Business registers in France

Overview

France maintains a comprehensive and partially centralized company information system, built around the Registre National des Entreprises (RNE) and the Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés (RCS). The country has made significant progress in digitizing business registration and disclosure processes, with the creation of the RNE in January 2023 representing a major milestone in consolidating corporate data.

The French approach combines mandatory registration requirements for most business forms with relatively broad public access to company information. Financial statements are generally available, though micro and small enterprises may request confidentiality. UBO information is mandatory; access was restricted to the public following the 2022 European Court of Justice ruling but remains available to legitimate interest users.

For KYB (Know Your Business) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) professionals, France offers rich company data through multiple channels, though there is a degree of complexity in navigating the various official data providers, notably INPI, Infogreffe, and INSEE.

Official Registers

Registre National des Entreprises (RNE)

Since 1 January 2023, the Registre National des Entreprises has served as the central register for all businesses operating in France. Maintained by the Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle (INPI), it consolidates information previously scattered across multiple registers and covers commercial, artisanal, agricultural, and independent activities.

The RNE centralizes all company information and serves as a single point of registration for new businesses ("Guichet Unique"). It includes data on company identity, legal form, address, registration status, and management. The register is updated continuously as businesses file changes.

Access to the RNE is available through INPI's online services, with basic company searches available to the public.

Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés (RCS) & Infogreffe

The Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés remains the foundational commercial register for companies in France, maintained by the clerks of commercial courts (greffiers des tribunaux de commerce), operating website Infogreffe under a economic interest grouping. The RCS was first established in 1919 and has undergone several revisions, including computerization in 1973 and strengthened controls over the decades.

The RCS contains comprehensive information on registered companies, including legal name, registration number (SIREN), legal form, registered address, share capital, management details, and company status. It also holds filed documents such as articles of association, financial statements and annual accounts.

France's official proof of company registration, the "Kbis", is extracted from the RCS and deliveried . Information from the RCS feeds into broader systems and is accessible through Infogreffe (website & API).

Registre des Bénéficiaires Effectifs (RBE)

The Registre des Bénéficiaires Effectifs is France's UBO register, established in August 2017 in accordance with EU anti-money laundering directives. The register is managed by the greffiers des tribunaux de commerce and centralized by INPI for EU interconnection and access purposes.

All companies registered with the RCS must declare their beneficial owners—natural persons who ultimately own or control more than 25% of the company or exercise control through other means. The declaration must be filed at registration and updated within 30 days of any change.

Since 31 July 2024, following the European Court of Justice ruling of 22 November 2022, public access to UBO information has been restricted. Only competent authorities, obliged entities under AML regulations, and persons demonstrating legitimate interest can access the full register.

INSEE / Sirene

The Institut National de la Statistique et des Études Économiques (INSEE) maintains the Sirene register, which records the civil status of all companies and establishments in France regardless of legal form or sector. This includes companies, sole traders, craftsmen, liberal professions, farmers, local authorities, and associations.

Sirene assigns the SIREN number (9-digit company identifier) and SIRET number (14-digit establishment identifier), along with the NAF code indicating business activity sector. The register covers metropolitan France and overseas territories.

A situation statement from Sirene with basic information can be issued by INSEE for any legal entity in France.

Journal Officiel / Moniteur

Official company announcements, including incorporation notices and changes to articles of association for associations, are published in the Journal Officiel. The Portail de la Publicité Légale des Entreprises, established in June 2016, provides unified access to legal advertising and company information.

Registration and publication requirements

Commercial companies

All commercial companies with their registered office in France must register with the RCS and RNE. This includes:

• Limited liability companies (SARL, EURL)
• Joint stock companies (SA, SAS, SASU, SCA)
• Partnerships (SNC, SCS) under certain conditions
• European companies (SE) and economic interest groupings (GIE)
• Foreign companies with establishments in France

Annual accounts: Commercial companies must file annual accounts with the clerk of the commercial court within seven months after the financial year end (six months for preparation and approval, plus 30 days for filing). Filed accounts become part of the public record.

However, micro-enterprises and small companies may request confidentiality for their annual accounts. Following a decree of 28 February 2024, the thresholds for eligibility were increased, allowing more small businesses to benefit from this option.

Certain partnerships, such as SNC and SCS where all partners are natural persons, may be exempt from the filing requirement under specific conditions.

UBO declaration: Mandatory at registration and upon any change, to be filed within 30 days. Failure to comply can result in fines up to €7,500 and imprisonment.

Sole traders (Entreprise Individuelle)

Sole traders (entrepreneurs individuels) must register with the RNE. Those engaged in commercial activities are also registered with the RCS, while artisans are registered with the relevant professional sections.

Sole traders are subject to bookkeeping requirements but generally have no obligation to file annual accounts publicly. They are not required to make UBO declarations, as they are natural persons by definition.

Micro-entrepreneurs (formerly auto-entrepreneurs) follow simplified registration and tax procedures but remain subject to core registration obligations.

Associations and non-profits

French law recognizes three main types of not-for-profit organizations: associations (under the Loi 1901), foundations, and endowment funds (fonds de dotation).

Associations may operate undeclared (de facto associations) but must declare in the Journal Officiel to gain legal personality, open bank accounts, and conduct fundraising. Declared associations must maintain up-to-date statutes.

Associations are not registered in the RCS unless they engage in certain commercial activities or issue bonds. Those meeting size thresholds may be required to file annual accounts and declare beneficial owners who hold decision-making power.

Basic information about associations is available in the Répertoire National des Associations. Associations in Alsace-Moselle are under a different legislative framework and are listed in their own register.

Foundations and endowment funds have separate legal frameworks with their own registration and reporting requirements.

Summary table

With Topograph

Topograph provides streamlined access to French company information through our API and web application, aggregating data from multiple official sources.

Available Data

Company profile:

• Legal name and trade name
• SIREN/SIRET numbers, EUID and VAT number
• Legal form
• Registered address
• Share capital
• Registration status and date
• Main activity & Activity sector (NAF/NACE code)

Legal representatives:

• Names, positions, DoB, nationality and personal address of directors
• Appointment and resignation information

Ultimate beneficial owners:

• Names, dates of birth, and address
• Nature and extent of ownership or control

Available Documents

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