Example of Kbis extract: what does it contain?

Updated April 5, 2026 - The example of Kbis extract is the document most requested by business leaders, banks and commercial partners in France. It certifies the registration of a company in the Trade and Companies Register (RCS) and proves its legal existence. Since the establishment of the National Business Register (RNE) managed by the INPI, the landscape of supporting documents has evolved, but the need remains the same: to prove who you are as a company.

An extract Kbis contains the complete identity of the company (name, headquarters, legal form, capital), information on the managers and effective beneficiaries, the declared activity, as well as information relating to collective procedures or collateral. It can be obtained free of charge online via the site data.inpi.fr or from the commercial court registry.

The Kbis extract is an authentic copy of the information entered in the RCS. It is issued by the registrar of the commercial court competent for the company's headquarters. In common parlance, we still speak of "Kbis", even if the official terminology now tends towards "certificate of registration" since the entry into force of the RNE.

This document is legally valid for three months. Beyond that, most organizations (banks, administrations, suppliers) will ask you for a new one. This is a constraint often overlooked by young entrepreneurs, who find themselves blocked in their efforts with an outdated document.

The difference between K and Kbis is simple: K concerns natural persons (individual entrepreneurs), while Kbis concerns legal entities (SAS, SARL, SCI, etc.). Since 2023, these two documents have been gradually replaced by registration certificates in RNE format, but the use of the term "Kbis" remains anchored in professional practices.

To understand the legal foundations of your structure, consult our articles SAS definition and EI or EURL.

An extract Kbis is broken down into several numbered sections. Each provides precise information on the legal life of the company.

1. General information (sections 1 to 4)#

This first section is the company's identity card:

• Corporate name: the official name of the company, as it appears in the statutes
• SIREN number: unique 9-digit identifier assigned by INSEE (e.g.: 930 319 579)
• RCS number: city of the registration office followed by the number (e.g.: RCS Paris B 930 319 579)
• Legal form: SAS, SARL, SASU, EURL, SA, SCI, etc.
• Share capital: amount and currency (e.g.: 1,000 EUR)
• Head office address: legal address of the company
• Registration date and financial year closing date

2. Activity (section 5)#

The main activity is described with its classification:

• Corporate object: wording of the activity as declared in the statutes
• APE/NAF code: 4-digit code + 1 letter assigned by INSEE (e.g.: 6920Z for accounting activities)
• Start date of activity

3. Leaders and représentation (sections 6 to 8)#

This section identifies the persons authorized to bind the company:

• Name, first name, date and place of birth of the manager (president, manager, general director)
• Nationality
• Personal address (sometimes hidden for individuals since recent data protection reforms)
• Title and powers: extent of representational powers (general management, joint signature, etc.)
• Auditor: if applicable, name and address of the holder and the substitute

4. Beneficial beneficiaries#

Since 2018, the Kbis extract mentions the effective beneficiaries of the company, that is to say the natural persons who directly or indirectly hold more than 25% of the capital or voting rights, or who exercise effective control over the company. This obligation relates to the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism (European directive 4th AML-FT).

5. Additional information (sections 9 and following)#

These sections provide information on the recent legal life of the company:

• Collective procedure: judicial recovery, judicial liquidation, if applicable
• Pledges: pledges or pledges registered on the business
• Transfers of shares or shares: changes in capital distribution
• Changes of manager or head office
• Dissolution: if the company is in the process of being liquidated

Each mention is dated and referenced, which makes it possible to trace the legal history of the company.

The Kbis extract is the centerpiece of the administrative file of any company. Here are the main circumstances where you will be asked:

Opening a professional bank account#

Banks require a Kbis of less than three months to open an account in the name of the company. This is a regulatory obligation linked to know your customer (KYC). Without this document, no opening is possible.

Response to a public call for tenders#

Public contracts require the production of a recent Kbis to verify the legal capacity of the bidder. It is a mandatory part of the business consultation file (DCE).

Signature of commercial contracts#

Suppliers, distributors, lessors: any partner who engages with your company will want to verify its legal existence and the identity of its representative. The Kbis reassures and secures the contractual relationship.

