The EU Inc. (European Incorporated Company) is a new pan-European company form proposed by the European Commission under Regulation COM(2026) 320. It allows entrepreneurs to incorporate a company valid across all 27 EU member states, entirely online, in 48 hours, for under €100.

When will the EU Inc. be available?

The regulation was proposed on March 18, 2026. It is currently being reviewed by the European Parliament and Council. Final adoption is expected in 2027, with the first EU Inc. companies possible by 2028.

How much does it cost to create an EU Inc.?

The maximum registration fee is capped at €100, with zero minimum capital requirement. This makes it the most affordable company form in Europe and possibly the world.

Is the EU Inc. valid in all EU countries?

Yes. Once registered, an EU Inc. is automatically recognized in all 27 EU member states without any need for re-registration or additional procedures.

Do I need a notary to create an EU Inc.?

No. The entire process is digital. Identity verification is done online, replacing traditional notarization. You can incorporate from anywhere with an internet connection.

What is Regulation COM(2026) 320?

COM(2026) 320 is the official reference number for the European Commission's legislative proposal establishing the EU Inc. company form. It was published on March 18, 2026.

EU Inc vs French SAS: Choosing the Right Structure

France's Flexible Champion Meets Its Match

The Société par Actions Simplifiée (SAS) is often considered France's most entrepreneur-friendly company form. Introduced in 1994, it was designed to offer flexibility that the older SA and SARL could not match. But does it hold up against the EU Inc? Let's find out.

Registration Process

French SAS

Creating a SAS in France takes approximately 1-3 weeks:

Draft the statutes (statuts) — highly customizable, which is both an advantage and a complexity
Publish a notice of incorporation in a Journal d'Annonces Légales (JAL) — cost: approximately €200
Register with the Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés (RCS) through the one-stop shop (guichet unique)
Obtain a SIRET/SIREN number from INSEE
No mandatory notary (a significant advantage over other French and European forms)

EU Inc

Fully digital, under 48 hours, no publications required, automatic EU-wide recognition.

Cost Comparison

SAS: €500-1,200 total (JAL publication ~€200, RCS registration ~€60, legal counsel for statutes €300-800, optional capital deposit fees)
EU Inc: Under €100 total

The SAS is already one of Europe's more affordable options, but the EU Inc still undercuts it by 5-12x.

Capital Requirements

SAS: Minimum capital of €1 (symbolic). At least 50% must be paid at incorporation. This is very entrepreneur-friendly by European standards.
EU Inc: €0 minimum capital. No deposit required.

Both are excellent on this dimension. The SAS was already a pioneer in low-capital formation in France.

Governance: The SAS Advantage

The SAS has traditionally been prized for its governance flexibility:

Freedom to organize management as desired (Président is the only mandatory officer)
Flexible allocation of voting rights (can diverge from shareholding proportions)
No mandatory board of directors
Shareholders' agreement (pacte d'actionnaires) widely used and enforced
Easy to create different share classes with different rights

The EU Inc matches most of these features, adding digital governance tools and simplified cross-border management. The SAS still has an edge in established jurisprudence around complex governance arrangements.

Cross-Border: The EU Inc Advantage

This is where the EU Inc decisively pulls ahead:

SAS: Operating outside France requires establishing a branch (succursale) or subsidiary (filiale) in each country, with local registration and compliance requirements
EU Inc: Operates in all 27 member states from day one with zero additional paperwork

Tax Considerations

SAS in France: Corporate income tax (IS) at 25% standard rate (reduced rate of 15% on first €42,500 of profit for qualifying SMEs)
EU Inc registered in France: Same rates
EU Inc registered elsewhere: Rates of the chosen member state

"The SAS has been France's answer to entrepreneurial flexibility for 30 years. But the EU Inc offers that same flexibility with pan-European reach — something no national form can match," observed a corporate law professor at Sciences Po.

The French Startup Ecosystem

France's La French Tech movement has made Paris one of Europe's top startup hubs. French VCs and accelerators are deeply familiar with the SAS structure, and France's generous tax credits for R&D (Crédit d'Impôt Recherche) and the Jeune Entreprise Innovante status are tied to French-registered companies.

Founders planning to tap into the French ecosystem may find that a SAS still offers practical advantages in terms of local relationships. However, the EU Inc is designed to be compatible with national incentive programs, and this compatibility is expected to improve as the framework matures.

The Verdict

The SAS is an excellent company form — arguably France's best contribution to European corporate law. It's flexible, affordable (by European standards), and well-understood by French investors and institutions.

However, the EU Inc matches or exceeds the SAS on every objective measure except established local jurisprudence. For founders who operate exclusively in France and want to tap into French-specific incentives, the SAS remains compelling. For everyone else — especially those with cross-border ambitions — the EU Inc is the superior choice.