SARL – the foundation of French small businesses

[Benette Kröger]

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France is the second-largest economic power in the European Union. Anyone looking to do business in the European single market – or simply wanting to understand how major EU economies function – cannot ignore the country’s corporate structures. Recently, much attention has been focused on the SAS, or Société par actions simplifiée, a flexible and modern company form that is most comparable to the UK’s private company limited by shares. But while the SAS is in the spotlight, it’s worth taking a closer look at a true classic: the SARL, the French equivalent of the UK’s Limited Liability Company (Ltd).