We Offer Strategic Legal Services
Modify an Existing Company in France
Update, restructure, or adjust your French company with ease.
Our corporate lawyers and paralegals handle every step of the modification process — from drafting updated legal documents to filing with the Commercial Court Registry and obtaining your new Kbis extract. Whether you need to change your company name, registered office, management structure, or share capital, FrenchCo.lawyer ensures your company remains fully compliant with French law.
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What Does It Mean to Modify a Company in France?
Modifying a French company (SARL, SAS, EURL, SCI, etc.) means officially updating its legal structure or governance through an amendment to its articles of association. These changes must be approved by the shareholders (or the sole shareholder, where applicable), formally drafted, and registered with the Trade and Companies Registry (RCS).
Such modifications ensure that your company’s legal documentation accurately reflects its real situation and complies with French corporate law.
Common reasons for modification include:
Changing the company name (to align with a new brand or activity)
Transferring the registered office (within France or abroad)
Appointing or changing the manager/president
Adjusting the share capital (increase, reduction, or restructuring)
Altering the company’s corporate purpose (objet social)
Updating governance clauses or shareholder rights
Each modification must be carried out with precision and legal rigor, as the updated bylaws and filings will govern your company’s operations and relations with third parties.
How to Modify your Company in France?
At FrenchCo.lawyer, we simplify every corporate modification.
Our process ensures legal accuracy, rapid execution, and regulatory compliance from start to finish.
Assessment of Your Current Situation
We begin by reviewing your company’s existing documents (bylaws, Kbis extract, previous filings) to determine the appropriate legal steps and documents required for the change you wish to make.
Drafting the Legal Amendments
Our lawyers prepare all relevant legal instruments: the minutes of the shareholders’ decision, the amended articles of association, and — where necessary — the legal notice for publication in a journal d’annonces légales.
Handling Ancillary Formalities
We assist with related steps such as updating the beneficial ownership declaration, notifying your bank of changes, and obtaining any supporting certificates required by the registry.
Filing with the Commercial Court Registry
Once all documents are finalized, we assemble and file the complete dossier (minutes, amended bylaws, proof of publication, registry forms) with the relevant Greffe du Tribunal de Commerce.
Delivery of the Updated Kbis
After validation, we provide you with the new Kbis extract, confirming that your company’s modifications are now officially registered and enforceable.
What We Need From You to Modify Your French Company
Our dedicated lawyers and paralegals handle every aspect of your company modification efficiently and with full legal security.
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What We Need From You to a Create Your Company in France ?
To modify your company efficiently, we will simply ask for the following:
Current Company Information
Your company’s Kbis extract, existing bylaws, and a brief description of the intended changes.
Shareholder or Manager Identification
Copies of identification for the current and new officers or shareholders (if applicable), along with proof of address.
Supporting Documentation
For a change of address, you will need to provide a lease, property deed, or domiciliation contract. In the case of a capital change, a bank certificate is required, or an auditor’s report if in-kind contributions are involved. For a change in management, you must include both the resignation and appointment letters.
And Then?
Once we have these materials, our team drafts the necessary legal documents, arranges publication in the official gazette, files the modification with the registry, and delivers your updated Kbis extract — confirming the change is legally registered.
Create a Company in France – Simple Process, Transparent Pricing
Flat legal fee starting from €499 excl. taxes*
Additional mandatory costs: publication in a legal gazette + court registry fees
No hidden extras — clear, upfront pricing.
Our commitment:
We are lawyers, not brokers or resellers of add-ons.
No unnecessary upsells for virtual offices or accounting services
No confusing “packages” — only real legal work
Direct support from licensed French lawyers
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Why Modify your Company with FrenchCo.lawyer?
We Believe in Transparent, Reliable Legal Support
Fast and compliant process: every change filed promptly with full legal accuracy.
Comprehensive service: from drafting amendments to obtaining the new Kbis
Clear, protective documents: all modifications drafted to safeguard your company and its shareholders.
Professional legal quality: all steps managed under the supervision of registered French lawyers.
Professional legal quality: all steps managed under the supervision of registered French lawyers
Let our legal experts manage the formalities —
so you can concentrate on your business growth.
