The calendarCompany formation · registration
Registering an SAS or SARL in France through the single window: the steps, documents, costs and time limits
A French SAS, SASU, SARL or EURL is registered online through the single window (guichet unique), once the formation steps are done, legal notice included (Commercial Code, article R123-36). First deposit at least 50% of cash contributions for an SAS, 20% for an SARL. In 2026, registration costs €33.83, plus €19.33 for beneficial owners and the legal notice, from €124 to €199 excluding VAT in mainland France.
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General legal information with official references and dated checks. It is not personalised advice: for a decision that commits you, have your situation checked by a qualified professional.
Let’s look at your situation
Give the company form, the capital and how far you are in the formalities.
Example questions
Your question carries over after signup. Maximum 400 characters. Avoid health data and names.
How much should you deposit, how much will you pay, and which dates matter?
Choose the form, give the cash capital and the dates you already know: the calendar gives the capital to deposit, the official cost and the dates, from the filing receipt to the capital balance. The example: an SAS with €5,000 of capital, articles signed on 7 September 2026, file submitted on 14 September, registered on 21 September.
Fictional example · registration calendar
Deposit at least €2,500.00 of €5,000.00; official cost: €53.16 of formalities and €199 excluding VAT for the notice.
- Capital to deposit at the start, SAS
- €2,500.00
- Balance within 5 years of registration
- €2,500.00
- Registration
- €33.83
- Beneficial owners declaration
- €19.33
- Formation legal notice, excl. VAT
- €199
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 |
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 |
- Articles signed
- File submitted on the single window
- Registration
- Capital balance to pay in at the latest
Show the proof of registration to the bank or notary to release the deposited capital.
Official 2026 rates; bank, notary or adviser fees come on top depending on the case. A regulated activity needs more documents.
How much do you deposit and pay for each company form?
The share of capital to deposit and the price of the legal notice change with the form; the rest is common.
| Form | Cash contributions paid in at the start | Legal notice excl. VAT, mainland and other overseas | Legal notice excl. VAT, La Réunion and Mayotte |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAS | At least 50% | €199 | €233 |
| SASU | At least 50% | €142 | €167 |
| SARL | At least 20% | €148 | €173 |
| EURL | At least 20% | €124 | €147 |
For all four forms: €33.83 for registration and €19.33 for the beneficial owners declaration, then the capital balance within 5 years of registration. The first notice rate applies in mainland France, Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin and Wallis and Futuna.
Sources: C. com. L223-7 · C. com. L225-3 · Entreprendre F37688 · Entreprendre F36703 · Entreprendre F35957
In which order do you form and register a French company?
Choose the form, the name and the registered office, deposit the capital, appoint the manager and sign the articles of association (statuts), then publish the formation notice in an authorised legal-notice publication of the head-office département (Commercial Code, article R210-3). Only then file the request on the business formalities single window: registration is requested as soon as the formation formalities are done, publication included (article R123-36).
The company is then entered in the national business register (RNE) and, as a commercial company, in the trade and companies register (RCS) (fiche F35934). It only has legal personality from its registration (article L210-6).
Sources: C. com. R123-36 · C. com. R210-3 · Entreprendre F35934 · C. com. L210-6
How much capital do you pay in at formation?
The amount of capital is free, but cash contributions must be paid up by at least half for an SAS or SASU (société par actions simplifiée, a simplified joint-stock company), which follow the rules of the société anonyme on this point, and by at least one fifth for an SARL or EURL (limited liability companies); the balance is paid within 5 years of registration (Commercial Code, articles L225-3, L227-1 and L223-7). Contributions in kind are paid up in full.
The capital is deposited in an account in the name of the company being formed, with a bank or a notary, who issues the certificate of deposit of funds required for registration; the funds are released on proof of registration (fiche F32333).
Sources: C. com. L223-7 · C. com. L227-1 · C. com. L225-3 · Entreprendre F32333
How much does registering a company cost in 2026?
The registration formality for a commercial company costs €33.83, and the mandatory declaration of beneficial owners €19.33 (fiches F37688 and F36703). The formation legal notice has a flat price excluding VAT: €199 for an SAS, €142 for an SASU, €148 for an SARL, €124 for an EURL, and €233, €167, €173 or €147 in La Réunion and Mayotte (fiche F35957).
Depending on the case, add the fees charged by the bank or notary for the capital deposit, and those of any adviser for the articles.
Sources: Entreprendre F37688 · Entreprendre F36703 · Entreprendre F35957
What happens after the file is submitted?
The single window issues a business creation filing receipt, marked "awaiting registration" and valid until registration is notified, 1 month at most: it can already be used, for example, to take out insurance (fiche F35934).
The registrar enters the company within one clear working day of receiving the request. If documents are missing, the registrar asks for them within that time, and they must be supplied within fifteen days of the request; otherwise, registration is refused by a reasoned decision (Commercial Code, article R123-97).
Sources: Entreprendre F35934 · C. com. R123-97
Which documents do you file on the single window for an SAS or SARL?
