Today, France counts approximately 5 043 707 companies. Among these, 2 808 051 are one-man companies. 
New business start-up is doing fine. That’s what we can notice when we have a look at the figures published by the National Institute for Statistics & Economic Studies. Since 2000, the number of start-ups has kept increasing and the most significant rise recorded was between 2006 and 2010.
With over 622 000 companies created in 2010, France has reached a new historical record.
This is the exact number of companies created in France in 2010, as per the results published by Insee, on the 18th January 2011.

In 2009, the number of setting up of companies has known an increase of 75% compared to the previous year, this significant growth is due, essentially, to the  success of self contractor status.
In 2010, the setting up of companies increases by 7,2% compared to 2009. This is again the regime of  self contractors which registers the largest increase : in 2010, the self contractors would have represent more than a creation on two, that is approximately 360 000 new self contractor statuses (an increase of 12,5% compared to the number of autocompanies created in 2009, year of the status launch)
In putting aside the self contractors from the analysis, it appears thus, that the number of creation of companies, is rather stable: It increased by 0,8% compared to 2009, the sectors of construction, real estate, transportation, having registered the highest score of setting ups.

See chart here after.

START-UPS IN FRANCE (SOURCE INSEE 2010)

• Year 2010 : 622 000
• Year 2009 : 580 193
• Year 2008 : 325 700
• Year 2007 : 321 000
• Year 2006 : 304 000
• Year 2005 : 224 830
• Year 2004 : 223 944
• Year 2003 : 199 290
• Year 2002 : 177 997
• Year 2001 : 177 027
• Year 2000 : 176 753