Business domiciliation in France: how it works and what the law requires

What is business domiciliation

Domiciliation means using the address of a specialised company as the official registered office of your business. The address appears in your articles of association, on your company extract (Kbis) and on your invoices, and it is where your official mail is received.

It is the most common solution for founders who work remotely, run their business from abroad, or do not want their personal address published in public company registers.

Where can a French company have its registered office

There are three options. You can rent or own commercial premises. You can, under conditions, use the home of the company director: if the lease or co-ownership rules forbid business use, this is only allowed temporarily, for up to five years. Or you can sign a contract with an approved domiciliation company.

For founders living outside France, the first two options are rarely practical. Domiciliation gives you a compliant French address without a lease, a deposit or a physical presence.

What the law requires

A domiciliation provider must hold an approval (agrément) issued by the prefecture. Using a provider without this approval exposes your company to having its registration refused or challenged. Koulier is approved by the prefectures of Paris and Seine-Maritime.

The relationship is governed by a written domiciliation contract, signed for a minimum term of three months and renewable automatically. The provider must offer premises where your company can hold its management meetings in confidence, and keep your company documents available. In return, you agree to use the address as your registered office, to inform the provider of any change in your company, and to authorise it to receive your mail.

Domiciliation providers are also subject to anti-money laundering rules. Before signing, they must verify the identity of the company and its directors, which is why you will be asked for an ID and a proof of address.

Domiciliation and company registration

Once the contract is signed, the provider issues a domiciliation certificate (attestation de domiciliation). You attach it to your registration file, filed online through the single business formalities portal, to prove that your company has a registered office in France.

The address you choose also determines the commercial court your company depends on and the commune used to calculate the local business tax (CFE), which varies significantly from one town to another.

How Koulier works

Koulier offers two approved addresses: a registered office in Paris 8th arrondissement and one in Normandy. You choose a plan, pay online, complete your identity checks from your phone and receive your domiciliation certificate, all in a few minutes and in English if you prefer.

Incoming mail is scanned the day it arrives and available in your online dashboard, so you can run your French company from anywhere. Plans start at 10 euros per month, without long-term commitment.

Frequently asked questions