Section actions
Duration: Drafting of statutes: 2–4 hours; declaration: 1–4 weeks; OJ: 1 week
Cost: Declaration and publication at the JOAFE free of charge in the general scheme; separate rules in Alsace-Moselle
Possible online
Who this guide is for
Section actions
- If you want to create a club, a company, a cultural or sports association
- You if you are French speaking and want to gather people around a project in France
- If you need an association to get a grant or a local in town hall
To be prepared in advance
Section actions
- Name of association (check availability on inpi.fr)
- Address of the registered office (domicile, town hall, other association)
- List of at least 2 founders (President, Treasurer, Recommended Secretary)
Step-by-step procedure
Section actions
- 1Define the purpose of the association — short description (3–5 lines) of the activity. The object must be non-profit (without sharing of profits between members).
- 2Bring together at least 2 people (tax homes or individuals). It is recommended to have a president, treasurer, secretary — board of directors.
- 3Write the statutes — rules of the association. Models on service-public.fr or assons.org. Indicate: object, registered office, duration (generally "unlimited"), members, council, general meeting, dissolution.
- 4Hold the constitutive general meeting: the founders sign the statutes and minutes (PV) of constitution. Each indicates name, first name, date and place of birth, address.
- 5Declare the association in prefecture (or sub-prefecture) — on site, by mail or online on service-public.fr. Parts: by-laws (e.g. 2), by-laws (e.g. 2), by-laws list, form cerfa 13973*03.
- 6Receive the declaration receipt — free document with RNA number (National Directory of Associations). Delay: Usually 1–4 weeks.
- 7The request for publication in the OJAFE is included in the declaration and publication is free of charge in the general scheme. In Alsace-Moselle, the procedure and publication follow separate rules.
- 8Open a bank account in the name of the association (with receipt and by-laws). For a grant or provision of premises in town hall — ask for a certificate of insurance (responsibility of the association).
- 9If the association employs employees or has a turnover >153 000 € — supplementary declaration and annual accounts required.
Common mistakes
Section actions
- Creating an association for a commercial activity – illegal, you need a company (SARL, SAS).
- Consolidate declaration and publication: under the general scheme, publication in the OJAFE allows the declared association to obtain legal personality and legal capacity.
- Share profits between members — violation of the 1901 law, risk of requalification and taxation.
- Do not hold a general assembly meeting - mandatory for grants and legal protection.
- Declared association (simple) and recognized association of public utility (RUP — more complex, requires 3 years of activity).
Official sources
Section actions
Show sources in this section
Important remark
The associations are governed by the law of 1st July 1901. Indicative information; for the association's statutes and taxation, consult a lawyer.
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