The capital is deposited into an account opened in the name of the company in formation, with a bank or a notary (the Caisse des dépôts has no longer accepted it since 1 June 2021, and a payment institution cannot receive it). This deposit applies to commercial companies (SAS, SASU, SARL, EURL); it is not mandatory for an SCI. The depositary issues a certificate of deposit of funds, which is required for registration. The money is released to the company's account after registration. You must pay in at least 50% of cash contributions for a SAS or SASU, and 20% for a SARL or EURL. 
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The steps
- Open an account in the name of the company in formation, based on the draft articles of association.
- Pay in the contributions (at least 50% for a SAS/SASU, 20% for a SARL/EURL; the balance within 5 years).
- Receive the certificate of deposit of funds (names of the shareholders, amounts, date, depositary's signature).
- Attach the certificate to the registration file.
- After registration, send the Kbis (certificate of incorporation) to the bank to release the funds.
How much should you deposit?
The capital is freely set from €1. Higher capital reassures banks and customers, and protects against the procedure triggered when equity falls below half of the share capital. Service-public
Bank fees
The deposit itself is not a cost: the money belongs to the company. Some banks charge for opening the account or for the deposit service; compare offers.
With LegalRapide
The certificate of deposit goes straight into your file. See also can I form my company if my capital is already deposited? and do I need to deposit the capital before signing the articles of association?
Frequently asked questions
Can you use the capital before the Kbis?
No. The funds are blocked until registration.
Is the capital a formation cost?
No, it belongs to the company.
Written by Razvan Toma, founder of LegalRapide. How we check our figures · LinkedIn