First published in May 2023
Updated in November 2025
Moving from idea to incorporated in France is absolutely doable, as long as you pick the right visa, choose the correct legal structure, and follow the workflow on the national Guichet des formalités des entreprises. This article walks UK nationals through what changed post-Brexit and how to set up cleanly, from registration to tax, VAT, hiring, and online compliance.
Who this is for: British founders, freelancers, consultants, creators, e-commerce and SaaS operators relocating to France or running cross-border activity from France.
Table of Contents
Visas & residence permits for UK entrepreneurs (Post-Brexit)
As a non-EU national, you’ll need a long-stay visa (VLS-TS) and a compatible residence permit to run a business legally. Here are the main pathways.
Carte de séjour “Entrepreneur/Profession libérale”
Best for self-employed activities (commercial, craft, or liberal professions), including sole traders (Entreprise Individuelle / micro-entreprise) or partners/directors who don’t fit a “Talent” category. You must show a viable activity and register at the Guichet des formalités des entreprises.
Talent residence permit — Business creator
For founders who create or take over a company with a real and serious project. Typical criteria include ≥ 30,000 € funding plus either a Master’s degree or 5+ years’ relevant experience, and an official attestation de projet viable. Valid up to 4 years, renewable.
Talent — Economic investor
For direct investors who meet conditions (e.g., control or ≥ 30% shareholding and job creation/protection within a set period).
Recent grad/researcher route: Some holders of French higher-education or research permits can access a 12-month job-seeker/business-creator status, then switch to a long-term permit.
Choosing the right legal structure
Your legal form affects liability, taxation, social charges, investor readiness, and admin.
Entreprise Individuelle (EI / micro-entreprise)
- Simplest launch; you are the business.
- Personal liability exists (primary home enjoys statutory protection).
- Light bookkeeping; micro tax & VAT franchise thresholds apply.
- Good for testing a service, solo consulting, small craft.
SAS / SASU (simplified joint-stock company / one-shareholder SAS)
- Extremely flexible governance, capital from 1 €, investor-friendly.
- President is an employee for social-security purposes (not unemployment).
- Fits startups, agencies, creators with growth plans.
SARL / EURL
- Classic limited company; single-member version = EURL.
- No legal minimum capital; more codified rules than SAS/SASU.
- Works well for small teams and family businesses.
SA
- Public limited company; 37,000 € min. capital; built for larger ventures/listings.
Note: other forms (SNC, SEL, SCOP, etc.) may apply to regulated/liberal professions or cooperatives. Since 2023, the old CFE counters are gone, all formations go through the Guichet unique online (INPI).
Step-by-step to start a business in France
Follow this sequence to avoid rejections and delays:
Pick your structure & name
Confirm whether your activity is regulated (diploma/licence required). Secure approvals before filing.
Decide the registered office (domiciliation)
Choose home address, commercial lease, or a domiciliation company. You’ll need a proof of address for filing.
Draft company documents (if creating a company)
- Statutes (bylaws), director appointment.
- Capital: SA ≥ 37,000 ; SAS/SARL can start from 1 €.
- Deposit capital to a blocked account and obtain the attestation de dépôt.
Publish the legal notice (sociétés only)
An annonce légale in an approved outlet (JAL/SPEL). Flat rates apply by form/department. EI/micro do not publish.
File online at the Guichet unique (INPI)
Submit your dossier and supporting documents. Once validated, you receive SIREN/SIRET automatically in your account (no separate INSEE certificate to chase).
Declare beneficial owners (RBE) - sociétés
Mandatory at incorporation. Access to the register is now restricted to legitimate-interest entities.
Download your Avis de situation Sirene
An official extract you can share with suppliers, landlords, and platforms.
Open your operating bank account
Separate business banking is strongly advised (and mandatory for companies). Provide SIREN/SIRET and Kbis (or INPI attestation when applicable).
VAT (TVA) & invoicing
- Choose franchise en base (exemption) or normal VAT based on activity and forecast.
