INPI electronic signature: one-stop shop guide

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Find out how to simplify all your business formalities in France with the INPI electronic signature!

When dealing with INPI, electronic signatures have become essential to guarantee the validity of your formalities and facilitate your administrative processes.

Find out how to sign your INPI formalities electronically. Whether you're setting up or modifying your sole proprietorship, ceasing trading or filing your annual accounts.

What is the one-stop shop and when can I use it?

Introduced by the 2019 PACTE Act, the one-stop shop for business formalities, also known as the guichet unique, replaces the Centre de Formalités des Entreprises (CFE) and Infogreffe's online services for business start-ups since January 1, 2023.

This is a digital platform centralizing virtually all the administrative formalities involved in running a business in France. Managed by INPI (Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle), it simplifies procedures by enabling you to do everything online. This offers a secure, centralized solution for managing your company's administrative life.

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The one-stop shop is mainly aimed at :

Company managers: anyone running a business, be it a small or medium-sized enterprise, or even a large corporation;
Agents, with delegated authority or mandate to carry out administrative formalities on behalf of the company;
Entrepreneurs ;
Craftsmen, shopkeepers and farmers.

What INPI formalities does an electronic signature require?

Every step of the way, you need to master the electronic signature.

Creation of the company

When you set up your company, the INPI electronic signature simplifies your life by enabling you to validate your formalities quickly and securely.

Modification of sole proprietorship

Changes are frequent. Thanks to the electronic signature, you're no longer "slowed down" by administrative formalities.

Cessation of activity

Electronically signing a cessation of activity helps to streamline this often delicate stage.

Filing of annual financial statements

Filing annual financial statements is an inescapable responsibility for any auto-entrepreneur. With the INPI electronic signature, you can simplify this task and guarantee its validity.

What is the electronic signature and what are its advantages for businesses?

Definition of electronic signature

An electronic signature is a set of "data in electronic form, which are attached to or logically associated with other data in electronic form, and which the signatory uses to sign", according to the eIDAS* Regulation. It is therefore a process that enables digital documents to be validated securely, and is indispensable for online administrative procedures, notably with INPI.

*A bit of legal culture: the eIDAS regulation governs electronic signatures and, more broadly, electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions within the European market. In particular, it lays down the conditions for a secure and reliable signature.

The different levels of electronic signature required for Guichet unique

The type of electronic signature required on Guichet unique depends on the formality in question, in accordance with European directives (Article R.123-5 of the French Commercial Code and Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014 of July 23, 2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market).

As part of the creation formalities, the declarant checks a box equivalent to a signature and swears to the accuracy of the information provided. This is a simple electronic signature, the most basic form of signature.

On the other hand, INPI modification or termination formalities require a higher level of electronic signature security: that of the advanced electronic signature based on a qualified electronic signature certificate. advanced electronic signature based on a qualified electronic signature certificate .

This signature complies with strict criteria to ensure the integrity and authenticity of the signed document. It must :

be uniquely linked to the signatory,
to identify it,
be created using electronic signature creation data that the signatory can, with a high level of confidence, use under his exclusive control,
ensure that any subsequent changes to the document are detectable.

It also relies on the use of a qualified electronic certificate, meeting the requirements of the eIDAS regulation, issued by a trusted service provider. This guarantees a high level of confidence in the identity of the signatory and the integrity of the signed document.

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There are two other levels of electronic signatures:

The advanced electronic signatureThe advanced electronic signature is an intermediate level between the simple electronic signature and the advanced electronic signature based on a qualified electronic signature certificate.
The qualified electronic signature The most technically and legally robust level of signature, used for documents involving regulatory constraints and/or high financial stakes.

The benefits of electronic signatures

Using a qualified electronic signature, particularly for INPI's one-stop-shop procedures, ensures maximum document security, in line with the requirements of the eIDAS regulation.

It provides :

significantly simplify administrative procedures, eliminating the need to travel to sign documents.
guaranteed document authenticity and integrity, with enhanced security thanks to the creation of a proof file for each signature
improved traceability of signed documents, making them easier to manage and track.

