Amending the articles of association of an SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) on the French INPI Guichet Unique is one of the most frequent legal formalities. Whether for a change of director, transfer of registered office, share capital modification, or company name change — the procedure is the same: 5 essential steps, with one critical step on signature.
What "amending articles" means for an SAS
The "articles of association" of an SAS contain the founding rules of the company: name, registered office, share capital, business purpose, governance. Any modification must:
- Be decided by the relevant body (AGM in most cases, sole shareholder if SASU).
- Be recorded in shareholders' meeting minutes.
- Result in updated articles.
- Be filed on the Guichet Unique within 1 month following the AGM date.
- Be the subject of a legal announcement in an authorised journal (JAL).
The 5 essential steps
Step 1 — Hold the AGM (Extraordinary General Meeting)
The decision to amend the articles must be taken by the body designated by the existing articles. For a classic SAS, it's generally the AGM of shareholders. For an SASU (single shareholder), a unilateral decision suffices.
Document to produce: shareholders' meeting minutes (or sole shareholder decision) signed by the chairman of the meeting and the secretary. Mandatory items:
- Date, place, time of meeting.
- Identity of attendees.
- Quorum and majority obtained.
- Detailed text of the modification adopted.
- Signatures.
Step 2 — Update the articles
Modify the affected articles in the body of the articles document, then date and sign the new full version. Keep both versions: old articles (replaced) and new articles (current).
Step 3 — Publish a legal announcement
Publish a legal announcement in an authorised legal announcements journal (JAL) of your registered office department. The text must include:
- Company name, legal form, share capital.
- Registered office address.
- RCS registration number.
- Nature of modification (clear statement).
- Body that decided.
- Date of effect.
Cost: €100 to €250 depending on department and announcement length. You receive a publication certificate to attach to the file.
Step 4 — Submit on the Guichet Unique
Connect to procedures.inpi.fr with FranceConnect+. Choose:
- "Modification" → "Modification d'une entreprise"
- Company type: SAS
- Type of modification: change of director / registered office / share capital / company name / business purpose / etc.
Fill in the form and attach:
- AGM minutes (signed PDF).
- Updated articles (signed PDF).
- Legal announcement publication certificate.
- If applicable: M3 form, list of subscribers, professional licence, etc.
Step 5 — Sign the summary and validate the formality
The Guichet Unique generates a PDF summary containing all amendment information. This document must be signed with an eIDAS qualified electronic signature before re-uploading on the portal.
Two routes:
- FranceConnect+ via certified La Poste Digital Identity (free but slow if you don't already have it, often crashes).
- Pay-as-you-go qualified provider like SignerSynthèse.fr (€29 ex. VAT, 2 minutes).
Articles amendment urgent? Sign the summary in 2 minutes.
eIDAS qualified signature via Universign, 100% accepted by the INPI Guichet Unique. €29 ex. VAT.
Sign my summary →Most frequent SAS amendments
Change of chairman
The chairman is the legal representative of the SAS. Their replacement requires an AGM. Document the cessation of duties of the outgoing chairman and the appointment of the new chairman, with their identity, address and signature acceptance.
Registered office transfer
If the new office is in the same department: simple modification. If in a different department: 2 legal announcements required (origin and destination).
Share capital increase
By contributions in cash or in kind. In-kind contributions impose a contribution auditor's report (commissaire aux apports), unless contributions are below €30,000 and shareholders unanimously waive (depending on capital structure).
Company name change
Verify trademark availability beforehand. Update business cards, signs, professional emails, etc.
Business purpose change
Particularly sensitive: an extension to a regulated activity (real estate, finance) requires an additional licence. The legal announcement must clearly indicate the old and new purpose.
FAQ
What's the deadline to file an SAS articles amendment?
1 month maximum after the AGM date. Beyond, your file becomes irregular and you risk fines.
What's the average total cost?
- Legal announcement publication: €100-250.
- INPI greffe fees: €78-200 depending on amendment.
- Accountant or lawyer (if you delegate): €300-1500.
- Qualified signature: €0 (FranceConnect+) or €29 ex. VAT (specialised provider).
Total: €178 to €1,950 depending on complexity and use of a professional.
Can I do everything alone without an accountant?
Yes, if amendment is simple (change of address, name). For complex amendments (capital, in-kind contributions, governance), having a professional review is recommended.
Why does my amendment summary get rejected?
The most frequent cause: signature is not eIDAS qualified. See our article INPI summary rejected: 7 reasons.
Conclusion
An SAS articles amendment on the Guichet Unique is well-structured but unforgiving on detail. The qualified signature on the summary is the step that fails most often. Anticipate by preparing your means of signature before needing it: either set up a certified La Poste Digital Identity in advance, or use a pay-as-you-go qualified provider on D-day.