Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Why Opening a Business Bank Account in France is Important
• Challenges Non-Residents Face
• The Traditional Process for Non-Residents
• Clevver: A Solution to Speed Up the Process
• How to Get Started with Clevver
• Conclusion

France is a thriving market with vast opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesses alike. However, opening a business bank account in France as a non-resident can be a challenging process due to stringent banking regulations and the need for a physical presence in many cases.

This guide will walk you through the process of opening a business bank account in France as a non-resident and explore how services like Clevver can help streamline and accelerate the process.

Why Opening a Business Bank Account in France is Important

Having a French business bank account is essential for operating a company in France. It allows you to:

• Deposit Initial Share Capital: Required for company registration.
• Manage Business Finances: Including handling day-to-day transactions, payroll, and tax payments.
• Establish Credibility: A local bank account can enhance your business’s credibility with French clients and suppliers.

Challenges Non-Residents Face

Non-residents often encounter several challenges when attempting to open a business bank account in France:

1. In-Person Requirements: Many French banks require the account holder to be physically present in France to open an account. This can be a significant hurdle for non-residents, especially those living far from France.
2. Strict Documentation: French banks typically require extensive documentation, including proof of identity, proof of residence, and details of the business. For non-residents, providing a French address and navigating the French banking system can be particularly difficult.
3. Language Barrier: While some banks offer services in English, many require proficiency in French to navigate the account opening process and ongoing communications.
4. Time-Consuming Process: The process of opening a business bank account in France can be lengthy, often taking several weeks or even months, especially for non-residents who are unfamiliar with the local procedures.

The Traditional Process for Non-Residents

Here’s a step-by-step overview of the traditional process for opening a business bank account in France as a non-resident:

1. Choose a Bank: Non-residents need to select a bank that caters to international clients. Major banks like BNP Paribas, Société Générale, and HSBC France offer accounts to non-residents, but the process can be slow and bureaucratic. You will need to have a registered address in France and visit the bank in person.
2. Prepare Documentation: Typically, you’ll need to provide:
   • A valid passport.
   • Proof of address in your home country (utility bill or bank statement).
   • Proof of a business address in France (which can be challenging for non-residents).
   • A business plan or details about the company’s activities.
   • Tax identification number from your home country.
3. Visit France (if required): Banks will require you to be physically present to open the account, meaning you will need to travel to France, which adds time and cost to the process.
4. Deposit Initial Capital: Once the account is opened, you need to deposit the initial share capital required for your business structure (e.g., €1 for an SARL or SAS, €37,000 for an SA).
5. Wait for Account Activation: After submitting all the documents and depositing the capital, you may have to wait several weeks for the account to be fully operational.

Clevver: A Solution to Speed Up the Process

Given the complexities of opening a business bank account in France as a non-resident, many entrepreneurs and companies are turning to services like Clevver to simplify and expedite the process.

What is Clevver?

Clevver is a global service provider that specializes in virtual office solutions, company formation, and business banking services for international clients. They offer a streamlined process to help non-residents set up business bank accounts in France without the need to navigate the traditional banking hurdles.

How Clevver Can Help

1. Virtual Address in France: One of the key requirements for opening a bank account in France is having a local business address. Clevver provides virtual office services that give you a legitimate business address in France, which can be used for bank account registration and other legal purposes.
2. Remote Bank Account Opening: Clevver collaborates with banks that allow remote account opening, meaning you may not need to be physically present in France. This significantly reduces the time and cost involved in the process.
3. Documentation Assistance: Clevver guides you through the documentation process, ensuring that all necessary paperwork is correctly prepared and submitted. They can also assist with translations if needed, helping to overcome language barriers.
4. Accelerated Process: By leveraging their network of banking partners and their expertise in dealing with international clients, Clevver can often reduce the time it takes to open a business bank account in France from months to just a few weeks.
5. Comprehensive Support: Beyond bank account opening, Clevver provides ongoing support for your business, including mail handling, company formation services, and tax registration. This makes it easier to manage your French business operations from abroad.

How to Get Started with Clevver

Getting started with Clevver is straightforward:

1. Get in touch with our Team of Experts: Provide the necessary information about your business and personal details. Clevver will handle the rest, guiding you through each step of the process.
2. Sit Back and Relax: With Clevver managing the administrative tasks, you can focus on other aspects of your business while they take care of setting up your bank account and any additional services you require.

Get in touch!

Conclusion

Opening a business bank account in France as a non-resident can be a daunting task, but it’s an essential step for establishing your business in the French market. Traditional banking processes can be time-consuming and complex, especially for those unfamiliar with French regulations. However, services like Clevver offer a practical and efficient solution, helping non-residents navigate these challenges with ease. By using Clevver, you can expedite the process, ensure compliance with local regulations, and focus on growing your business in France.

Get in touch with our Team.

Forming your company in France with Clevver

You are ready to form a company in France, but don’t know where to start?

Every argument is there to decide to start doing business in the hexagone. That is, if you do not trip on the many complex steps and regulations of forming a company.

Use Clevver’s expertise on the ground to form your company:

• Local, french speaking partners
• Completely remote formation
• Company ready in 2-4 weeks
• No need to be a resident in the country
• Competitive pricing: see pricing

The Clevver solution:

• Deposit your share capital and get a pro account in 1 easy step with ClevverBanking
• The entire process takes place online
• No need to travel to France
• Save time and be business ready faster
• Manage your finance in the same Clevver portal as for all your business activities
  

Your business address on L’avenue des Champs-Élysées

• Well renowned location, elevating your company’s status
• Clevver takes care of your mail, allowing you to manage the company remotely
• View all the post received at your address in your Clevver portal
• Benefit from a much lower CFE (cotisation foncière des entreprises) rate of taxation than if you were to domiciliate your company outside of Paris
• Manage your finance in the same Clevver portal as for all your business activities

Why get the bundle instead of buying each service separately?

The regulation for company formation in France requires that:

• Every company that is being formed have an address of domiciliation in France
• During the formation process, a legal notice has to be published in a local paper, in french
• A certain number of rules set by law must be included in the company statutes
• The 1€ minimum start capital must be deposited before the company is opened. But most french banks won’t open an account to a non-resident director/shareholder, even less while the company is being formed. Classic example of a “the chicken or the egg first” situation.

And much more…

A company formation without any of the 3 services above is not complete.

Let Clevver take care of the entire process, allowing you to focus on growing your business instead, in France and at home. Take advantage of our bundle and save 200€.

Get in touch with our Team.