What solutions are available for INPI electronic signatures?

The level of signature required to carry out your modification, cessation of activity or annual accounts filing procedures via INPI's Guichet unique is, as a minimum, the advanced level based on a qualified certificate. This ensures that the identity of the signatory is validated by the verification system.

Let's take a look at the solutions available for implementing electronic signatures efficiently and in compliance with INPI requirements.

There are two ways of signing your INPI formalities electronically.

How do I sign a document with FranceConnect+?

According to the INPI FAQ If you do not have an advanced electronic signature certificate, you can make your declaration by logging on to Guichet unique via FranceConnect+. This system, which is entirely free of charge, provides enhanced authentication and replaces the requirement for an advanced signature". This means you can complete your administrative formalities without needing an electronic signature certificate.

FranceConnect+ is an enhanced version of FranceConnect. Based on authentication with L'Identité Numérique La Postethis service meets a "substantial" guarantee level.

Before you start :

When using FranceConnect+, you will need to connect to your La Poste Digital Identity.
If you don't already have one, you'll need to create one with a French identity card or residence permit that's less than five years old. You can create a La Poste Digital ID quickly at a post office or online in just fifteen minutes.
If you have an INPIConnect account, link it to FranceConnect+ when you log on for the first time, using your INPIConnect credentials.

Steps to sign a formality :

Authenticate yourself on Guichet unique via FranceConnect+.
At the end of the procedure, you will be asked to :
- Download and check the summary ;
- Tick the box "I confirm that the information on the form is correct";
- Click on the appropriate button to sign (e.g. "Sign modification request", "Sign cessation request", or "Sign annual accounts").

Use Lex Enterprise to sign your formalities with INPI's Guichet unique

Alternatively, you can use our electronic signature platform, Lex Enterprise. This allows you to sign your formalities in complete security, in compliance with INPI requirements. You'll sign with the highest level of signature: a qualified electronic signature, available remotely.

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If you have recurring signature requirements for your INPI procedures, you can subscribe to our dedicated pack. You'll then have the 5 qualified electronic signature credits you need to sign your formalities remotely.

Here's how to create a qualified remote electronic signature with Lex Enterprise.

First of all, you need to create a La Poste Digital Identity, if you haven't already done so. You can do this online from your smartphone, using remote identity verification, or face-to-face with a customer service representative in a post office (no appointment necessary).

What are the eligibility criteria for creating a La Poste Digital Identity?

The following conditions are essential to obtain a La Poste Digital Identity:

Over 18 years of age
Valid French identity document (French national identity card, French passport, French residence permit valid for 5 years or more)
A smartphone (Android version 12 or higher and iOS version 15 or higher) and a cell phone number.

Once you have created your digital identity, follow these steps to sign your INPI formality with Lex Entreprise :

Authenticate yourself on Guichet unique and then complete your formality.
Complete your formality, at the end of which you will be asked to sign electronically.
At this signing :
- Click on "Create a new signature box", then name your new signature box before saving it;
- Set a signature step and select the signature level required by INPI (qualified electronic signature with La Poste Digital Identity authentication)
- Identify yourself as a user and click on "OK";
- Download the PDF summary of the formality;
- Open the downloaded document and add the visible signature field before saving;
- Click on "OK" to start the document writer;
- You will receive a signature request on your smartphone: click on view documents then on next ;
- After viewing the document, the "next" button will appear: click on it;
- Agree to sign the document and the general conditions of use ;
- Use your La Poste Digital Identity: enter your mobile number and log in;
- A request to verify the origin of the action is sent automatically: confirm and enter your secret code;
- After successful authentication, return to the browser to continue the service;
- Sign your signature image and click on the "Sign" button;
- Back on your Lex Persona profile, download the INPI's summary in order to register it on the website;
- Re-import the signed summary into Guichet unique ;
- Click on the "Sign the request for modifications" or "Sign the request for cessation" or "Sign the annual accounts" button.

And for the more visual among you, follow our video, to sign your business formalities on Guichet unique, with the remote qualified electronic signature: