The role of the CFE: Centre de Formalités des Entreprises (Business Formalities Centre)

Are you setting up your own business? The CFE will be one of your main contacts.

CFE stands for Centre de Formalités des Entreprises.

The purpose of the CFE is to support entrepreneurs and make it easier for them to carry out all the administrative formalities involved in setting up a business.

It is nevertheless necessary to clarify the role of this institution.

Focus today on the role of the CFE!

The CFE's informative role 

First, we need to look at the CFE's role in providing information.

The latter acts as a one-stop shop for official terms and conditions.

As well as being able to support you in setting up your structure, it acts as a reliable government contact where a wealth of information is centralized.

As a result, the CFE is responsible for transmitting all the information concerning the creation of your company to the various institutions concerned(Greffe, INSEE, CRAM, URSSAF, etc.).

In short, it's a one-stop shop for all company registration procedures, making life easier for entrepreneurs.

A role of support and follow-up during company creation

Secondly, the CFE's role is to help entrepreneurs set up their business.

The latter is involved from the moment a company is set up, and continues to support the project owner through every stage of the process.

This support can be found at every important stage of a company's development

The CFE is in fact a place where it is possible to submit declarations relating to :

• To a creation
• A change of situation
• A cessation of activity

Which CFE to contact: geographically and by type of business? 

Finally, there are different CFEs

Who you choose as your contact depends on two criteria:

• The legal form of the latter
• The structure's sector of activity you are going to develop (craft, commercial, agricultural, self-employed...)
  • If your business is commercial, you'll need to contact the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
  • If you are self-employed, you must contact the Registrar of the Commercial Court (Greffe du Tribunal de Commerce).
  • If you run a craft business, you'll need to contact the Chambre de Métiers et de l'Artisanat.
  • If your activity is agricultural, you will need to contact the Chamber of Agriculture.
  • If your business is related to inland waterway transport, you will need to contact the Chambre Nationale de la Batellerie Artisanale (National Chamber of Inland Waterway Transport).
  • If you work as a self-employed individual, you should contact URSSAF.

In addition to this, it is also necessary to contact the CFE of your département, as these entities have territorial jurisdiction .

In conclusion, it is vital to maintain a good relationship with the CFE, as it is a key contact for any entrepreneurial project.