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What is auto-entrepreneur and who should choose it?

Auto-entrepreneur (micro-entreprise) is France's simplified business status ideal for: side businesses, freelancers, testing business ideas, or small revenues. Benefits: free registration, pay ~22% social contributions only on actual revenue (€0 revenue = €0 charges), simplified accounting (livre des recettes), TVA exempt. Limits: revenue caps (€77,700 services/€188,700 goods in 2025), unlimited personal liability, cannot deduct expenses. Best for: consulting, photography, tutoring, small e-commerce. Not suitable for: growing businesses, team hiring, significant expenses.

SARL vs SAS - which French company structure to choose?

SARL (Société à Responsabilité Limitée): more structured, traditional, gérant majoritaire (majority manager) pays ~45% in TNS social charges, lower protection, rigid governance, good for: family businesses, traditional businesses. SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée): flexible governance, president has employee status paying ~70-80% total charges (higher costs but better unemployment/retirement rights), easier to bring investors, good for: startups, growth companies. EURL/SASU are single-person versions. Both provide limited liability. SARL = lower costs, SAS = flexibility + protection.

How much do social contributions cost for French businesses?

Auto-entrepreneur: ~22% of revenue for services (21.2%), ~12% for goods (12.3%). SARL gérant majoritaire (TNS): ~45% of net profit. SAS president (assimilé salarié): employee ~22% + employer ~42% = ~64% total charges on gross salary, plus additional costs. SARL gérant minoritaire or salarié: same as SAS. Example: €50,000 net profit as auto-entrepreneur = €11,000 charges. As SARL TNS = €22,500. As SAS president (distributing as salary) = ~€32,000 charges but better social protection.

What is TVA and when must I charge it?

TVA (Value Added Tax, 20% standard rate) is France's sales tax. Auto-entrepreneurs are exempt (franchise de TVA) until exceeding thresholds: €36,800 for services, €91,900 for goods. Above thresholds or as société choosing TVA, you charge 20% on invoices, collect it from customers, deduct TVA paid on expenses, and remit difference to tax authorities. TVA-exempt businesses cannot recover TVA on purchases but simpler administration. B2B clients prefer TVA-registered suppliers (can recover TVA). File monthly or quarterly TVA returns.

Do I need an expert-comptable (accountant) in France?

Auto-entrepreneurs: Not required - accounting is simple (livre des recettes). Can self-manage or use accounting software (€10-30/month). SARL/SAS: Not legally required but highly recommended (90%+ use one). Expert-comptable costs €50-200/month, handles: bookkeeping, payroll, TVA returns, annual financial statements, tax optimization, URSSAF declarations. Worth the cost to avoid errors and focus on business. Some use online accounting platforms (€30-80/month) with occasional expert-comptable consultations.

What is the SIRET number and how do I get it?

SIRET is your 14-digit business identification number assigned automatically by INSEE when you register any French business (auto-entrepreneur or société). It identifies your business establishment. You also receive SIREN (9 digits, company identifier) and APE code (activity code). SIRET appears on all official documents and invoices. No separate application needed - arrive automatically within days/weeks of registration. Use SIRET for: invoicing, opening professional bank account, hiring employees, all administrative matters.

Can I hire employees as an auto-entrepreneur in France?

No, auto-entrepreneurs (micro-entreprises) cannot directly hire employees in France. You must: (1) transition to a société (SARL/SAS) to hire employees, (2) use freelancers/subcontractors instead, or (3) portage salarial (umbrella company where "employees" are technically employed by portage company). This limitation encourages transition to société as business grows. EURL/SASU (single-person société) can hire employees from day one while maintaining simplicity initially.

What ongoing obligations do French businesses have?

Auto-entrepreneur: quarterly URSSAF cotisations declarations (even if €0), annual tax return, maintain livre des recettes, invoice correctly. SARL/SAS: monthly/quarterly URSSAF charges, monthly/quarterly TVA returns (if applicable), annual financial statements (bilan, compte de résultat), annual tax returns (corporate + personal), keep full accounting records, file annual assembly minutes, inform Greffe of any changes (address, officers). Expert-comptable handles most obligations for sociétés. CCI offers free support.

Start a Business as a Foreigner in France: Guide 2025

Quick Overview

Starting a business in France requires choosing a legal status: auto-entrepreneur (micro-entreprise) for simplicity with revenue caps (€77,700 services, €188,700 goods) and simplified taxes (~22% of revenue), or creating a société (SARL, SAS, EURL, SASU) for limited liability with capital deposit, statuts, and registration at Greffe (€200-1,000). All businesses obtain a SIRET number from INSEE automatically after registration. Auto-entrepreneurs register free at autoentrepreneur.urssaf.fr, while sociétés require notarial statuts and publication costs. Ongoing obligations include URSSAF cotisations sociales, TVA (VAT, 20% standard) if above thresholds, and comptabilité (accounting) with expert-comptable recommended (€50-200/month).

