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The SIREN number:What does it correspond to? What use?

The SIREN number is a form of registration that is assigned to companies and sometimes to other structures. It must appear on all of a company's documents. The SIREN is a national Insee code, it is obtained when the company is created and does not change. The SIREN number of a company is public, it is possible to find it in a few clicks. Here is all the information about the Business Directory Identification System.

What is a SIREN number?

The SIREN, or Business Directory Identification System, is an Insee code that identifies French companies but also associations and organizations. Here are all the structures that must have a SIREN:

  • public bodies,
  • local authorities,
  • companies,
  • public bodies,
  • foreign private bodies operating in France,
  • natural or legal persons who have BICs or BNCs.

The SIREN number is therefore the identifier of a company. It is national and is never changed while the company is in operation. For a SIREN number to be included in the SIRENE directory, an authorized body must request it. Most often, this is the Business Formalities Center (CFE).

It was in 1973 that the national business identification system and a national directory of businesses and their establishments were created. This approach has made it possible to generalize the use of a unique identifier.

The presence of the SIREN number is mandatory on all of a company's media. It appears in all exchanges between a company and the administrations.

What is the SIREN number?

Each company present in the SIRENE directory has a registration:the SIREN number. This consists of a nine-digit number assigned automatically by the system. It consists of:

  • the registration number in the Trade and Companies Register (RCS),
  • the registration number in the Trades Directory (RM),
  • operator number on the intra-Community market (VAT).

A SIREN number is made up of 9 randomly assigned digits. The first 8 digits have no meaning. The last is a check digit. This allows you to know if the SIREN is valid. It is based on the Luhn algorithm. The principle is simple:you must multiply the digits of odd rank (from right to left) by 1, then those of even rank by 2. The sum of the sum of the digits of the numbers obtained by these multiplications must be must be multiple of 10 The only exception:companies and other public entities have a SIREN number that starts with 1 or 2.

What is the difference between SIREN and SIRET?

The SIREN number (Company Directory Identification System) and the SIRET number (Establishment Directory Identification System) are similar. The similarities are explained by the fact that the SIRET number is made up of the SIREN and the 5-digit internal classification number (NIC), which designates a specific establishment. Indeed, some companies have several establishments. The NIC makes it possible to differentiate them. SIREN and SIRET are both registered by Insee in the SIRENE directory, the Identification System for the Directory of Businesses and their Establishments.

How to find the SIREN number of a company?

Both the SIREN number and the SIRET number must be mentioned on all company documents, namely invoices, contracts, orders, declarations, administrative documents and even all letterheads. The SIREN number is also indicated on the company's website.

To obtain the SIREN of a company, a few clicks are enough. Thanks to its name, that of the manager and even the address of the structure, it is possible to obtain the SIREN and the SIRET on the Sirene.fr site or even infogreffe.