Setting up a French company
Choose between SAS, SARL, SA or SCI — and structure your first French entity around how you actually plan to operate.
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Call us: +33 1 84 88 31 00
From distribution agreements to termination and indemnity risk, exclusivity and competition compliance — registered French lawyers advising you in clear English on every legal decision behind building your distributor network in France.
France protects distributors more aggressively than most jurisdictions. A poorly drafted agreement does not simply fail — it actively exposes the supplier to claims that did not exist before the contract was signed.
If your distribution agreement is not built around French commercial law, four risks materialise:
Rupture Brutale — Article L442-1, II Of The Code De Commerce. Ending an established commercial relationship without sufficient written notice triggers damages calculated on lost margin during the missing notice period. Notice obligations apply regardless of contract wording.
Significant imbalance (déséquilibre significatif). French courts strike down clauses imposing disproportionate obligations on the distributor — even where both parties signed knowingly.
Pre-contractual disclosure breach — Loi Doubin, Article L330-3. If the agreement creates exclusivity or quasi-exclusivity, failure to deliver the prescribed disclosure document at least 20 days before signature can void the agreement.
Requalification as a commercial agent — Articles L134-1 et seq. Poor drafting can transform your distributor into a commercial agent, triggering a statutory termination indemnity equal to up to two years of commission.
We assess your product, margins and territory and recommend the right model — exclusive, selective or non-exclusive — under French and EU vertical restraints rules.
Where exclusivity or quasi-exclusivity is on the table, we prepare the Article L330-3 disclosure document and ensure the mandatory 20-day waiting period before signature.
Bespoke distribution agreement covering territory, pricing, exclusivity, IP licensing, reporting, minimum performance, term, renewal and — critically — termination notice periods consistent with Article L442-1 of the French Commercial Code.
English and French versions, signature-ready, with a memo explaining the operative clauses so your commercial team can use the contract without legal hand-holding.
We remain on call for renewals, amendments, performance disputes, and — when necessary — structured termination that does not trigger rupture brutale claims.
Includes Loi Doubin disclosure preparation and bilingual contract drafting
Complex matters (multi-territory, group structures, IP-heavy products) on quote
No hidden costs, no recurring subscription, no platform fees
No upselling of registered offices, virtual accounts or unrelated services
No confusing “packages” hiding extra charges
Only real legal services tailored to protect your distribution channel
Optional follow-on retainer for renewals and amendments
A French lawyer ("avocat) registered with a French Bar with full rights to practice — not a paralegal service, not a template factory.
Every deliverable lands in English and French, signature-ready and consistent — your commercial team uses it without translation.
Quoted upfront. You know the cost before we begin the work.
A French avocat experienced in exclusive, selective and non-exclusive networks handles your agreement start to finish — no junior delegation, no hand-offs mid-engagement.
Optional retainer covers renewals, amendments and structured terminations so notice-period disputes never catch you without counsel.
Fast turnaround: Your distribution agreement drafted and ready to sign in days, not weeks.
Compliant documents: Every agreement drafted in line with French law — Loi Doubin disclosure, competition rules and rupture brutale protection built in.
Clarity & Protection: Territory, pricing, exclusivity and exit terms designed to be clear, practical and protective of you as the supplier — especially when a distributor underperforms or you need to end the relationship.
Your registered office (siège social) is the company's legal address — it determines the competent commercial court, the tax office and the publication requirements that apply to the company.
It must be a real address you are entitled to use: owned or leased premises, a domiciliation contract, or the legal representative's home under the conditions set by Article L123-11-1 of the Code de commerce.
Changing it later means a statutory amendment, a board or shareholder decision, an updated Kbis and a publication — so it is worth getting right from the start.
We confirm the address is valid for your structure, draft the supporting documents and file the registration so your Kbis issues without a rejection from the greffe.
Where a domiciliation company is used, we check the contract meets the legal conditions and that mail handling and availability obligations are actually met.
If you operate from several sites, we set the principal establishment correctly and register secondary establishments where the law requires it.
Any time a strategic decision changes how the company is owned, governed or contractually bound — incorporation, fundraising, M&A, restructuring, shareholder agreements, or major commercial contracts. Earlier engagement always costs less than later remediation.
A notary (notaire) is a public officer who authenticates specific deeds (mainly real-estate transfers and certain family-law acts). A corporate lawyer (avocat) advises on strategy, negotiates and drafts company documents, and represents you in disputes. The two roles complement rather than overlap.
Yes — most of our clients are foreign suppliers, investors or holding entities. We bridge the gap between French law and your home jurisdiction's expectations and deliver everything bilingually.
The SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) is the default choice for most international structures: flexible governance, single shareholder allowed, no minimum capital, and works cleanly with foreign holding entities. We assess SARL, SA, SCI on the merits when the situation calls for it.
Yes — communications with a French avocat are protected by the secret professionnel (Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971). This protection is broader than the common-law attorney-client privilege and applies to written and oral exchanges.
We work on fixed fees for clearly scoped engagements (incorporation, contract drafting, audits) and on monthly retainers for ongoing advisory. Hourly billing is the exception, not the default. You always know the cost before work starts.
Typical timeline is 2–3 weeks from KYC kick-off to RCS registration, assuming standard documentation. Holding-company structures, foreign-shareholder identification or in-kind contributions can extend this — we flag the gating items at the first meeting.
Absolutely. We routinely coordinate with your in-house counsel, expert-comptable or notaire — pragmatic collaboration is the norm, not the exception. We send them everything they need to do their part without duplicating work.
Avocate au Barreau de Paris
Toque #C2396
15+ Years In Corporate Practice
English · French · Russian
Ready When You Are
A 20–30 minute call, in English, to scope the engagement. No obligation, no preliminary fee. You will leave the call with a clear view of what the work will cover and what it will cost.
Choose between SAS, SARL, SA or SCI — and structure your first French entity around how you actually plan to operate.
Read MoreDistribution, agency, supply, services and IP licences — drafted around the protections French law actually gives.
Read MoreShareholder conflicts, commercial breaches and pre-litigation strategy — handled by the same team that knows the file.
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