The manager
An ID document, proof of address and a statement of no criminal conviction and of parentage are required for a company’s managers. Plan for the partners’ documents too.
Documents to request · Accountant
Company formation: which documents should you gather?
The documents to ask a founder for in order to register a company: identity, registered office, articles, capital and signed statements.
Registering a company takes precise documents, and one omission blocks the whole file. Here is the list to give the future manager to gather the essentials in one go.
For: accountants, legal advisers and start-up support networks.
The list of documents to ask for
Identity and contact details
- Valid ID document (front and back)
- Proof of address less than 3 months old
The registered office
- Lease, title deed or domiciliation contract
- Signed statement of no criminal conviction and of parentage
Capital and articles
- Approved draft articles of association
- Certificate of deposit of funds
- Split of the capital between partners
Indicative list: the exact documents depend on the file, the organisation and the applicable regulations. Only ask for what is necessary.
Why these documents?
The registered office
A lease, title deed or domiciliation contract proves the address of the registered office. It is the document founders forget most often.
Capital and articles
The approved articles of association and the certificate of deposit of funds (bank, notary or Caisse des dépôts) go with the file. The split of the capital must be clear between partners.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing a company with a micro-business: the documents required differ, and a micro-business needs neither articles nor a capital deposit.
- Sending unchecked articles: an error in the purpose or the capital is costly to fix after filing.
- Forgetting a signature: several statements must be signed by the manager; check them before sending.
- Sending ID documents by email: prefer a private space and delete them once the formality is done.
Frequently asked questions
Which documents are needed to register a company?
In general: ID documents of the managers and partners, proof of address, proof of the registered office, signed articles, certificate of deposit of funds and a statement of no criminal conviction and of parentage. The exact list depends on the company’s form.
Where should the share capital be deposited?
With a notary, in a bank or at the Caisse des dépôts, which issues the certificate of deposit required for registration.
How can you avoid chasing the founder repeatedly?
Send a single list from the start, with the wanted delivery date, and gather the documents in a private folder where they can upload at their own pace.
Make client exchanges easier
Receive the documents in one place.
One private folder per client: they upload files without creating an account, every file is scanned, and you see what is missing.
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