I'm creating an association
Verified 05 November 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If you are at least 2 people, that you have a joint project or you want organize activities, you have the option to create association. How do I do it? How do I declare it? How will it work? We guide you in your efforts.
Warning
To create an association in Alsace-Moselle (Lower Rhine, Upper Rhine, Moselle), rules are different.
General case
Step-by-step approach
To choose the name of the association, it is recommended to follow the following steps:
- Inquire about names and acronyms already used by other associations
- Check the name availability envisaged.
If you wish, you can take steps to protect the chosen name.
The statutes of an association are the founding act which describes its object, its rules of operation and the organs which enable it to function.
In drafting the articles of association with the other founders, you must pay particular attention to the following points:
- Operation of the governing bodies
- Fixing of the agenda of the general meetings
- Collection of contributions
- Resignation
- Exclusion of a member
- Remuneration of managers
- Amendment of the statutes
- Sleeping (possibly)
- Dissolution.
Please note
you can also establish a rules and regulations to organize the day-to-day operation of the association.
The registered office may be established in one of the following locations:
- Home of one of the members
- Communal building
- Local intended to be rented or purchased by the association as soon as it has been declared.
The declaration must be made by one of the members in charge of administration of the association or by a mandated person.
It can be done online, by post or on-site.
Online
The declaration can be made using the e-creation online service:
By mail
The person declaring the association must provide the following documents:
- Association Pre-Declaration Form
- Declaration of the list of leaders
- Declaration of the list of member associations (if a union or federation of associations)
- Envelope postage at the rate in force (20 grams) at the management address of the association.
The declaration is made at the registry of the associations of the department where the association will have its registered office.
You can also use the online service e-creation which allows a faster processing of the file.
On the spot
The person declaring the association must provide the following documents:
- Association Pre-Declaration Form
- Declaration of the list of leaders
- Declaration of the list of member associations (if a union or federation of associations)
- Envelope postage at the rate in force (20 grams) at the management address of the association.
The declaration is made at the registry of associations of the department where the association will have its registered office (inquire in advance about opening hours).
You can also use the online service e-creation which allows a faster processing of the file.
You need to check the correct one on the internet publication of the declaration in the Official Journal of Associations. You can download a copy of the insertion of the creation declaration (called publication witness).
You have to do all the registration procedures necessary.
Report revenue from gainful activities
You must report revenue of the association from gainful activities and publish your accounts.
Declare an event on the public highway
If you plan to organize events on the public road, you must declare them in the town hall or prefecture in the following cases:
Managing Human Resources
You can support volunteers through different devices:
- Training
- Meal voucher
- Tax reduction for their non-reimbursed costs
- Representation leave
- Leave of absence of volunteer leaders.
You can host volunteers by asking the civic service license.
If you plan to employ employees, you can find out about the collective agreements applicable and join, depending on your situation in the associative employment check or at one-stop shop for the occasional show.
Getting financing
To finance the activities of the association, you can:
- Receive gifts, donations and bequests
- Request subsidies
- Organize a tombola or a similar manifestation
- Organize a second-hand shop
- Conduct a commercial activity.
Warning
Beyond certain amounts of grants, donations, revenues, you must take a auditor. In addition, associations practicing the religion and receiving a foreigner financing must report.
Notify the administration of changes to the association
You must report the following events or activities:
- Amendment of the statutes
- Change in administration of the combination (change of management or address, opening or closing of an establishment, acquisition or disposal premises for the administration and performance of the activity, new composition of a union or federation of associations).
Alsace-Moselle
Step-by-step approach
To choose the name of the association, it is recommended to follow the following steps:
- Inquire about names, abbreviations and acronyms already used by other associations
- Check the name availability envisaged.
If you wish, you can take steps to protect the chosen name.
The statutes of an association are the founding act which describes its object, its rules of operation and the organs which enable it to function.
In drafting the articles of association with the other founders, you must pay particular attention to the definition of the following rules:
- Operation of the governing bodies
- Fixing of the agenda of the general meetings
- Collection of contributions
- Resignation
- Exclusion of a member
- Remuneration of managers
- Amendment of the statutes
- Sleeping (possibly)
- Dissolution.
If the registered office is located in the Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin or Moselle regions, the association is automatically governed by Alsace-Moselle local law.
It is not necessary to be Alsatian or Mosellan to be a member of the association.
The registered office may be established in one of the following locations:
- Home of one of the members
- Communal building
- Local intended to be rented or purchased by the association as soon as it has been declared.
You can do the application for registration in the register of associations online or by filing it in the court of the place where the association has its registered office.
Report revenue from gainful activities
You must report revenue of the association from gainful activities and publish your accounts if necessary.
Reporting events on the public highway
If you plan to organize events on the public road, you must declare them in the town hall or prefecture if the following cases are involved:
Managing Human Resources
You can support volunteers through the following devices:
- Training
- Meal voucher
- Tax reduction for their non-reimbursed costs
- Representation leave
- Citizenship leave for volunteer leaders.
You can host volunteers by asking the civic service license.
If you are considering employing employees, you can find out about the collective agreements applicable and adhere, depending on your situation, to the associative employment check or at one-stop shop for the occasional show.
Getting financing
To finance the activities of the association, you can:
- Receive gifts, donations and bequests
- Request subsidies
- Make a tombola or a similar manifestation
- Organize a second-hand shop
- Conduct a commercial activity.
Warning
beyond certain amounts of grants, gifts, revenues, ... you must take a auditor.
Notify jurisdictions of changes to the association
You must report the following events:
Who can help me?
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