Virtual Office in France, what office address?

1. For independent contractor

1.1. In cities of less than 200,000 inhabitants

Registered address : the creators can register their company at home if no contractual or legislative provision is opposed to it.

Example : clause in the lease expressly excluding the possibility of domiciliation. If they do not have an establishment, i.e. if they exercise their activity exclusively outside, they can declare their personal address as the company's address, even if there is a clause prohibiting them from domiciliating their company at home.

Exercise of the activity : creators may exercise their activity at home, as long as no contractual or legislative provision opposes it. Ex : clause in the lease or in the co-ownership regulations prohibiting the exercise of a professional activity in the premises. ¹

1.2. In towns with more than 200 000 inhabitants and in the departments of Hauts de Seine, Seine Saint Denis and Val de Marne

Registered address : the creators can register their company at home if no contractual or legislative provision is opposed to it.

Exercise of the activity : the creators can exercise their activity at home only if the following conditions are respected :

it is their principal residence
the activity is carried out exclusively by the occupants of the premises,
the activity does not require the passage of customers or goods. (Art. L 631-7-3 of the -Building and Housing Code)
no other contractual or legislative provision should oppose it. Example: clause in the lease or co-ownership regulations prohibiting the exercise of a professional activity in the premises. ¹

2. For companies

2.1. . In cities of less than 200,000 inhabitants

Registered address : the president may register the company at his personal adddress if no contractual or legislative provision opposes it.

Example : clause in the lease expressly excluding the possibility of domiciliating a business. If such a clause exists, the president may, however, register the company at his personal adddress for a maximum period of 5 years. He must inform the owner of the premises by certified mail.

Exercise of the activity : the president may exercise his professional activity at home, as long as no contractual or legislative provision opposes it.

Example : : clause in the lease or co-ownership regulations prohibiting the exercise of a professional activity in the premises. ¹

2.2. In towns with more than 200,000 inhabitants and in the departments of Hauts de Seine, Seine Saint Denis and Val de Marne

Registered address : the president may register the company at his personal adddress if no contractual or legislative provision opposes it.

Example : clause in the lease expressly excluding the possibility of domiciliating a business. If such a clause exists, the president may, however, register the company with him for a maximum period of 5 years. He must inform the owner of the premises by certified mail.

Exercise of the activity : the president can exercise his professional activity at home only if the following conditions are respected :

it is their principal residence
the activity is carried out exclusively by him and the occupants of the residence,
the activity does not require the passage of customers or goods. (Art. L 631-7-3 of the Building and Housing Code)
no other contractual or legislative provision should oppose it. Example: clause in the lease or co-ownership regulations prohibiting the exercise of a professional activity in the premises. ¹

Notes

Note that the Court of Cassation, in a ruling of 14/01/2004, states that "when the lease is concluded for exclusive residential use, the exercise of a professional activity remains possible. Indeed, according to the Court, a lease concluded for exclusive residential use is not, according to the Court of Cassation, equivalent to a clause formally prohibiting the exercise of a professional activity