A SARL (private limited liability company) is set up with two to one hundred partners and freely set capital from €1, and is run by one or more managers (gérants); a majority manager is TNS (self-employed status), while a minority or equal-share manager is treated as an employee. At current rates, the mandatory legal fees for a SARL in mainland France come to €230.76 incl. VAT (greffe, beneficial owners declaration and legal notice). With LegalRapide's Essentiel plan, setup costs €0 excl. VAT: you only pay these legal fees. Sources (3)
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Who is it for?
A good fit if: You want a framework set by law, reassuring for a family business or partners who know each other.
Good to know: Less flexible than the SAS: share transfers are regulated and majority rules are set by law.
Key features
| Point | SARL |
|---|---|
| Partners | Two to one hundred partners |
| Capital | Freely set, €1 minimum; at least 20% of cash contributions paid in at setup, the balance within 5 years |
| Management | One or more managers; a majority manager is TNS, a minority or equal-share manager is treated as an employee |
| Taxation | Corporate tax by default (income tax option possible under conditions for a family SARL) |
| Liability | Limited to contributions |
Setup steps
- Choose the name, business activity, registered office and amount of capital.
- Draft the articles of association (with LegalRapide: generated from your answers).
- Deposit the capital in a bank account in the name of the company being formed and obtain the certificate of deposit of funds.
- Sign the articles of association.
- Publish the legal notice of incorporation.
- File the application with the guichet unique (one-stop online portal), which forwards it to the greffe, Insee, URSSAF and the tax office.
- Receive the Kbis extract once the greffe has approved it.
How much does it cost?
| Item | Current amount |
|---|---|
| Registration (greffe) | €33.83 |
| Beneficial owners declaration | €19.33 |
| Legal notice of incorporation (mainland flat rate) | €148 excl. VAT, i.e. €177.60 incl. VAT |
| LegalRapide service, Essentiel plan | €0 excl. VAT |
| Total with the Essentiel plan | €230.76 incl. VAT |
| Option: Rapide plan (+ €149 excl. VAT, filing within 24 business hours) | €409.56 incl. VAT |
Capital is not a cost: it stays with the company. See is share capital a cost? Service-public
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum capital for a SARL?
€1. At least 20% of cash contributions must be paid in at setup, the rest within 5 years.
How much does it cost to set up a SARL?
€230.76 incl. VAT in legal fees in mainland France at current rates, plus any provider's service fee.
Written by Razvan Toma, founder of LegalRapide. How we check our figures · LinkedIn