The registered address is to a SASU what the official place of residence is to an individual.
In practical terms, this is the address that determines nationality, country of taxation and the competent courts in the event of a dispute.
This is an issue that needs to be addressed very carefully when setting up a company.
There are several alternatives: the manager's personal home, renting business premises or using a domiciliation company.
Let's review the advantages and disadvantages of each in the case of a SASU.
For as little as a few dozen euros a month, they protect your privacy, provide you with a prestigious address and lighten your day-to-day workload by taking on a host of tedious, low-value-added tasks .
In concrete terms, you can choose your address from a wide range of prestigious locations in the most sought-after districts of Paris, to win the confidence of all your partners and customers.
Using a domiciliation company does not prevent you from carrying on your business in another location, such as commercial premises in a less prestigious geographical area, or from your home!
Domiciliary companies offer you a number of additional services, such as daily mail handling.
Companies have developed "à la carte" services to suit all budgets, adding secretarial services, telephone hotlines, legal assistance or the provision of premises for meetings, for example.
The retention of accounting and administrative documents is one of the legal obligations that all domiciliation companies must provide to their customers. Contracts are valid for a minimum of three months, and can be renewed by tacit agreement without notice.
French law allows SASU directors to domicile their company at their personal address. In some condominiums, the bylaws may prevent this. If this is not the case, you must inform your landlord, lessor or syndic of your decision.
In towns with more than 200,000 inhabitants, as well as in Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne, if the activity is carried out on the first floor, it must not lead to any disorder or danger within the building.
If you work upstairs, you will not be able to receive customers or merchandise.
For many SASU managers, the lure of saving money is what motivates their choice in favor of their personal home. It's true that there's no need to pay rent. It is also possible to pass on a number of expenses shared between your personal life and your personal business (your internet connection package, for example, etc.).
But in reality, there are several disadvantages:
- It is forbidden to domicile your company in your own home for more than 5 years.
- Making this choice does not exempt you from paying the CFE.
- This has major implications for your privacy. By publishing your head office address on all your company's official documents, you make it visible to the general public. It will also be automatically listed in online business directories that can be viewed anywhere on the web.
All SASU managers can choose to domicile their company in rented commercial premises.
This solution is very costly, as it involves paying a monthly rent, which can be a heavy burden for a start-up company. It also commits you to a rental contract, with notice to be given if you wish to leave.
Lastly, it is often essential to provide a security deposit.
Unflexible and costly, it is not the most advantageous alternative for a young SASU, whose financial resources need to be mobilized for other purposes.
Choosing the right address for your company is a top priority.
Each of these three alternatives has its own advantages and disadvantages.
It's up to you to choose the one that best suits your needs- and your budget!
Written by our expert Paul LASBARRERES-CANDAU
April 25, 2019
