France vs United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is £309 cheaper in year 1 and £238 a year cheaper after that.
| FranceSAS / SASU | United KingdomPrivate limited company (Ltd) | |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | ||
| Minimum, year 1 | £479 | £170 |
| Minimum, per year after | £288 | £50 |
| Typical year 1 | £3,154 | £1,510 |
| Government fee | £46€53.16 (€33.83 registration plus €19.33 beneficial owner declaration) | £100£100 online |
| Indirect setup | £145–1,585 | £20–300 |
| Running per year | £288–4,198 | £50–2,600 |
| Share capital | €1 | £1 |
| Rules | ||
| Directors | No local director | No local director |
| Remote setup | Through a providerOnline through the guichet unique. Non-residents usually need a local adviser. | Fully remoteDirectors must verify their ID with Companies House. |
| Audit | No audit below size thresholds | No audit for small companies |
| Time to form | 1 to 3 weeks | 1 to 2 days |
| Ease for foreign owners | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Tax and banking | ||
| Corporation tax | 15% / 25%25%, or 15% on the first €42,500 for small companies. | 19% / 25%25%, or 19% on profit under £50k. |
| Dividend withholding | Dividend withholding is 25% to companies and 12.8% to individuals. | None |
| VAT / GST | 20% | 20% |
| Banking | 2/5You need a capital deposit account before registering. Slow for non-residents. | 3/5High street banks often refuse non-residents. Wise, Revolut, Airwallex and Tide usually work. |
| All company setup fees in France | All company setup fees in the United Kingdom | |
Questions
Is France cheaper than the United Kingdom for company setup?
No. The United Kingdom is cheaper, at least £170 in year 1 against £479 for France.
Which is cheaper to run each year?
The United Kingdom, at least £50 a year against £288 for France.
Which needs a local director?
Neither. You can run a company in either without a local director.
Which is faster to set up?
The United Kingdom, in 1 to 2 days. France takes 1 to 3 weeks.
How does corporation tax compare?
France: 25%, or 15% on the first €42,500 for small companies. The United Kingdom: 25%, or 19% on profit under £50k.
Sources: Infogreffe · economie.gouv.fr · PwC · service-public.fr · Companies House