Lifetti.com’s French business team has registered micro-entrepreneurs, SASUs and SARLs across Paris, Lyon and Bordeaux. This guide reflects the 2026 INPI guichet unique process and what French banks actually ask foreign founders for — including the fee traps in a standard compte pro package.
What you need to know first
- Companies (SAS, SASU, SARL, EURL) must deposit their share capital before registration — the bank's attestation de dépôt de fonds is part of the INPI file.
- Share capital can legally be €1, but the amount you declare is the amount you must actually pay in.
- The capital stays blocked until you produce the Kbis. Plan cash flow for that gap.
- Micro-entrepreneurs only need a dedicated account once turnover exceeds €10,000 for two consecutive years — and it need not be a paid "compte pro".
- If every bank refuses you, the Banque de France droit au compte procedure applies to businesses too.
The setup, step by step
- 1
Draft the statuts and decide the capital
For a SAS, SASU, SARL or EURL the share capital can be as low as €1 — but the figure you write into the statuts is the figure you must actually deposit. Pick something credible: banks, landlords and clients all read it off your Kbis.
- 2
Deposit the capital and collect the attestation
Open a capital-deposit account, transfer the money in, and the bank issues the attestation de dépôt de fonds. The funds are blocked from this moment — you cannot touch them until the company is registered. A notaire or the Caisse des Dépôts can also receive the deposit if no bank will.
- 3
Register through the guichet unique
File the company at procedures.inpi.fr with the statuts, the attestation de dépôt, proof of the registered address and the beneficial-owner declaration. The portal dispatches your file to the greffe, URSSAF and the tax office.
- 4
Get the Kbis and unblock the funds
The greffe issues the Kbis extract — your company's identity document. Take it back to the bank, which releases the capital and converts the deposit account into a working compte professionnel with a RIB, cards and payment access.
- 5
Wire up the operating layer
Direct debits for URSSAF and the impôts, an accounting integration for your expert-comptable, a card per person who spends, and professional liability insurance if your trade is regulated. Invoices must carry your SIREN.
Lifetti Fee Note
A French compte pro is one of the more expensive business accounts in Europe once cards and services are bundled in. Lifetti’s advisors tell founders to compare the all-in annual cost — package, cards, non-euro transactions — rather than the advertised monthly headline.
What the bank will ask you for
French banks front-load the paperwork. Arrive with the full set and the file moves in days rather than weeks.
- Passport or EU ID for the président/gérant and every beneficial owner
- Signed statuts (or the draft, for the capital-deposit stage)
- Justificatif de domiciliation — lease, domiciliation contract or attestation for the registered office
- Attestation de dépôt de fonds (issued by the bank once capital is in)
- Kbis extract — required before the operating account is opened and the funds released
- Déclaration des bénéficiaires effectifs (owners of more than 25%)
- A description of the activity, expected turnover and where your clients are
- For micro-entrepreneurs instead: your SIRET/SIREN notification from INSEE
Where founders in France actually bank
Lifetti’s Verified Comparison, updated July 2026. Terms change often — confirm on the provider's own site before applying.
| Provider | Type | English support | Foreign owners | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BNP Paribas | Traditional | Good in larger branches | Case by case | Companies that will need credit |
| Société Générale | Traditional | Limited | Case by case | Branch relationship, POS |
| Crédit Agricole | Traditional (regional) | Varies by caisse | Case by case | Outside the big cities |
| Revolut Business | Fintech | Full app in English | Yes (eligible EEA companies) | Opening fast, cards, low-cost FX |
| Qonto | Fintech | Full app in English | French-registered companies | Capital deposit + accounting tools |
| Shine | Fintech | Partial | French-registered companies | Micro-entrepreneurs |
| Wise Business | Money account | Full app in English | Yes | Invoicing clients abroad |
The faster alternative
Revolut Business — open a French business account in minutes
If the traditional route above looks like weeks of paperwork, this is the shortcut most of our founders take first: a full business account you can open online and use the same day, then add a high-street bank later only if you actually need one.
- Fastest route to a working account — apply online in a few minutes, no branch visit and no appointment.
- A country-specific French IBAN where Revolut issues one locally — and where it does not, a full SEPA euro IBAN that French clients, URSSAF and the impôts may not legally refuse (IBAN discrimination is banned under SEPA Regulation 260/2012).
- Start spending instantly with virtual cards issued the moment you are approved — freeze, unfreeze and set limits per card or per team member.
- Cheap transfers: free SEPA payments on the free plan, interbank exchange rates on international payments, and no minimum balance to maintain.
Worth knowing for France specifically: Revolut Business runs a capital-deposit service through a partner, so the attestation de dépôt de fonds can be handled online rather than by making the rounds of branches. Check the current terms and fee at signup — it is a paid add-on, not part of the free plan.
Open a Revolut Business accountPartner link — using it never costs you more and helps keep our guides free. Plan features and pricing change; confirm on Revolut's site before you sign up.
Open a business account online
Providers you can apply to today, without a branch appointment.
Some links may be partner links — using them never costs you more and helps keep our guides free.
Not registered yet?
Micro-entrepreneur or SASU, URSSAF contributions, and the INPI guichet unique — the realistic setup path for foreigners.
You will need a personal French account too
Salary, rent, utilities and CPAM reimbursements all want a personal RIB. See which French banks work for newcomers.
Frequently asked questions
Lifetti’s French business advisors answer:
Do micro-entrepreneurs need a professional account?
Not immediately, and not necessarily a "professional" one. The obligation kicks in once your turnover exceeds €10,000 for two consecutive calendar years — from then you must hold a bank account dedicated to the business. It can be a second personal account; it does not have to be a fee-bearing compte pro, despite what banks will tell you.
Is a business account compulsory for a SASU or SARL?
Yes. Companies with share capital must deposit that capital before registration and hold a dedicated account afterwards. There is no route around the capital deposit — it is what produces the attestation de dépôt de fonds your registration file needs.
What if every bank refuses me?
France has a droit au compte procedure and it covers businesses, not just individuals. If you are refused, get the refusal in writing and apply to the Banque de France, which will designate an institution obliged to open a basic account for you.
When exactly can I spend the share capital?
Not until the Kbis exists. The funds sit blocked from deposit until the greffe registers the company and you present the Kbis to the bank. Budget for that gap — your first invoices, domiciliation fee and accountant will land before the capital is available.
Can I open the account from abroad?
Fintech providers onboard remotely and are the realistic option if you are not yet in France. Traditional banks generally want the legal representative physically present, with a French address for the registered office — a domiciliation company satisfies that but some banks treat it as a risk flag.
What does it cost?
Traditional compte pro packages typically run from around €20 to €40 a month once you add cards and services. Fintech plans start free or in the single-digit euros. Capital-deposit services are usually a one-off fee. Compare the total including card fees and non-euro transaction charges, not the headline monthly price.
About Lifetti
Thresholds, package prices and onboarding rules change. Lifetti.com verifies these details with French expert-comptables and branch contacts. For a personalised route — structure, bank, and the order to do it in — use Lifetti’s French business setup service.
Get matched with an expert-comptable or bank contactNote: This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Thresholds and bank terms change — confirm on the official INPI and URSSAF portals, or with your accountant, before acting.