Any French individual or business can register a company. The name of the company must contain at least one word, may only include numeric characters (apart from the first one), and must not include any obscene or immoral words. It must not also be identical to that of any other company in France or abroad, as well as any trademark previously registered in France. It is also prohibited from using the words “limited,” “company,” “corporation,” “incorporated,” “society,” or any other equivalent.
The objectives of the company must be stated in its articles of incorporation. The objectives may not be in conflict with the public order or morality and must be expressed in broad terms. There are no restrictions on the form or number of shareholders provided that the number of shareholders is at least one and that they are all natural persons.
The company may have different classes of shares if it follows a capital increase plan set by law (the French Commercial Code). The value of the shares is equal to the nominal value stated in the articles of association. The shareholders are entitled to dividends after the end of each fiscal year as long as the company has profits and funds to distribute.
The articles of incorporation may decide on a maximum number of shareholders. The number of shareholders is valid for all time unless it can no longer be maintained at the time of any new share issuance. If this is the case, it must immediately notify the registrar and request an increase or reduction.
Companies with foreign capital are subject to limitations on foreign investment (share capital) and voting rights. They are always subject to prior authorization from the State Treasury Department (Direction Générale des Finances Publiques – DGFiP). If a share issue exceeds 25% of shares capital or voting rights, a prior authorization procedure is accepted as a condition for the transaction (DGFiP).
Before registering their company, entrepreneurs must choose whether they would like to introduce their company under a limited liability regime (there is a limited liability of the partners) or under a sole proprietorship regime (with unlimited liability). This decision will have an impact on several aspects for example taxation, but also on how partners will be held responsible for obligations incurred by the company if it goes into insolvency. Sole proprietorship with partners who have limited liabilityWhen registering their company, entrepreneurs will have to choose between
This API allows you to extract information on French companies including their contact information (emails, telephone numbers, websites, and social networks)
To make use of it, you must first:
1- Go to SIREN Codes Lookup – French Companies API and simply click on the button “Subscribe for free” to start using the API.
2- After signing up in Zyla API Hub, you’ll be given your personal API key. Using this one-of-a-kind combination of numbers and letters, you’ll be able to use, connect, and manage APIs!
3- Employ the different API endpoints depending on what you are looking for.
4- Once you meet your needed endpoint, make the API call by pressing the button “run” and see the results on your screen.