The common core published by Entreprendre Service Public for a manager who is an individual; more documents are added depending on the activity and contributions.
- Document 1
Dated and signed articles of association
With the manager’s appointment document if the manager is not appointed in the articles.
- Document 2
Proof of the registered office
A water, electricity or gas bill, a commercial lease or a domiciliation contract, with a clearly identifiable address.
- Document 3
Certificate of publication of the formation notice
Issued by the publication authorised to carry legal notices.
- Document 4
Certificate of deposit of funds
Dated and signed by the bank or notary, with the list of subscribers and the sums paid by each.
- Document 5
Manager’s identity document
With the manager’s sworn statement of no criminal conviction and of parentage, dated and signed.
- Document 6
Depending on the case
Authorisation to practise for a regulated activity, the contributions auditor’s report for a contribution in kind, proof of marriage or Pacs for a collaborating spouse or partner.
What changed in 2026 for forming a French company?
Three changes this year affect the legal notice, the filed documents and beneficial owners.
New flat rates for formation legal notices, set by the order of 19 November 2025: €199 excluding VAT for an SAS, €142 for an SASU, €148 for an SARL and €124 for an EURL in mainland France.
Source: Entreprendre F35957
Formation documents can be filed as a copy where the identity and address of individuals are limited to the details required by law (Commercial Code, article R123-102-1).
Source: C. com. R123-102-1
Failing to declare beneficial owners, or declaring inaccurate or incomplete information, is punished by a €200,000 fine and, for individuals, a possible ban from managing a company; the 6-month prison sentence no longer applies (Monetary and Financial Code, article L574-5).
Sources: CMF L574-5 · Entreprendre F36703
What does article R123-36 of the Commercial Code say?
The text that places registration after formation, legal notice included.
L’immatriculation des sociétés et des groupements d’intérêt économique est demandée sitôt accomplies les formalités de constitution, publicité comprise.
In English, briefly (our summary, not an official translation): Registration of companies and economic interest groupings is requested as soon as the formation formalities, publication included, have been completed. Article R210-3 adds that the formation notice is published in an authorised publication of the head-office département once the other formation formalities are done.
What do founders ask before registration?
Can you start trading before registration?
Yes, by writing "company being formed" (société en cours de formation) on every document and annexing to the articles the acts done before the request (fiche F35934). Those who act on behalf of the company being formed are jointly and indefinitely liable, unless the registered company takes over these commitments (Commercial Code, article L210-6).
Who is a beneficial owner of the company?
The individual who holds, directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the capital or voting rights, or who exercises control by other means; failing that, the legal representative. Beneficial owners are declared at registration (fiche F36703).
Is there a minimum capital?
No: for an SAS or SASU, service-public states it can be €1, and for an SARL the articles set it freely (Commercial Code, article L223-2). Higher capital does, however, strengthen the company’s financial standing (fiche F32333).
How do you get the company’s Kbis?
The manager of a commercial company gets this registration extract free of charge online with MonIdenum; a proof of registration in the RNE, downloadable free of charge from the official company directory (Annuaire des entreprises), is enough for many procedures (fiche F21000).
What do you risk by giving inaccurate information?
Giving it in bad faith for a registration is punished by a €4,500 fine and 6 months’ imprisonment, and not being registered in the national business register by an administrative fine of €7,500 (Commercial Code, articles L123-38 and L123-38-1).
Which texts is this registration calendar based on?
- Commercial Code, article L123-1 (trade and companies register)Légifrance, in French
- Commercial Code, article R210-3 (formation notice)Légifrance, in French
- Commercial Code, article R123-36 (when registration is requested)Légifrance, in French
- Commercial Code, article L210-6 (legal personality, company being formed)Légifrance, in French
- Commercial Code, article L223-7 (paying up SARL capital)Légifrance, in French
- Commercial Code, article L227-1 (SA rules applying to the SAS)Légifrance, in French
- Commercial Code, article L225-3 (at least half paid up)Légifrance, in French
- Company formation: single window formalities (fiche F35934)Entreprendre Service Public, in French · checked by the publisher on 12 June 2026
- Cost of company formation formalities (fiche F37688)Entreprendre Service Public, in French · checked by the publisher on 18 March 2026
- Declaration of beneficial owners (fiche F36703)Entreprendre Service Public, in French · checked by the publisher on 3 June 2026
- Depositing share capital (fiche F32333)Entreprendre Service Public, in French · checked by the publisher on 20 October 2025
- Formation legal notice: 2026 rates (fiche F35957)Entreprendre Service Public, in French · checked by the publisher on 1 January 2026
- Commercial Code, article R123-97 (registrar’s time limit)Légifrance, in French
- Commercial Code, article R123-102-1 (documents filed as a limited copy)Légifrance, in French
- Monetary and Financial Code, article L574-5 (beneficial owners penalty)Légifrance, in French
- Kbis extract and proof of registration (fiche F21000)Entreprendre Service Public, in French · checked by the publisher on 3 April 2026
Texts cited last checked: 26 September 2026