Considered the company’s “identity card,” the K-bis extract is a required document for commercial businesses. For self-employed individuals, it certifies the legal existence of the self-employed business and, therefore, the status of self-employed individual.
After showing you how to create a website for a sole proprietor in a previous article, in this one we’ll explain the steps you need to take to obtain a K-bis extract as a sole proprietor.
To obtain this document, there are certain administrative steps you must take, and these vary depending on the type of sole proprietorship you have.
The K-bis extract and the K extract: two concepts that are often confused
These are two documents that are often confused. The difference is simple. The K extract applies only to micro-entrepreneurs registered with the RCS (Trade and Companies Register). Therefore, it can be requested only by entrepreneurs who own a business in their own name.
The K-bis extract, on the other hand, applies to other types of companies, such as limited liability companies (SARL), simplified joint-stock companies (SAS), single-member limited liability companies (EURL), etc.
The contents of the K-bis extracts
The K-bis extract is an official document that contains all the information needed to identify a company registered with the RCS.
As a micro-entrepreneur, your K-bis extract must include the following contact information:
- the date your microbusiness was established,
- your registration in the Registry,
- the business activity (NAF code) carried out by your microbusiness,
- your SIREN number,
- the registered address of your organization,
- your personal information, such as your name, date of birth, place of birth, and nationality.
What is a K-bis extract used for?
All self-employed individuals registered with the Trade and Companies Register are advised to apply for a K-bis extract. The sooner, the better.
This document is important because you may be asked to provide it in several situations, such as:
- for your banking needs: whether you want to open a business bank account, apply for a loan, or more;
- in the application for professional liability insurance;
- when signing a major contract with your suppliers or
- by customers before signing a quote or purchasing equipment.
There is therefore no doubt that the K-bis extract for self-employed individuals is a public document. It is the official and legal document proving that your microbusiness is registered with the RCS.
The K-bis extract for micro-entrepreneurs is important for proving the legal existence of your business to public institutions, suppliers, and, of course, customers. When you are asked to provide this document, it is essential that it be less than 3 months old. After this period, it is considered invalid.
It is, therefore, an authentic document issued by the clerk’s office of the commercial court. It is, in a sense, a company’s “identity card.” Anyone can request this document. The only requirement is to be registered with the Trade and Companies Register (RCS).
The contents of the K-bis self-employed business registration form
The K-bis extract for a self-employed individual consists of several pieces of information recorded in the Trade and Companies Register, namely:
- The name of the clerk of the commercial court who signed the registration of the company in question,
- The corporate name,
- The logo and the acronym,
- The SIREN number,
- The NAF or APE code,
- The legal form of the business (SA, SARL, SCI, GIE, etc.),
- The amount and currency of the company's capital,
- The address of the headquarters, the main facility, and any secondary facilities within the European Union,
- The company's age and how long it has been in existence,
- The date of incorporation,
- A detailed description of the company's business,
- The name of the company's website(s),
- The positions, nationalities, and addresses, as well as the full names, dates of birth, and places of birth of the CEO, the statutory auditors, and the directors,
- The Reference Guide to Mandatory Licenses for Regulated Professions.
The cost of the K-bis extract for a self-employed entrepreneur
Any owner of a microbusiness can register online for a K-bis extract free of charge. However, obtaining this legal document is not free, even online. In fact, there is a fee for this service, although the cost is lower.
- If you request your K-bis extract by mail, you must pay 4.08 euros.
- To pick up your document at the court clerk's office, a fee of 2.82 euros is required.
- Electronic filing, meanwhile, costs 3.53 euros.
It is therefore clear that even though this document costs money, the price is still affordable.
How do I obtain a K-bis extract?
Whether you are a self-employed individual with or without an employer, if you work in the commercial or skilled trades sector, you are required to register in order to obtain your K-bis extract. The procedure depends on your field of activity.
For a commercial sole proprietorship
You are required to first register your micro-enterprise with the Trade and Companies Register (RCS). This registration is processed through the Business Formalities Center (CFE) at your Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
For a sole proprietorship in the skilled trades
You can register your company not only with the Répertoire des Métiers (RM), but also with the CFE at your Chamber of Trades and Crafts.
To ensure that you meet all deadlines and due dates, it is essential to submit your application for micro-enterprise status no earlier than the month before you begin your business and no later than 15 days after that date.
The process for obtaining your K-bis extract
The procedure for obtaining a K-bis extract varies depending on whether you have already started your business or not.
If your microbusiness has not yet been established
You must submit your application for a K-bis extract as a self-employed individual along with the following documents:
- a P0 form for micro-entrepreneurs,
- a copy of a document that identifies you,
- your proof of address,
- a sworn statement certifying that the individual has no criminal convictions.
After you have put together the application package, you must submit it in person or mail it to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry with jurisdiction over your sole proprietorship.
If your microbusiness already exists
If you have already set up your sole proprietorship, you have two options.
- In person: You must go to the Commercial Court Clerk's Office.
- Online: You must go directly to the Infogreffe website to submit your request for a K-bis extract.
Amending a K-bis extract
The law requires that you always make sure to keep your K-bis extract up to date. This document provides a quick overview of your company’s administrative and financial status.
You may need to update your K-bis extract in several situations, such as:
- A change in the address of your corporate headquarters,
- A change in the company's name,
- A change in the owner of a sole proprietorship,
- The initiation of insolvency proceedings,
- A change in the company's capital or any of its components,
- Changes in the company's legal status.
To ensure greater security in managing your business, it is essential to make the changes mentioned above
- before signing a new contract with another company,
- before opening a new bank account on behalf of the company;
- before bidding on a new contract.
Penalties for Failure to Provide a K-bis Statement as a Self-Employed Individual
If it turns out that your microbusiness is not registered, and you therefore do not yet have a K-bis extract, you may be ordered to pay daily penalties until your situation is brought into compliance.
In addition, the judge responsible for overseeing the Commercial Register may decide to compel the registration of your microbusiness. That, too, is the law.
If the failure to register is intentional, you may be sentenced to up to 3 years in prison and fined €45,000 for the offense of employing undocumented workers. Generally, the agency that detects this type of violation during inspections is URSSAF.
You now have all the essential information regarding the K-bis extract for sole proprietorships.
