Ownership (SARL vs SAS in France)

For SARL: Consolidated Ownership. For SAS: Consolidated Ownership.

Limited Liability (SARL vs SAS in France)

For SARL: Positive. For SAS: Positive.

Publicly Participates In Capital Market (SARL vs SAS in France)

For SARL: Negative. For SAS: Positive.

Legal Representative Not Mandatory (SARL vs SAS in France)

For SARL: Negative. For SAS: Positive.

Local Directors Not Mandatory (SARL vs SAS in France)

For SARL: Positive. For SAS: Positive.

Local Secretaries Not Mandatory (SARL vs SAS in France)

For SARL: Positive. For SAS: Positive.

Capital Injection Not Required (SARL vs SAS in France)

For SARL: Negative. For SAS: Negative.

Legal Entity Comparison

France SARL vs SAS

Q: Minimum Registered Capital Requirement (SARL vs SAS in France)

For SARL: 1. Starting from 1 euro.. For SAS: 1. In principle, the minimum amount for account opening is 1 euro, and for consultancy on operation, the minimum amount is 2000 euros..

SARL is a legal entity in France, with the full name Société à Responsabilité Limitée, abbreviated as SARL. It is a type of company with limited liability and a mixed ownership structure. SARL does not publicly participate in the market, thus it does not need to publicly issue shares. According to French law, SARL needs at least one shareholder at the time of establishment. In addition, SARL also requires at least one director to manage company affairs. Unlike companies in other countries, SARL can have directors from any nationality and does not require a local person to be appointed. Furthermore, SARL does not need to designate a legal representative or have a company secretary. The minimum registered capital starts from 1 euro and requirement for capital verification. Overall, SARL is a flexible and simple legal entity suitable for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Updated 2026-03-31

Legal entity type

Compare with

Compare Legal Entity

France

France Legal Entity Comparison

Updated 2026-03-31

Basic Information

SARL

SAS

Ownership:

Consolidated Ownership

Ownership:

Consolidated Ownership

Limited Liability:

Positive

Limited Liability:

Positive

Publicly Participates In Capital Market:

Negative

Publicly Participates In Capital Market:

Positive

Shareholder / Director / Secretary Requirements

SARL

SAS

Requirements For Shareholders:

Due to the SARL company type, it requires shareholders to pay annual social security tax in France (up to 5000 euros/year), we recommend that clients provide two shareholders to register the SARL company in France to omit this requirement.

Requirements For Shareholders:

At least one shareholder.

Requirements For Directors ::

At least one

Requirements For Directors ::

At least one

Legal Representative Not Mandatory:

Negative

Legal Representative Not Mandatory:

Positive

Local Directors Not Mandatory:

Positive

Local Directors Not Mandatory:

Positive

Local Secretaries Not Mandatory:

Positive

Local Secretaries Not Mandatory:

Positive

Registered Capital Requirement

SARL

SAS

Minimum Registered Capital Requirement:

1. Starting from 1 euro.

Minimum Registered Capital Requirement:

1. In principle, the minimum amount for account opening is 1 euro, and for consultancy on operation, the minimum amount is 2000 euros.

Capital Injection Not Required:

Negative

Capital Injection Not Required:

Negative

Capital Injection Requirement:

At least 50% of the registered capital must be paid in cash before company incorporation. If the cash deposit is less than 100% of the registered capital, an auditor is required for contribution in kind. Thus TKEG Expat recommend paying 100% of the registered capital in cash.

Capital Injection Requirement:

N/A