Deposit Share Capital for a French Company from the USA
You can deposit the share capital of a French company from the USA fully online, with no French bank account and no trip to France. A French notary (notaire) — a public officer authorised to receive cash contributions — holds your funds on a dedicated account at the Caisse des Dépôts and issues your certificate of deposit within 24 hours of the wire arriving and your file being complete. For US founders the flat fee is €500, settling the one step where American applicants most often get stuck.
Key takeaways
- No French bank account — you sidestep the FATCA-era onboarding friction that makes French banks wary of new US accounts.
- €500 flat for non-residents (€230 for France residents), no subscription, 100% online.
- Certificate of deposit within 24h once your wire is received and your file is complete.
- Wire in euros from your US bank; your SSN or ITIN serves as the foreign tax number.
Why the capital deposit stops US founders
A French company is formed in a set sequence: draft the articles of association, deposit the share capital, obtain the certificate of deposit, register at the one-stop shop, then release the funds. The deposit comes before the company legally exists — and for US residents it is the weak link.
French company formation requires the share capital of an SAS, SASU, SARL, EURL or SCI to be deposited with an authorised depositary before registration. Historically that meant a bank. But French banks increasingly decline remote account openings for non-EU residents, and US founders face some of the strictest checks of all, partly because US tax-reporting rules such as FATCA make banks cautious about onboarding American clients. The result is the familiar deadlock:
- No certificate of deposit without funds held.
- No funds held without an account.
- No account without travelling to France or waiting indefinitely.
Flying over for a single appointment is neither practical nor necessary.
The solution: a French notary as depositary, 100% online
Under the French Commercial Code (Code de commerce), a notaire (notary) is a public officer legally entitled to receive the deposit of cash contributions, just like a bank. Depotdecapital.com, operated by Cellard Notaires & Avocats, handles the entire process remotely for US founders. The notary holds your funds on a dedicated account at the Caisse des Dépôts (CDC) — the French state deposit institution — and issues the official certificat de dépôt (certificate of deposit) required to register your company. You sign the fee agreement electronically, pay online, and receive an electronic certificate.
Step-by-step: deposit from the USA
- Open your file online and specify the company form and the capital amount.
- Sign the fee agreement electronically and pay the service fee online.
- Upload your documents through the secure portal.
- Wire the share capital from your US bank to the notary's CDC account — no French IBAN of your own is needed.
- Receive the certificate of deposit within 24 hours once the funds are received and the file is complete.
- Register the company at the one-stop shop (guichet unique / INPI).
- Release the funds by uploading the KBIS (registration extract) and the company's RIB (bank details) so the notary transfers the capital to the company.
Documents you need (US founder)
| Document | What it is | US-specific note |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Identity of each shareholder | Valid and legible |
| Proof of the French registered office | Lease or domiciliation contract | Must name the company's siège social |
| Draft articles of association (statuts) | Unsigned and undated | Finalised only after registration |
| Foreign tax number (NIF) | Tax ID from your country | Your SSN or ITIN |
No French bank account and no French tax residence are needed to complete the deposit.
Cost and timeline
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deposit fee (non-resident) | €500 flat, no subscription |
| Deposit fee (France resident) | €230 |
| Certificate of deposit | Issued within 24h of funds received + complete file |
| Overall registration | Handled by the guichet unique — timescales vary, no promise given |
We do not promise a total registration timeline — the one-stop shop registers the company itself — but the deposit step, the usual sticking point for US founders, is fast and predictable.
US-specific angle: wiring funds and FATCA-era banking
A few points for American founders:
- Wire in euros. Send the capital in euros so the exact credited amount matches your stated capital and is not eroded by FX on the French side.
- Check cut-offs and fees. US international-wire cut-off times and intermediary-bank fees vary; confirm them with your bank.
- Skip the FATCA friction. Because the notary — not a commercial bank chasing FATCA reporting on a brand-new US account — acts as depositary, you avoid the account-opening hurdle US residents routinely meet.
- Time zones are not an obstacle. Everything is asynchronous: upload and sign when it suits you; the notary processes on receipt.
- Tax number. Your SSN or ITIN is the reference to provide.
None of this requires you to hold anything French before you deposit.
Related guides
- French SAS / SASU formation for non-residents
- French capital deposit without a French bank account
- Open a French company as a non-resident
FAQ
Can a US resident deposit French share capital without a French bank account? Yes. The notary is the authorised depositary and holds the funds at the Caisse des Dépôts; you wire directly from your US bank.
What does it cost from the USA? A flat €500, no subscription. France residents pay €230.
How quickly is the certificate of deposit delivered? Within 24 hours after the funds are received and the file is complete.
Which tax number do I provide as a US founder? Your US tax identification reference — SSN or ITIN — is used as the foreign tax number (NIF).
Do I have to travel to France? No. The fee agreement is signed electronically, payment is online, and the certificate is electronic.
Will the notary advise on my US tax exposure? No. The service covers the regulated deposit step only; consult a qualified cross-border adviser for personal tax questions.
Deposit your capital online → https://depotdecapital.com/en/dossier
Certificate of deposit within 24h, flat fee, no French bank account required.
Start a deposit →Information only — not personalised legal or tax advice.