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Understanding the Modification of French Company
Can a foreigner create and manage a company in France?
Yes. Foreign individuals and legal entities can validly approve and file company modifications in France (e.g., change of name, seat, manager, capital, purpose), and foreigners may be appointed as gérant (SARL/EURL) or président (SAS/SASU). The formalities vary depending on nationality and whether the manager will live in France.
1) Managers living abroad
If the manager does not plan to reside in France, no residence permit is required to be appointed. The appointment and any other company changes are registered with the Registre du commerce et des sociétés (RCS). You can therefore run and modify a French company from abroad, provided the corporate decisions and filings comply with French law.
How do I change the registered office (siège social)?
Changing the siège social is one of the most common modifications and has concrete effects (jurisdiction, publications, competent registry).
Where can you move the registered office?
- Owned or leased business premises: Provide deed or commercial lease.
- Manager’s home address: Permitted in many cases (sometimes time-limited to five years or subject to co-ownership/lease rules, especially in large cities).
- Domiciliation company: Use an approved domiciliation provider (arrêté/prefectural approval) for a professional address and related services.
- Parent company’s premises: Possible when one entity has valid enjoyment of the premises.
Risks if rules are ignored:
- Expired temporary domiciliation → potential strike-off from the RCS.
- Breach of lease/co-ownership clauses → lease termination and damages.
- Non-approved domiciliators → fines and refusal/rectification by the registry.
Process snapshot: Shareholder decision → amended bylaws → journal d’annonces légales publication → RCS filing → updated Kbis.
What tax consequences can corporate modifications trigger?
Modifications can create tax filing and timing effects:
- Capital increase: No corporate tax on the company for receiving paid-in capital; fees and registration duties may apply; future dividend and thin-cap ratios may change.
- Capital reduction: If repurchase of shares or distribution of amounts exceeds certain thresholds, part may be treated as distributed income to the shareholder—tax and social effects depend on status (individual vs. entity, majority vs. minority, IS vs. IR).
- Change of tax regime (IR/IS): Optional switches are strictly regulated (eligibility, timing, duration). Changing partners or activity may affect eligibility or cessation rules.
- Change of registered office to another jurisdiction: May trigger different local taxes and formalities.
- Change of business purpose (objet social): If it amounts to a significant change of activity, it can have tax consequences (e.g., loss carryforwards, step-up rules, or the tax authority’s review).
Always align the legal decision date, publications, and RCS filing with tax effective dates (payroll, VAT, corporate tax options).
Should I keep my current form or transform (e.g., EURL ↔ SASU) before modifying?
For some projects, it’s cleaner to transform first, then roll out further changes.
Governance & flexibility
- EURL/SARL: Predictable, code-driven governance; good for stable ownership and traditional operations.
- SAS/SASU: Highly flexible bylaws; ideal if you plan to welcome investors, implement vesting, preferred shares, or complex governance.
Social & costs
- EURL majority gérant: TNS (lower contributions, leaner protection).
- SASU president: Assimilé-salarié (higher charges, broader protection).
Switching form may shift the social and payroll landscape—plan accordingly.
Financing & future rounds
- SAS/SASU is typically investor-friendly; easier issuance/transfer of shares and customized rights.
- EURL/SARL can be adapted, but transformations and shareholder approvals add steps.
Quick View — Transform before or after other changes?
Objective | Better Path |
Bring in investors, set preferred rights | Transform to SAS/SASU first |
Optimize social charges for majority founder | Consider EURL/SARL (TNS) |
Simplify quick, single change (e.g., address) | Modify in the current form |
Is there a minimum capital to modify my company (e.g., for a capital increase or reduction)?
There is no statutory minimum to amend capital itself; the rule is about the amount you set and the procedure you follow.
- Capital increase: Decide the amount and form (cash, in-kind, incorporation of reserves), update the bylaws, publish a legal notice, and file with the registry. In-kind contributions may require an independent appraiser (commissaire aux apports), subject to exemptions.
- Capital reduction: May be motivated by losses or optimization. Requires a shareholders’ decision, creditor protection steps where applicable, legal notice, bylaws update, and filing.
Beware of under-capitalization risks:
- Credibility & financing: Very low capital may trigger requests for personal guarantees and limit access to credit.
