Legal status
What legal status to choose for your company ?
Different types of legal status are possible. This status can easily be modified at any time to correspond more effectively to your company's needs and development. Liaison office « A liaison office is a legal entity although not separate from the foreign company it represents.
Its roles are to :
> gather market information
> promote the foreign company's products/services »
Subsidiary
The difference between a subsidiary and liaison office is that the former takes full charge of all the company's business activities.
SA (Public Limited Company)
This status is closest to the 'US Corporation'. Authorized capital: at least € 37,000, only half to be paid immediately.
SARL (Private Limited Company) or EURL
This status is comparable to the German 'GmbH'. The SARL or EURL Operate just like the SA but is simply led by one General Manager. There is no minimum capital required. This one is freely settled by associates in function of the size, the activity and the needs of capital of the society to be created.
SAS
This legal structure is highly flexible. The separation of power, appointment of managers and modes of operation are based on bylaws. Minimum authorized capital : € 37,000.
Partnerships and similar entities
Other structures exist such as the SNC (the closest to the Anglo-Saxon partnership) and the EIG, chosen more for R & D projects or for scientific partnerships.
