France business registry search
Source-cited registry guidance — access and document fees vary by source.
Search Company Records in France
Free basic search · no sign-up required.
How do I search the business registry in France?
Use Infogreffe as a starting source for France, then check its scope for the business form you need. Types can include SARL (Société à responsabilité limitée). A trading name may need a separate source or document; it does not automatically identify a legal entity. Official access requirements vary.
Step-by-step
- 1
Search the trading name you were given
Start with the name on the invoice, website or contract. It is often a trading name rather than the registered legal name.
- 2
Identify the legal entity behind it
Infogreffe records the legal entity. Matching a trading name to its registered entity is the whole point of a registry search — the two are frequently different.
- 3
Check the entity type
France recognises SARL (Société à responsabilité limitée). Entity type determines liability and who is legally responsible, so it matters before you contract.
- 4
Note what the registry does not cover
Sole traders and unregistered activity may not appear at all. An absent record is not automatically proof of fraud — it can simply mean the business is not required to register.
France: choosing and checking the right record
- Choose the correct source
- Identify the legal unit with its SIREN, then distinguish it from a particular establishment identified by SIRET. Use the relevant official register or document service for the company's filings and extract.
- Confirm the entity
- A SIREN has nine digits; a SIRET has 14 and identifies an establishment. Compare legal form, registered name and headquarters before matching a branch address to an invoice.
INPI beneficial-ownership access conditions
Check current access and document options on the official Infogreffe / INSEE site. For search limitations and missing-result guidance, see the France registry guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does the France business registry cover?
Infogreffe records SARL (Société à responsabilité limitée). Businesses that are not legally required to register — commonly small sole traders — may not appear.
Can I search the France business registry by trading name?
Some sources index trading names; others require the legal name or a separate business-name search. Ask for the contracting entity's legal name and identifier when the relationship is unclear.
Is a business registry search free in France?
LemReveal's basic lookup is free where supported. Official searches, records and documents have their own access conditions; check Infogreffe's current terms.
What if a France business has no registry entry?
It may not be required to register, or it may be trading under a different legal name. Ask for the registration number directly before assuming either.
What is a SIREN number?
SIREN is a unique 9-digit identifier assigned to every French business by INSEE. The SIRET is a 14-digit extension (SIREN + 5-digit establishment code) that identifies each individual establishment or branch of a company.
People also ask about search the business registry in France
The exact questions searchers type into Google — answered from the primary source.
Is the France company register free to search?
Yes. Basic company lookups on the Infogreffe / INSEE are free — you can search by company name or registration number, view legal status, registered address and (usually) directors at no cost. Some jurisdictions charge a small fee only for downloading full filed documents.
What is the official France business registry?
The Infogreffe / INSEE is the official public register of companies incorporated in France. It is operated by the government and is the primary source cited on this page — https://www.infogreffe.fr.
Related guides and tools
More France guides
- Search companies by name
Find any registered company from a partial name — free, no signup.
- Search the company register
What the official register holds, and how to search it free.
- Find the right entity
Tell apart several entities registered under near-identical names.
- Look up a company by number
Match the identifier and issuing jurisdiction, then confirm the returned entity.
France data
- France company search
Search every Infogreffe / INSEE record.
- Infogreffe guide
Infogreffe — Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés (France)