Request for subsidies or public aid#

Territorial communities, Bpifrance or training organizations require a Kbis to process a financing application.

Registration with a professional order#

Chartered accountants, lawyers, doctors: professional orders require a Kbis to verify the conformity of the practice structure.

Request for approval or authorization#

Certain sectors (transport, security, catering) require a Kbis as part of the prefectural approval request.

Third party verification (due diligence)#

Before a investment, acquisition or strategic partnership, legal and financial advisors analyze the Kbis to identify risks (collective proceedings, pledges, change of manager).

Hayot Expertise advice: before sending a Kbis to a third party, always check the date of issue, the information appearing on it and the consistency with your latest statutory or management changes. An outdated or inconsistent Kbis can block a procedure for several weeks.

Since the generalization of the National Business Register (RNE) managed by the INPI, several channels have coexisted to obtain proof of registration.

Free online via data.inpi.fr#

The portal data.inpi.fr allows you to download a registration certificate free of charge in PDF format for any company registered with the RCS. This is the quickest and safest way to obtain an up-to-date official document. The search is done by company name, SIREN or RCS number.

At the commercial court registry#

You can also contact the registry of the commercial court responsible for the company's head office directly. The clerk issues authentic copies of the Kbis extract. This service is paid (a few euros per copy).

Via specialized platforms#

Sites like monidenum.fr (official CCI service) or private platforms offer the delivery of Kbis. Please note: the document is the same, but some platforms charge service fees higher than the official rate of the registry.

Delivery time#

• Online (data.inpi.fr): immediate, provided that the information is up to date in the register
• At the registry: a few hours to a few days depending on the method of request (on site, by mail, by e-mail)
• After a statutory modification: allow 1 to 3 weeks for the register to be updated after filing the amending déclaration

Point of vigilance 2026: with the transition to the RNE, certain companies encounter temporary inconsistencies between the information in the Kbis and that in the INPI register. If in doubt, contact your registry or legal advisor to regularize the situation.

Confusion is common. Here is a quick référence table:

In practice, the RNE certificate is gradually replacing the Kbis. But in fact, most administrations and banks still accept both documents. The vocabulary "Kbis" remains in common use, even in official forms.

For individual entrepreneurs who are hesitating between statuses, our article EI or EURL details the advantages and disadvantages of each option.

Receiving a Kbis is not enough: you must know how to read and check it. Here are the essential checkpoints:

• The date of issue: a Kbis of more than 3 months is considered expired by most organizations
• Consistency of the head office: the address must correspond to your real situation (lease, domiciliation, head office at home)
• The identity of the manager: in the event of a recent change, the Kbis must reflect the new situation
• The absence of mention of collective procedure: a mention of recovery or judicial liquidation may be a reason for refusal on the part of a partner
• The APE code: it must correspond to your actual activity (an error may impact your contributions and your eligibility for certain aid)
• Actual beneficiaries: the list must be up to date, under penalty of sanctions (fine of 7,500 EUR for individuals and 37,500 EUR for legal entities) In the event of an anomaly, you should declare a modification to the RNE via the INPI one-stop shop or contact the competent registry to have the registration corrected.

The creation of a company is not limited to the filing of the statutes. It involves a series of administrative, tax and social formalities which, if poorly executed, can generate subsequent blockages (refusal to open an account, rejection of subsidies, contractual difficulties).

Our firm supports business creators in the creation of their legal file, registration with the RNE, the drafting of statutes and the monitoring of statutory modifications. We ensure that every information disseminated to official records is accurate, consistent and up to date.

To learn more about our approach: Business Creation - Expert Formula.

Quick link: Structuring your business creation

An example of a Kbis extract shows that this document is much more than a simple administrative paper. It is the legal identity card of your company, an official summary of its existence, its governance and its legal situation. The right thing to do is to regularly check its content, regenerate it every three months for your current procedures, and report any changes to the RNE without delay.

With the transition to the National Business Register and the digitalization of formalities, entrepreneurs today have simplified access to their supporting documents. But this simplicity should not dispense with vigilance: incorrect information in the register can have concrete consequences on your activity.

(Official sources: Service-Public - Extract K or Kbis, INPI - National Business Register)