French businesses are issued with a K (physical person) or Kbis (companies) form which displays your business registration details such as the business name, directors, SIRET number and activity.

A regulated activity would need supportive documents in France in order for the Kbis to be issued (think Estate Agents). Unregulated activities (gardening for example) do not need additional documentation to be registered.

It is best to think carefully when registering a company about which activities your company will perform. Adding them at registration will avoid the time, effort and costs of changing them later.

In order to add a new activity to your Kbis there are three key things to do.

1. Change your founding documents.

You will need to convene an extraordinary shareholder’s meeting so the shareholders can approve the change to the company’s founding documents . In French they call it “ l’object social of the Statutes“. In terms of French law, you have a month to inform the Greffe de Tribunal (Companies House) of the change.

2. Informing the Greffe de Tribunal.

This is the fun part. In order to have the Greffe accept your new activity you will need to supply:

• A copy of the founding papers in 1. above with a covering letter from the owner (dirigeant) with the words “certifiés conformes“
• Minutes from the meeting in 1. above showing the change was voted and approved.
• Proof of publication in a legal announcement publication “ journal d’annonces légales“.
• The Request for Modification duly completed.
• The Cerfa 11682 duly completed.
• If the activity is regulated then supportive documents would be required.
• A cheque for € 192.01

3. Publish the annoucement

The official French website for publishing announcements is called the “Bulletin officiel des annonces civiles et commerciales” BODACC.fr. A quick Google search will reveal many companies offering this service together with text templates covering most frequent announcements.  The one you are looking for is called “Publier une annonce légale changement d’objet social.” After filling in the relevant form and payment of a nominal fee they will issue you with a proof of publication which you will need for 2. above.

myFrenchVA can assist you in adding additional activities to your French Kbis. Send us a mail on contact@myfrenchva.com or find us on Facebook.