You've moved to France
Or you're about to, and you want to work for yourself or start a company here.
Company setup in France, explained in English
Starting a business in France?
We'll help you set it up.
My French Business helps people and businesses from outside France create their company here. We take care of choosing the right structure, registering it, opening the bank account and the admin that follows, and we explain every step in English.
Run by Beco Conseil, a French company registered in Paris since 2021 · SIREN 917 523 557
Setting up your company
The steps
- Structure chosenThe legal form that fits your project
- Documents preparedExplained to you in English before you sign
- Bank account openedShare capital paid in
- Registration filedWith the official French registry
- Company registeredYou receive your Kbis
Who we work with
Our clients usually fall into one of three groups. If one of them sounds like you, you're in the right place.
Your company is based abroad
You need a French subsidiary or branch so you can hire, sell or invoice locally.
You're a freelancer
You just want the simplest legal way to bill your clients from France.
What we can help with
You can hand us the whole setup, or just the parts you're stuck on.
1Before registration
- Choosing a structure (SAS, SARL, micro-entreprise, branch…) based on your plans, your tax situation and your social security cover
- Drafting the articles of association and the other incorporation documents
- Finding a registered address if you don't have an office yet (domiciliation)
- Opening a business bank account and paying in the share capital. This is often the slowest part when you don't live in France.
- Working out which residence permit fits your project, for example the Talent Passport, and preparing the business side of the application
2Registration and after
- Filing on the government's online portal, publishing the legal notice and declaring the beneficial owners, until you receive your Kbis
- Finding an accountant and setting up your bookkeeping
- VAT, invoicing rules and the tax calendar
- Hiring your first employee
- Business plan, pricing, and how things tend to work with French clients
My French Business is a business advisory service, not a law firm. When something legally has to go through a lawyer, an accountant or a notary, it's handled by our partner firms and we coordinate everything for you.
How it works
- 1
A 15-minute call
Free. You tell us about your project and your situation (nationality, where you live, what you want to do), and we tell you honestly whether we can help.
- 2
A written plan
The structure we recommend, the steps in order, the documents to gather, a realistic timeline and what it will cost you.
- 3
The setup
We prepare the documents and follow up with the bank, the address provider and the registry. You read, ask questions and sign.
- 4
Your first months
Once the company exists, we help you get the basics right: accounting, VAT, invoices, first deadlines.
What your plan looks like
After the first call, you get a written plan based on your own situation, not a generic checklist. It tells you what to do, in what order, and why.
You decide afterwards whether you want us to go ahead. The call and the plan don't commit you to anything.
Your setup planContents
- Your situationYour project, nationality and where you'll be based, as we understood them
- The structure we recommendAnd why it suits you better than the alternatives
- Documents to gatherWhat you need and where to get each one
- Steps and timelineIn order, including the bank and, if needed, the visa
- Our fixed quoteFor the parts you'd like us to handle
The main structures
A short overview. Which one suits you depends on your situation, and that's usually the first thing we discuss.
| Structure | Usually chosen by | In short |
|---|---|---|
| SAS / SASU | Startups, projects with investors, foreign shareholders | Closest thing to a limited company. Flexible rules, limited liability, the president is covered by the employee social security scheme. You can start with €1 of capital. |
| SARL / EURL | Small and family businesses | Limited liability too, but with stricter rules. The manager is often covered by the self-employed scheme. |
| Micro-entreprise | Freelancers and anyone testing an idea | Quick to set up and easy to run. Turnover is capped and you pay tax and social charges as a percentage of what you invoice. |
| Branch or subsidiary | Companies already set up abroad | A branch stays part of your existing company. A subsidiary, usually an SAS, is a separate French company that you own. |
General information, not legal or tax advice. The rules change regularly, so we always check them against your own case. Not sure which one fits? .
How we work
A fixed quote first
You know the price before anything starts. No hourly billing, no surprise invoice at the end.
Nothing signed blindly
Every French document is explained in English before you sign it, line by line if needed.
One contact throughout
The same adviser follows your file from the first call to your first months in business.
The right professionals
When the law requires a lawyer, an accountant or a notary, we bring in our partners and coordinate with them.
About us
My French Business is run by Beco Conseil, a consulting and training firm that has been advising entrepreneurs in France since 2021, with a focus on creating and structuring new businesses.
We set up My French Business because the same story kept coming up: people from abroad with a solid project, losing weeks to forms they couldn't read and rules nobody had explained to them. Together with our partner lawyers, accountants and notaries, we cover everything a new company needs to get started in France.
Common questions
Can a foreigner set up a company in France?
Yes. You don't need to be French or to live in France to own or run a French company. If you're not from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland and you want to live here and run the business from France, you'll also need a residence permit that allows it.
Do I have to live in France?
Not to own or manage a company like an SAS. The company does need an address in France, and some things, like opening the bank account, are much easier if you can come in person.
Do I need to speak French?
No. The official documents are in French, but we go through them with you in English so you know what you're signing.
How long does it take?
Once the documents are ready and the capital is paid in, registration usually takes between a few days and a few weeks. The bank account and the visa, if you need one, are what usually take longest. We'll give you a realistic estimate after the first call.
How much capital do I need?
Legally, €1 is enough for an SAS or a SARL. In practice, a very small amount can put off banks and partners and won't help a visa application, so we'll pick something sensible together.
What documents will I need?
Usually a passport or ID card, a proof of address, details about the shareholders and directors, and a short description of the business. You'll get the exact list in your plan.
How much does it cost?
It depends on how much you want us to handle. After the free call we send you a fixed quote, and nothing starts until you've accepted it.
Get in touch
The easiest way is to book a free 15-minute call. If you'd rather write first, send us an email with a few lines about your project.