
Each mode must be connected to separate employer, payroll and immigration checks. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
Which filings and accounts are needed?
Registration, publication, accounts and representative requirements differ and need confirmation. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
Does parent-company liability change?
Yes. Legal autonomy changes the analysis but does not create an automatic risk conclusion. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
Which structure costs least?
No honest ranking is possible without activity, tax, staff and duration facts. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.