How to search for a company in France
The Annuaire des entreprises is the French government's free public search of companies and associations. It combines the INSEE Sirene register, the national business register (RNE) held by INPI, and other official sources, showing a business's SIREN number, address, activity, directors, filed accounts and certifications.
What it publishes
- Identity of each business: name, SIREN and SIRET numbers, legal form, activity code and address.
- Directors and beneficial owners where public, from the national business register.
- Annual accounts filed and published, where not confidential.
- Status: active, closed or in collective proceedings.
- Associations registered with the state.
Key datasets
- Annuaire des entreprises
Free search by name, SIREN, SIRET or director.
- Sirene database (data.gouv.fr)
Full open data file of businesses and establishments in the Sirene register.
- INPI data
National business register entries, filed documents and accounts, and trademarks and patents.
APIs and downloads
- INSEE API portal (Sirene API)API for the Sirene register after free registration.
When it publishes
Registers are updated continuously as businesses file changes; Sirene bulk files are refreshed monthly.
How to use it to check a claim
- Identify a business by its SIREN number, not its name, which may be shared.
- Separate the legal entity (SIREN) from its establishments (SIRET).
- Check whether the accounts shown are for the right year and whether the company opted for confidentiality.
- For insolvency, check the official BODACC notices linked from the record.
Common mistakes
- Treating a closed establishment as a closed company.
- Assuming a missing set of accounts means a company did not file; small companies can ask for them to be kept confidential.
Is it free to search French companies?
Yes. The Annuaire des entreprises, Sirene and the INPI data site are free. Commercial court registry extracts (Kbis) can be ordered for a fee.
What is a SIREN number?
A nine-digit number INSEE gives each business. A SIRET is 14 digits: the SIREN plus five digits for one establishment.
Questions answered using this source
Links checked 14 October 2026. This page describes what the source publishes and gives no verdict on any claim.