Market overview — France
France is a top-five EU origin for global B2B trade — luxury fashion and cosmetics, wine and spirits, aerospace (Airbus tier-1/2 chains), pharmaceuticals, and specialty industrial. The 2023 RNE consolidation moved authoritative company data to INPI, with the RBE (beneficial-ownership register) co-located. INSEE Sirene provides establishment-level activity data via public API.
Why France verification matters
France is a top-five EU supplier corridor — luxury goods, cosmetics, wine and spirits, aerospace components, pharmaceuticals, and specialty industrial. The Registre National des Entreprises (RNE) consolidated previous registries in 2023, and INPI now centralises SIREN/SIRET and beneficial-ownership data. Specific verification risks: SIRET vs SIREN confusion, dormant auto-entrepreneurs invoicing as if they were operating SAS/SARL companies, and IBAN routing to non-French Caisse d'Épargne intermediaries.
Common supplier fraud patterns in France
Sole-trader micro-entreprise presents itself as a SAS or SARL on a quotation.
Invoice carries a SIREN that belongs to a different legal entity than the trading name.
Entity is radiée on the RNE or in liquidation judiciaire but continues invoicing.
Payment redirected to a non-SEPA IBAN with no documented related-party rationale.
TVA intracommunautaire (FR + 11 digits) appears valid on paper but is inactive on VIES.
RBE (Registre des bénéficiaires effectifs) declaration missing or stale despite the 2017 obligation.
Documents to request from France suppliers
- Extrait Kbis (or RNE extract) less than 3 months old
- Statuts à jour
- RBE declaration extract
- RIB in the dénomination sociale (IBAN match)
- Government ID for the représentant légal
- TVA intracommunautaire with VIES confirmation
- Latest comptes annuels deposited at the greffe
- Attestation de vigilance URSSAF
- Sector certifications (DGCCRF / ANSM / DGAC where applicable)
Official registries and authorities
Payment risk notes for France
- 1SEPA EUR to an IBAN in the dénomination sociale — the baseline. Non-SEPA / non-French IBAN routing on a French invoice requires documented rationale.
- 2EU VIES validation is essential for any intra-EU transaction; mismatches create VAT and chain-liability exposure.
- 3BODACC insolvency screening (redressement / liquidation judiciaire) is essential before any prepayment.
- 4Auto-entrepreneur (micro-entreprise) status is a major scale signal — KeyBS surfaces the legal form so buyers don't pay an SAS-scale invoice to a sole trader.
How KeyBS Trust verifies suppliers in France
- 1RNE / INPI extract — legal form, capital, dirigeants, code NAF/APE, dénomination sociale.
- 2RBE pull — UBO > 25% with senior-management fallback flagging.
- 3INSEE Sirene establishment cross-check (SIRET vs SIREN) and BODACC insolvency screening.
- 4EU VIES validation of the TVA intracommunautaire.
- 5Optional Paris / Lyon / Marseille / Bordeaux on-site visit (Premium).
France supplier verification FAQ
How do I verify a French supplier before payment?
Pull the extrait Kbis / RNE extract from INPI to confirm legal form, capital, dirigeants, and code NAF. Cross-check the RBE for beneficial owners. Validate the TVA intracommunautaire on EU VIES. Screen BODACC for insolvency. Match the IBAN on the RIB to the dénomination sociale. For orders above EUR 10k, KeyBS Trust combines RNE, RBE, VIES, BODACC, sanctions, and bank-beneficiary match.
What is a SIREN and what is a SIRET?
SIREN is the 9-digit identifier for the legal entity. SIRET is the 14-digit identifier for a specific establishment (SIREN + 5-digit NIC). A company has one SIREN and one or more SIRETs (head office + branches).
What is the Kbis?
The official excerpt from the Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés issued by the greffe du tribunal de commerce, summarising the legal identity of a commerçant. Since 2023 it is being consolidated under the RNE at INPI.
How long does France supplier verification take?
Standard: 1–2 business days. Enhanced (with RBE + VIES + BODACC): 2–4 business days. Premium with Paris / Lyon / Marseille / Bordeaux on-site visit: 4–7 business days.
Can KeyBS check beneficial owners in France?
Yes. KeyBS retrieves the RBE declaration from INPI and reconciles it against the RNE shareholder data. Discrepancies and fallback-only declarations are flagged.
What is the difference between an auto-entrepreneur and a SAS?
An auto-entrepreneur (micro-entreprise) is a simplified sole-trader regime with revenue ceilings and limited capacity to scale. A SAS / SARL is a true company with legal personality and audited filings. Buying from an auto-entrepreneur is legal but a major scale signal — KeyBS surfaces the legal form on every report.
Should I accept payment to a non-French IBAN from a French supplier?
SEPA EUR routing within the EU is normal. Non-SEPA or non-EUR routing on a French invoice requires a documented related-entity rationale and is flagged on the KeyBS report.
Does KeyBS screen for French sanctions and PEP exposure?
Yes. KeyBS screens against UN, EU, OFAC, UK sanctions, plus French Tracfin and dirigeant PEP exposure on every report from Essential upward.
Verify a France supplier with KeyBS Trust
Open the France supplier-verification page, browse the operational coverage profile, or start a verification now.