What is a beneficial owner?

✅ In brief

A beneficial owner is a natural person who directly or indirectly owns or controls a company.

This is often a person who holds more than 25% of the capital or voting rights, or who exercises control.
The declaration is used to identify the people who actually control the business.
Beneficial owners must be declared when the company is registered.
This declaration identifies the people who actually control the business.

Leegal helps you structure the information required for creation: French legal form, directors, shareholders or partners, capital, registered office and activity.
Documents to sign and supporting documents to attach are prepared from your answers.
The process separates internal file elements from official formalities such as the legal notice, registry or beneficial owners.

Identify the shareholders or partners concerned.
Check capital and voting-right percentages.
Update the declaration if the control structure changes.
Creating a company involves more documents than operating in your own name: articles of association, director, shareholders or partners, share capital, registered office and beneficial owners.
Some formalities trigger mandatory official fees that do not depend on Leegal.
A setup with several shareholders or partners, a specific contribution or a regulated activity may require professional advice.

Leegal is not a law firm or an accounting firm.
The platform provides an assistant, templates, a formalities service and, where necessary, referral to professionals.
For a personalized legal, tax, social security or accounting question, it is recommended to seek advice from a qualified professional.

Leegal makes company preparation easier, but structural decisions must be reviewed carefully before filing.

Updated on: 06/07/2026

Was this article helpful?

Thank you!