Key Facts

Simplest option

Auto-entrepreneur (micro-entreprise): capped revenue, simplified

Auto-entrepreneur caps

€77,700 services, €188,700 goods (2025)

Auto-entrepreneur costs

~22% social contributions on revenue + income tax

Société registration costs

€200-1,000 (capital, publication, registration)

Required for all

SIRET number (automatic), professional bank account (SARL/SAS)

Key agencies

URSSAF, Greffe, CCI, Impôts, INSEE

How It Works

Start a Business as a Foreigner in France

France offers multiple business structures balancing simplicity and liability protection. Auto-entrepreneur (officially micro-entreprise) is the simplest: register free online at autoentrepreneur.urssaf.fr with just ID and activity description, pay social contributions (~22% for services, ~12% for goods) only on actual revenue (no revenue = no contributions), maintain simple livre des recettes (revenue journal), and remain exempt from TVA below thresholds (€36,800 services, €91,900 goods). Revenue caps limit growth (€77,700 services/€188,700 goods annually), and you have unlimited personal liability. For limited liability and professional image, create a société: SARL (Société à Responsabilité Limitée, LLC-like), SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée, flexible corporation), or single-person versions EURL/SASU. This requires drafting statuts (company bylaws, usually via notaire/avocat), depositing capital (€1 minimum but €5,000-10,000 typical) at bank, publishing création notice in JAL (journal d'annonces légales, €150-250), and registering at Greffe du Tribunal de Commerce (€200-400) or via guichet-entreprises.fr. SASU/SAS presidents have employee social status (~70-80% of salary in total charges) providing better social protection but higher costs; SARL gérants majoritaires pay lower TNS charges (~45%) with less protection. All businesses automatically receive SIRET (business ID) from INSEE post-registration. Professional bank accounts are mandatory for sociétés, recommended for all. Ongoing: file TVA declarations if charging VAT, pay URSSAF cotisations (quarterly for auto-entrepreneurs, monthly/quarterly for sociétés), maintain proper comptabilité (accounting) with expert-comptable recommended for sociétés (€50-200/month), and file annual tax returns. CCI (Chamber of Commerce) provides free business advice and formation workshops.

Before registration

Choose legal status

Auto-entrepreneur, EURL, SARL, SAS, etc.

Create business plan

Plan your activity.

Creating your business

Register as auto-entrepreneur if applicable

Simplified micro-enterprise status.

Create société if applicable

SARL, SAS, EURL, SASU.

Obtain SIRET number

Business identification number.

Open professional bank account

Separate business finances.

Regular requirements

Handle TVA (VAT)

Charge TVA if above thresholds.

Pay cotisations sociales

Social contributions.

Set up accounting

Track finances.

Start a Business as a Foreigner Costs in France (2025)

Auto-entrepreneur registrationFree

Online at autoentrepreneur.urssaf.fr

Auto-entrepreneur social charges~22% of revenue

Services: 21.2%, goods: 12.3%

SARL/SAS statuts (bylaws)€200-1,000

Via avocat/notaire or online templates €50-200

Capital deposit€1 minimum

Typical €5,000-10,000 for credibility

Publication in JAL€150-250

Legal announcement of company creation

Greffe registration€200-400

Tribunal de Commerce registration

Expert-comptable (accountant)€50-200/month

For sociétés, highly recommended

Professional bank account€10-40/month

Mandatory for sociétés

Total

Auto-entrepreneur: €0 upfront, ~22% ongoing revenue. SARL/SAS: €600-2,000 setup + €100-300/month ongoing (accountant + bank).

Service	Cost	Notes
Auto-entrepreneur registration	Free	Online at autoentrepreneur.urssaf.fr
Auto-entrepreneur social charges	~22% of revenue	Services: 21.2%, goods: 12.3%
SARL/SAS statuts (bylaws)	€200-1,000	Via avocat/notaire or online templates €50-200
Capital deposit	€1 minimum	Typical €5,000-10,000 for credibility
Publication in JAL	€150-250	Legal announcement of company creation
Greffe registration	€200-400	Tribunal de Commerce registration
Expert-comptable (accountant)	€50-200/month	For sociétés, highly recommended
Professional bank account	€10-40/month	Mandatory for sociétés
Total estimate	Auto-entrepreneur: €0 upfront, ~22% ongoing revenue. SARL/SAS: €600-2,000 setup + €100-300/month ongoing (accountant + bank).

*Auto-entrepreneur is cheapest for testing business ideas with revenue under caps. SARL/SAS provide liability protection and professional image but require significant setup and ongoing costs. TVA becomes obligatory above thresholds (€36,800 services, €91,900 goods). Prices current as of January 2025.

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Start a Business as a Foreigner

Key Facts

How It Works

Planning

Choose legal status

Create business plan

Registration

Register as auto-entrepreneur if applicable

Create société if applicable

Obtain SIRET number

Open professional bank account

Ongoing Obligations

Handle TVA (VAT)

Pay cotisations sociales

Set up accounting

Start a Business as a Foreigner Costs in France (2025)

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Key Facts

How It Works

0%Week 1Planning0 of 2 tasks completed

Planning

Choose legal status

Create business plan

0%Month 1-2Registration0 of 4 tasks completed

Registration

Register as auto-entrepreneur if applicable

Create société if applicable

Obtain SIRET number

Open professional bank account

0%AdministrativeOngoing Obligations0 of 3 tasks completed

Ongoing Obligations

Handle TVA (VAT)

Pay cotisations sociales

Set up accounting

Start a Business as a Foreigner Costs in France (2025)

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