FRANCE TRADE AND COMPANIES REGISTER (RCS)

The structure of France’s company register

Since 2023 the Registre National des Entreprises, run by INPI, has unified commercial, craft and agricultural registrations and publishes data free on data.inpi.fr, while the commercial-court registrars issue the official Kbis extract through Infogreffe across France.

Searching for a French company before a commercial agreement

Before any agreement, a counterpart can search data.inpi.fr or the Annuaire des Entreprises free by company name, SIREN or SIRET, confirming that the business exists and is active, then order a Kbis from Infogreffe as definitive proof.

Information you can obtain on a registered French business

A free search shows the SIREN and SIRET, legal name, registered address, legal form, APE activity code and status, while the Kbis adds directors and capital, together giving a counterpart an official picture of a French company before committing.

Confirming a French company is registered and active

Checking the RNE or the Kbis confirms whether a company holds a valid SIREN and is active rather than in liquidation or struck off, a decisive step preventing engagement with a business lacking genuine legal standing in France.

Why investors review the register before committing capital

Ahead of an acquisition or investment, investors consult the RNE and a current Kbis to authenticate the corporate structure, gauge legal exposure and confirm that the directors presented match those officially recorded as empowered to bind the French target.

Identifying directors and legal representatives

The Kbis and the RNE name a company’s legal representatives and directors, allowing a counterpart to confirm who genuinely holds the authority to commit the business before any contract is finalised with a French counterparty.

Official documents obtainable from the registry

INPI delivers a free RNE registration attestation while Infogreffe issues the official Kbis and certified extracts, and financial accounts can be ordered too, each document forming a verifiable source a counterpart can rely on during due diligence in France.

Finding a company’s SIREN number

The nine-digit SIREN, the primary identifier of a French company, can be found by entering its name on data.inpi.fr or the Annuaire des Entreprises, this number linking every record and conditioning access to the Kbis and filed documents.

Why banks and compliance teams use the register for due diligence

Banks and compliance teams rely on the RNE, Infogreffe and the SIRENE directory to meet know-your-customer obligations, identify directors and beneficial owners, document anti-money-laundering checks and build an official audit trail for any later regulatory review of a French counterparty.

Verifying changes in ownership, management or status

Because the RNE and RCS record amendments, a counterpart can verify changes in directors, registered office, capital or status over time, spotting recent restructurings that may precede a sensitive transaction with a French business partner.

Reducing fraud and commercial risk through the register

By offering free RNE and SIRENE searches and an authoritative Kbis, France’s register deters misrepresentation, exposes companies in liquidation or struck off and helps businesses lower fraud and commercial risk before extending credit, supplying goods or forming a partnership.

Official bodies providing access to France’s company register

The official bodies below provide access to France’s company register and related records, enabling a counterpart to verify a business, obtain a Kbis or RNE attestation and consult official data on entities registered in the country before transacting.

• Registre National des Entreprises (RNE) – INPI / data.inpi.fr — unified national register; free company data and RNE registration attestation. https://data.inpi.fr
• Infogreffe (Greffes des Tribunaux de Commerce) — RCS extracts and the official Kbis certificate, plus filed accounts. https://www.infogreffe.fr
• Annuaire des Entreprises (data.gouv.fr) — official free search engine on INSEE SIRENE data; SIREN/SIRET, status and address. https://annuaire-entreprises.data.gouv.fr