SAS or SARL in France: what is the difference?
SAS and SARL are the two most common private company forms in France, and both give shareholders limited liability. SAS offers more freedom to set governance rules in its articles, while SARL follows a more standardised structure set out in the commercial code.
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How it works
An SAS is run by a president and its internal rules are largely drafted freely in the articles of association, which suits investors who want flexible decision-making. A SARL is managed by one or more gérants under rules that are largely fixed by law, which gives less flexibility but a more predictable framework.
Commonly mixed up with
The choice is often confused with a size threshold, as if SAS were only for larger companies. Both forms can be used by a single founder or by several shareholders, under a single-member variant of each.
SAS or SARL in France: what is the difference?
| Knowledge, Paris | Business and finance |
|---|---|
| Short answer | SAS and SARL are the two most common private company forms in France, and both give shareholders limited liability. SAS offers more freedom to set governance rules in its articles, while SARL follows a more standardised structure set out in the commercial code. |
| How it works | An SAS is run by a president and its internal rules are largely drafted freely in the articles of association, which suits investors who want flexible decision-making. A SARL is managed by one or more gérants under rules that are largely fixed by law, which gives less flexibility but a more predictable framework. |
| Commonly mixed up with | The choice is often confused with a size threshold, as if SAS were only for larger companies. Both forms can be used by a single founder or by several shareholders, under a single-member variant of each. |
| Last reviewed | 2026-08-08 |
Short questions
- Can one person set up either form?
- Yes, both have single-member variants, called SASU and EURL.
- Which has more flexible governance?
- SAS allows the articles to set most governance rules freely.
- Do both give limited liability?
- Shareholders in both forms are liable only up to their contribution, subject to normal exceptions.
- Is minimum capital required?
- Both forms can be set up with capital as low as one euro, subject to the founders' own capitalisation choice.
- Where is the comparison published?
- Service-public.fr publishes a comparison of French company forms.
Sources
More in this track
- What are the SIREN and SIRET numbers for a French company?
- When does a business register for VAT in France?
- How does corporate tax work for a French company?
- What does registering as an employer in France involve?
- What is micro-entrepreneur status in France?
- Do you need a French bank account to set up a company?
- EURL or SASU for a single founder in France: what is the difference?
- What social contributions does a French employer pay?
- Branch or subsidiary in France: what is the difference for a foreign company?
These pages explain how the rules work and link the authority that owns them. They are not legal, tax or immigration advice, and amounts and thresholds change, so open the source before you act.
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