To start a business in mainland France or in the overseas departments and regions (DROM), it is important to follow several essential steps.
Choosing the legal structure of your company
A business creation project involves selecting the legal structure of the company. There are several:
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EURL: Single-member limited liability company
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SARL: Limited liability company
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SASU: Single-member simplified joint-stock company
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SAS: Simplified joint-stock company
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SA: Public limited company
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SCI: Real estate civil company
For creating a micro-enterprise, the following steps don't apply. A micro-entrepreneur benefits from simplified creation formalities by going directly to the Single Window website. The following creation steps therefore do not concern a person wishing to create their micro-enterprise.
Drafting by-laws
Drafting the articles of association is the first step in setting up your company. The articles govern the operation and structural organization of your company, including the appointment of the director and manager, voting procedures at the Annual General Meeting, distribution of shares, etc. The formalities for drafting the articles vary depending on the legal structure chosen.
Deposit the share capital
The next step is to deposit the share capital of your company. The share capital consists of the cash contributions of your company. A bank or a notary receives your capital deposit and gives you a certificate.
Publish an announcement in a legal gazette
Starting a company means publishing an announcement in a legal announcement journal (JAL). You have to pick a journal that covers the area where your company is set up. You'll get a certificate of publication.
File the application with the registry
The last administrative step in setting up your business is to submit your application to the Single Window for businesses. Since January 1, 2023, this formality is completed online and no longer through the commercial court registry.
Before diving into the administrative stuff, entrepreneurs need to think about a few things when building their business creation project.
Conducting market research is essential to measure the success and development potential of your future business. It helps you identify your target customers, potential competitors, and define the scope of your market area.
To obtain funding from a bank or business creation assistance, entrepreneurs are obliged to create a business plan. It informs stakeholders about the viability of your business creation or takeover project. It covers several themes: marketing, finance, sales, human resources.
The financial forecast estimates the financial results for the first three years of your company's accounting period. It highlights the viability and potential profitability of your business project.
These three documents must be carefully designed. It is recommended to use the experience of an accountant to help you create these documents, which are essential to convince your future investors and partners.
Whatever your situation, you might be able to get some help with setting up your business. Not all entrepreneurs have a huge budget to kickstart their business. You can apply for assistance to help you launch your business, even if you're self-employed. If you meet certain conditions, you could get the following types of support:
- ACRE, for job seekers (18-26 years old), provides initial support and partial exemption from social security contributions.
- NACRE supports entrepreneurs from the planning stage to the launch of their business creation project.
- The ARE provides financial support to job seekers by partially maintaining their unemployment benefits.
Some banks offer loans with preferential rates for entrepreneurs looking to launch their business. Don't hesitate to present your project to several banks to get an idea of what each one offers.
Communication is an essential strategy for attracting future customers and building their loyalty over time. Entrepreneurs starting a new business don't necessarily have a large communication budget. However, it's recommended to opt for affordable but effective digital marketing techniques when launching your company:
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Create a website optimized for search engines (SEO: Search Engine Optimization);
- Create your business listing on Google;
- Creating an ad campaign on Google (SEA: Search Engine Advertising)
- Develop a social media presence strategy (SMO: Search Engine Optimization)
Starting a business means doing your homework to show your project is viable and to win over investors and potential partners. Know-how isn't enough; it's important to get advice from experts who can guide you with their skills.
Another common mistake when creating a business is neglecting the importance of business domiciliation.
Domiciliation is your company's official address, used for administrative, tax, and legal correspondence. A carefully chosen domiciliation can offer many strategic advantages.
Why is domiciliation crucial?
A company's registered address plays a key role in its image and credibility.
A prestigious address in a business district can enhance the perception of your company among customers, partners, and investors.
In addition, a good registered address can offer additional services such as mail management, meeting rooms, and secretarial services.
The risks of a bad business address
Screwing this up can lead to administrative and tax headaches.
For example, if you pick a business address in the wrong area, it could limit your access to certain markets or local financial aid.
Plus, mistakes in your business address can complicate paperwork and hurt your company's reputation.
Protection of privacy
Another crucial aspect of domiciliation is protecting the privacy of the manager.
By using a professional registered address, the manager can avoid using their personal address, which protects their privacy and avoids mixing professional and personal life.
This is particularly important to prevent clients or partners from showing up at their private home.
Choose a business address with sedomicilier.fr
To avoid these pitfalls, it's a good idea to choose your business address with a professional service like sedomicilier.fr.
This service lets you pick a prestigious address that fits your needs while also giving you extra services to make managing your business easier day-to-day.
Plus, it makes sure there's a clear separation between your home and business address, which protects your privacy.
In conclusion, not taking your business's registered address seriously can hurt its growth. To maximize your chances of success, make sure you choose a strategic address with sedomicilier.fr, giving you a solid base for your business to grow while protecting your privacy.
Written by our expert Editorial staff
June 18, 2024