- 2025 franchise/tolerance thresholds remain activity-specific (no single 25k € threshold). Check the official tables for your code NAF/APE before you invoice.
- Put the correct legal mentions on invoices (SIREN, legal form, siège, capital for companies, VAT wording). If SIRET is pending, invoice under the company name with “Siret en cours d’attribution”.
Social security & payroll
- Self-employed contributions are collected by URSSAF.
- Hiring staff requires a DPAE (pre-hire declaration), compliant contracts, and ongoing payroll filings.
- Local CCI/CMA help desks offer onboarding and training.
Taxes & small-business thresholds (what Brits usually ask)
Corporate vs personal taxation
- Companies (SAS/SARL/SA) pay corporation tax on profits; dividends and salaries are taxed at the shareholder/employee level.
- EI/Micro-entreprise profits are taxed in your personal return (with possible micro-BIC/BNC flat-rate abatements if you’re in the micro regime).
Micro-entreprise turnover ceilings
The ceiling to stay in micro depends on your activity band (services vs sales, plus special sectors such as furnished tourist lets). Use the 2025 government tables when registering and monitor annually.
VAT (TVA) thresholds
The franchise en base and the tolerance bands continue to be activity-specific in 2025. The proposal for a uniform 25,000 € VAT threshold was dropped, multi-threshold rules remain.
Invoicing rules
Invoices must display mandatory legal data (SIREN, legal form, siège social, capital for sociétés, VAT details). If your SIRET is pending, invoice correctly in the company name with the note “Siret en cours d’attribution”.
Hiring in France (when you add staff)
- File the DPAE with URSSAF before the employee’s first day.
- Issue compliant employment contracts (CDD/CDI) with the correct working-time and collective-bargaining references.
- Budget employer social charges (vary by sector and remuneration).
- If a spouse/partner regularly works in the business, French law requires choosing a status (collaborating spouse / employee / partner).
Online-Business Specifics (E-commerce / SaaS / Services)
Running a digital business from France brings additional, enforceable obligations:
- Mentions légales on your website (identity, contact, corporate details).
- CGV (consumer terms), pricing transparency, returns policy (14-day right of withdrawal for B2C distance sales).
- Cookie consent compliant with CNIL guidance; analytics/ads trackers must be properly configured (CNIL issued multiple sanctions in 2025).
- GDPR/RGPD from day one: lawful basis, privacy notice, data minimisation, security, processor contracts, DPO where required.
- Payments/KYC: use PSD2-compliant processors and align platform accounts with your SIREN/SIRET and RCS when applicable.
Where to get official help (free / low-cost)
- Guichet des formalités des entreprises (INPI): single portal for creations, changes, closures.
- CCI (commerce/industry) & CMA (crafts): coaching, market checks, short courses, and sector guidance.
- Funding: explore prêts d’honneur (unsecured founder loans) via Initiative / Réseau Entreprendre, often paired with mentoring and local banker introductions.
FAQ: British founders in France
Do I need a French address to incorporate?
Yes. You must provide a domiciliation (home, leased office, or domiciliation company). This address appears on your Kbis and invoices.
Can I start as a micro-entrepreneur and switch later?
Yes. Many founders validate traction as micro then migrate to SASU or EURL for investor readiness, limited liability, and remuneration flexibility.
Can I invoice while waiting for my SIRET?
You may issue invoices in the company name using the mention “Siret en cours d’attribution” until the number arrives. Don’t invoice as a private individual if the company has been filed.
Which form is best for raising investment?
SAS/SASU is typically preferred by investors for its governance flexibility and share-class options.
What French do I need for admin?
Basic business French helps with banks, insurers, and platforms. If you’re settling long-term, note that language requirements are tightening for certain residence statuses from 2026. See Language Requirements in France (2026).
Final notes
For British founders, France offers a clear path: pick the right residence permit, select a structure that fits your growth plan, register via the Guichet unique, and align VAT/social from day one. With clean setup and compliant invoicing, you can focus on customers, not paperwork.
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