SMEs

Statutory auditor for SMEs in France: legal thresholds and audit obligations

Many SME managers ask whether they must appoint a statutory auditor (commissaire aux comptes). The answer depends on the company's legal form and on its size, measured against precise thresholds.

Which companies are concerned?

• The SA (public limited company), SAS (simplified joint-stock company), SARL (private limited company), SNC (general partnership), SCS (limited partnership) and SCA (partnership limited by shares) must appoint a statutory auditor once 2 of the 3 thresholds below are exceeded, under decree no. 2019-514 of 24 May 2019 stemming from the PACTE Act, with thresholds raised by decree no. 2024-152 of 28 February 2024 for financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2024.
• Under articles L.225-218 and L.226-6 of the French Commercial Code (Code de commerce), the appointment is no longer automatic for SAs and SCAs whatever their size since the PACTE Act: for financial statements closed since 27 May 2019, they follow the same threshold regime as other commercial companies.
• Groups of companies: a company that controls others must appoint a statutory auditor when the group it forms with them exceeds two of the three thresholds below on a combined basis, unless it is itself controlled by an entity that has appointed a statutory auditor. The companies it controls, directly or indirectly, must then appoint one if they exceed two of the following three thresholds: €2,500,000 balance sheet total, €5,000,000 net turnover, 25 employees (article L.821-43 and articles D.821-171 and D.821-172).
• A civil-law company (société civile) with an economic activity falls under a separate regime: appointment is mandatory above two of the following three thresholds: 50 employees, €3,100,000 turnover or resources, €1,550,000 balance sheet total (articles L.612-1 and R.612-1 of the French Commercial Code).

Thresholds in force for financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2024 (decree no. 2024-152 of 28 February 2024), to be checked against your company's precise situation.

What is a statutory auditor for?

The audit of the annual financial statements secures the company's relationship with its financial partners: banks, investors, minority shareholders. It is also a mark of credibility with customers and suppliers, and makes it possible to trigger, where necessary, an alert procedure (procédure d'alerte) if difficulties are detected in the running of the business.

Our approach for SMEs

audit france works with commercial companies and holding companies with a direct approach: a single point of contact, the signing partner, available and responsive throughout the engagement. The firm has been 100% digital since 2021: secure document platform, no email attachments, full traceability of exchanges.

Why choose audit france

A 100% digital firm dedicated solely to statutory audit, registered with the Haute Autorité de l'Audit (H2A) and a member of the Compagnie Nationale des Commissaires aux Comptes (CNCC) and working across mainland France and the French overseas territories.

This page is a practical guide in English, for information only. It is not legal advice, and only the French texts have legal force. Check the version in force for your own situation.