- Loss of half of capital: If equity falls below 50% of stated capital, the sole shareholder(s) must decide whether to recapitalize or dissolve within legal timelines.
- Management liability: Failing to address a critical equity situation can engage the manager’s responsibility.
Practical tip: You can set nominal capital low and use shareholder current accounts or future increases, but a realistic capital level often reassures banks and partners.
Do company modifications impact the manager’s social security status?
Not always, but some changes can have social effects:
- Sole-shareholder manager (EURL/SARL majority gérant)
- Remains affiliated to the self-employed (TNS) scheme.
- Changes that alter remuneration, dividends, or ownership level can impact contribution bases (e.g., dividends exceeding certain thresholds in IS-taxed companies are partly subject to social contributions for majority managers).
- Non-shareholder manager (SARL) / President of SAS(SASU)
- Typically assimilé-salarié (employee-like) under the general scheme (no unemployment unless a real employment contract exists).
- Changing the mandate, title, or compensation policy may adjust social charges but not the fundamental regime.
- Manager residing outside France
- Coverage depends on residence and applicable bilateral/EU rules (A1 certificates within the EU/EEA/Switzerland, treaty-based coordination outside the EU).
A change of residence or mandate may require social coverage updates and notifications.
Should I keep my current form or transform (e.g., EURL ↔ SASU) before modifying?
For some projects, it’s cleaner to transform first, then roll out further changes.
Governance & flexibility
- EURL/SARL: Predictable, code-driven governance; good for stable ownership and traditional operations.
- SAS/SASU: Highly flexible bylaws; ideal if you plan to welcome investors, implement vesting, preferred shares, or complex governance.
Social & costs
- EURL majority gérant: TNS (lower contributions, leaner protection).
- SASU president: Assimilé-salarié (higher charges, broader protection).
Switching form may shift the social and payroll landscape—plan accordingly.
Financing & future rounds
- SAS/SASU is typically investor-friendly; easier issuance/transfer of shares and customized rights.
- EURL/SARL can be adapted, but transformations and shareholder approvals add steps.
Quick View — Transform before or after other changes?
Objective | Better Path |
Bring in investors, set preferred rights | Transform to SAS/SASU first |
Optimize social charges for majority founder | Consider EURL/SARL (TNS) |
Simplify quick, single change (e.g., address) | Modify in the current form |
Set Up Your Company Modification
Let our French lawyers & paralegals prepare the decisions, amend the bylaws, publish the legal notice, file at the RCS, and deliver the updated Kbis.
More About Set Up your Company Modification
Do You Need to Modify Your Existing French Company?
Yes. Any modification — such as a change of registered office, manager, company name, share capital, or activity — must be declared and registered with the French Commercial Registry (RCS). These updates ensure your company’s legal documents and public records stay compliant. Foreign shareholders can make such changes remotely, provided supporting documents are submitted through a French representative or legal agent.
Which changes require a company modification filing in France?
Common modifications include a change of registered office, company name, manager (gérant or president), share capital, business activity (objet social), or articles of association (statuts). Each amendment must be published in an official gazette and filed with the Commercial Court Registry.
Can I modify my company if it is temporarily inactive?
Yes. Even if your company is dormant, you may change its registered address, management, or share structure. However, certain updates — such as resuming activity — require additional filings and updated corporate resolutions.
Can foreign shareholders modify a French company remotely?
Yes. Non-resident shareholders and directors can approve and sign modification documents electronically. A French-registered legal representative must then complete the gazette publication and RCS filing on their behalf.
What documents are required to modify a company in France?
You’ll need an updated set of articles of association, shareholder or board resolution, identification of new officers, proof of address (for any change of seat), and publication notice. All documents must be submitted in French or with certified translations.
Who is liable for company acts during modification?
The company remains liable for all acts carried out in its name before and after modification. However, if filings are delayed, managers or directors may be personally liable for non-compliance penalties until the change is officially registered.
What are the costs of modifying a company in France?
Costs include legal drafting and filing fees, the mandatory gazette publication (around €150), and registry fees (about €70–100 depending on the type of modification). Using a lawyer ensures accuracy and avoids rejection or re-filing costs.
