Best business bank account in France: SAS and SARL options
French companies choose between traditional banks with branches and online business accounts. The deciding questions are the capital deposit, cash, lending and whether clients pay from outside the euro area.
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"Best business bank account France" is the first completion for English searches about French business banking. The answer depends on the stage of the company and where its money comes from.
Two kinds of account
| Traditional bank | Online business account | |
|---|---|---|
| Capital deposit | Yes | Several offer it |
| Cash deposits | Branch | Limited or none |
| Loans | Yes | Limited |
| Opening time | Days to weeks | Often days |
| Fees | Higher | Lower |
| Protection | FGDR for banks | FGDR or safeguarding, by status |
Questions to ask
- Will it issue the capital deposit certificate?
- Does it accept your activity? Some exclude certain sectors.
- Transaction and card limits on the plan.
- Exports to your accountant's software.
- Cards for the team, with limits.
The international part
A Lyon studio with clients in the US and UK gets paid by SWIFT into a euro account, converted at the bank's rate. With USD and GBP details, those clients pay on their own local rails and the studio converts when it wants. It can also pay US software and UK contractors from those balances.
A common setup
A French account for the capital, URSSAF, the tax office and direct debits, plus a multi-currency account for clients and suppliers outside the euro area.
Paying into France: the local rail
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Local rail | SEPA Instant Credit Transfer |
| Run by | European Payments Council scheme, run by each bank |
| Settlement | Under ten seconds, 24/7 |
| Published fee | By the EU Instant Payments Regulation, no more than the bank charges for a standard SEPA transfer |
Source: European Payments Council: SEPA Instant Credit Transfer. Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.
Where Rivet fits
Rivet opens accounts for registered companies, so it fits once your SAS is registered. EUR and GBP details come on Growth and USD on every plan, with payouts to 120+ countries. Check our eligibility list for French companies. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds. See France startups billing US customers.
Questions people ask
What is the best business bank account in France?
For a company needing loans and cash, a traditional bank. For an online business, an online account is usually cheaper. For international clients, add a multi-currency account.
Is a business account mandatory for a French company?
Yes. A company (SAS, SARL) must have a separate professional account.
Can an online bank issue the capital deposit certificate?
Several online providers offer capital deposits for companies in formation. Check before you start.
What protects my deposits?
Deposits at French banks are covered by the FGDR up to €100,000 per depositor per bank. Payment and e-money institutions safeguard funds instead.
Sources
Alexia compares the accounts, cards and payment tools companies weigh before they switch, and writes Rivet's market guides for founders in a specific country. Prices in Alexia's comparisons come from each provider's own pricing page on the date given in the article, rules come from the regulator or tax authority that sets them, and every source is listed at the end.
More from Alexia M. →This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change; check the sources above and the provider’s current terms before you act on them.
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- compte professionnel
- sas
- sarl
- online business account
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