What matters in 30 seconds
- Your accounts: prepared under the accounting rules specific to associations and presented to your general meeting.
- Your staff: payslips and social filings under the applicable collective agreement.
- Your funders: grants and donations often come with financial reports.
- Tax: a non-profit association is in principle not subject to commercial taxes; some profit-making activities can change this.
- Above certain thresholds of public grants or donations: appointment of a statutory auditor and publication of the accounts.
What we take care of
The accounting engagement
Bookkeeping and annual accounts, with a dedicated accountant who works with your board and treasurer.
Additional services, tailored
Payroll, follow-up of grants and financial reports, budget: organised around your funders and needs. See cost accounting for associations
Accountant quote for an association: your budget
Every association is different: volume of transactions, staff, funders, reporting obligations. The budget is therefore tailored, after a discussion with the chartered accountant, and set out in a written proposal.
The quote is free and with no obligation: our accountant quote in 3 steps.
Estimate your budget now, for your situation: estimate my budget
Frequently asked questions
Does an association have to keep accounts?
All associations must be able to account for their management. Full accounts become mandatory in some cases: significant economic activity, grants above certain thresholds, public fundraising.
Does a French association (non-profit) need a statutory auditor?
Notably when public grants or donations exceed certain thresholds. To guarantee independence, Hexaconto cannot be your accountant if its chair, Nadir El Jouaidi, is your statutory auditor, and vice versa (self-review prohibition). See statutory audit
Does an association pay tax?
In principle not, when its management is disinterested and its activity non-profit. Profit-making activities may make it liable to VAT and corporate tax: this is analysed case by case.
Which accounting rules apply to associations in France?
An association keeping full accounts applies ANC regulation 2018-06, specific to private non-profit organisations: equity, dedicated funds (fonds dédiés), and voluntary contributions in kind (volunteering, donations in kind) disclosed in the notes. Your accountant prepares your annual accounts under these rules.
Association: how is an unused grant recorded at year-end?
The part of a grant allocated to a project and not yet used at year-end is recorded as dedicated funds: it is released to income when the corresponding expenses are incurred. We also help you prepare the financial reports your funders require.
When must an association publish its accounts in France?
Notably when, in a single year, it receives more than €153,000 in public grants, or more than €153,000 in donations giving a tax advantage: it must then have its accounts certified by a statutory auditor and publish them online in the Official Journal of associations (JOAFE).
How much does an accountant cost for an association in France?
The budget is tailored to the volume of transactions, staff, funders and services chosen. It is set out in a written proposal before any commitment. In 2 minutes, your meeting is booked; in 5 more minutes, your fee estimate is shown. Our accountant quote in 3 steps
Can the association employ staff?
Yes: it is then an employer like any other, with employment contracts, the collective agreement where applicable, payroll and social filings.
Association in France: does your accountant work with the board and the treasurer all year round?
Yes. The accounting engagement covers the association’s bookkeeping and annual accounts, prepared under the rules specific to associations and presented to your general meeting, with a dedicated accountant who works with your board and treasurer. Payroll, grant follow-up, financial reports and the budget are offered on request and priced in advance, taking into account your tax situation and your funders’ expectations. Your board presents reliable accounts to its members and funders. In 2 minutes, your meeting is booked; in 5 more minutes, your fee estimate is shown. Get my free meeting and quote
Association already working with an accountant in France: how do you join us?
It is simple: you send your termination letter to your previous firm (we give you an example to adapt), and we organise the handover of your file with them, in line with professional rules. Your treasurer remains our contact throughout the transition. See the steps to change accountant
The forecasts, cash-flow plans, dashboards, simulations, studies and analyses mentioned above are additional engagements, à la carte. Each one is quoted in advance, at the frequency you choose.