TL;DR
Yes. A German citizen can set up and run a company in France without a residence permit, whether they live in France or in Germany. The form closest to a GmbH is the SAS (or SASU with a single shareholder): liability limited to contributions, but capital set freely from €1, against €25,000 for a GmbH (§ 5 GmbHG), and articles of association signed privately, without a notary. Sources (2)
Service-publicService-public: can a foreigner set up a business in France?gesetze-im-internet.deGmbHG, § 5: minimum capital of a GmbH
French SAS and German GmbH
| Point | SAS / SASU | GmbH |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum capital | €1 | €25,000 |
| Articles of association | Drafted freely, electronic signature possible | Notarial deed |
| Director | President, treated as an employee for social security if paid | Geschäftsführer |
| Legal formation fees | €291.96 incl. VAT (SAS), €223.56 incl. VAT (SASU), current rates | Notary and register, depending on the case |
What changes if you live in Germany
- A registered office address in France is mandatory (an approved domiciliation provider if needed).
- A German identity card or passport is enough to prove your identity, generally without translation.
- If you work in both countries, the applicable social security system depends on the share of your activity carried out where you live (25% of your time or income). europa.eu
With LegalRapide
LegalRapide accepts founders who are nationals of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, whether they live in France or abroad.
Written by Razvan Toma, founder of LegalRapide. How we check our figures · LinkedIn