Banks, landlords, clients, public tenders, funding applications: you are often asked for a Kbis extract less than three months old.
If you run the company, you do not have to pay for it. The French commercial court registries issue it free of charge to company directors through their online service, MonIdenum.
Here is how, step by step.
Kbis or K extract: what is it?
Kbis extract
It certifies that a company is registered with the French trade and companies register (RCS): SAS, SASU, SARL, EURL, SA, SNC… It is the company’s “identity card”.
K extract
It concerns sole traders carrying on a commercial activity and registered with the RCS, including micro-entrepreneurs with a commercial activity.
These extracts show in particular the company name, Siren number, legal form, share capital, registered office, activity and directors. They also mention any insolvency proceedings.
Good to know. A liberal profession or a craftsperson not registered with the RCS has no Kbis or K extract. Other free documents exist: see below.
Who can get it for free?
Free downloads are reserved for directors who are individuals. According to MonIdenum, you must:
- Have activated your MonIdenum digital identity.
- Be identified as a director of the business in the legal registers: president of an SAS or SASU, manager of an SARL or EURL, sole trader…
- Be linked to the business in your MonIdenum account.
- Run a business covered by the service, registered with the RCS and not struck off.
An authorised representative, for example an employee or an adviser, cannot download the Kbis for free on the director’s behalf.
Step 1: activate your digital identity
Have your email address, your mobile phone and a valid ID document ready (PDF, JPG or PNG file). Activation takes six steps:
- Email address You have it verified.
- Password You create your personal account on monidenum.fr.
- Multi-factor authentication You set up an authenticator app or another security factor.
- Mobile phone You confirm it with a code sent by text message.
- ID document MonIdenum checks its authenticity and shows you the extracted details to check and approve.
- Link to your businesses MonIdenum matches your identity with the directors listed in the registers: you just confirm.
Activating and using the digital identity is free.
Step 2: download your Kbis extract
- Sign in on monidenum.fr with your digital identity.
- Open “Kbis & Performances” You will find the businesses for which a download is available.
- Download Click the download button next to the business: the extract opens as a PDF.
It is an extract issued by the registry, up to date on the day of download: you can send it straight to whoever asked for it.
The number of downloads may be limited. If a counter appears in your account, it shows when downloads become available again.
Activate once, then a few clicks each time
Activation is done only once. After that, each new Kbis extract is much quicker to get:
- The first time, only once You activate your digital identity: email, password, multi-factor authentication, phone, ID document, link to your businesses.
- The following times You simply sign in with your username, password and second factor.
- A few clicks “Kbis & Performances”, download button: your up-to-date extract, as a PDF.
You do not have to verify your identity again. The link to your businesses is updated with the registers, for example if you become director of a new company.
Download not available: why?
- The business is not registered with the RCS, for example a liberal profession: use the RNE certificate or the Sirene status notice.
- You are not identified as a director, or the link failed: you can report an error to MonIdenum.
- The business has been struck off: order the extract on Infogreffe.
- The court is not covered by the service, for example in Alsace-Moselle, where the register is not kept by the commercial court registries: contact the competent court.
- The download limit has been reached: wait for the reset date shown.
And if you are not the director?
To get the Kbis extract of another business, a client or supplier for example, you pay a few euros on Infogreffe or at the competent court registry.
Do you really need a Kbis?
Not always. Many administrative procedures, such as public tenders, no longer require a Kbis: the Siren number is often enough.
Two free documents may also replace it, depending on who is asking:
RNE registration certificate
Free to download from the Annuaire des entreprises, for any business on the national business register (RNE).
Sirene status notice
Issued free of charge by Insee, without legal value, but often requested by banks and organisations. See our guide to the Sirene status notice
Your accountant and the Kbis
We ask for an up-to-date Kbis extract when you join us (after incorporation or a change of accountant), at each legal change (director, registered office, share capital, activity…), and at least once a year, to keep your file current. With MonIdenum, you send it to us in a few clicks, free of charge.
See how to get started with us
Estimate your budget now, for your situation: estimate my budget
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kbis extract really free for directors?
Yes. The director of a business registered with the RCS and covered by the service downloads it for free on MonIdenum, after activating their digital identity. For someone else’s business, you pay.
Is the MonIdenum Kbis official?
Yes: it is issued by the registry, through the service run by the commercial court registries, and it is up to date on the day of download.
Does a micro-entrepreneur have a Kbis?
With a commercial activity, they are registered with the RCS and can get their K extract for free on MonIdenum. With a liberal activity, they have no K extract: the RNE certificate and the Sirene status notice replace it.
Do I have to go through the whole process for each new Kbis?
No. The digital identity is activated only once. After that, you simply sign in and click the download button: your up-to-date extract takes a few clicks.
How long is a Kbis extract valid?
It has no legal validity period, but most organisations ask for an extract less than three months old. With MonIdenum, you download an up-to-date one when you need it.
Can my accountant or assistant download it for me?
Not for free: a MonIdenum mandate is not enough to download the Kbis. The director downloads it, then sends it.
What if I am not linked to any business?
Check that the details on your ID document match those in the register, then report the error to MonIdenum support, giving the business’s Siren number.