gérants

Gérants is the plural of gérant, a term used in French law to denote the person or persons responsible for the day-to-day management and representation of a company or business. The concept is most closely associated with the société à responsabilité limitée (SARL) but applies in other forms as well, such as the société en nom collectif (SNC). A gérant can be a natural person or a legal entity, and the mandate may be singular or shared among several co-gérants. The appointment, powers, and duration are typically defined in the company’s statutes or by the shareholders’ decision.

Powers and duties of the gérant include representing the company in legal and commercial matters, binding the company in contracts within the scope of its object, and handling ordinary management. Gérants may also be responsible for financial management, signing official documents, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and accounting obligations. When there are multiple gérants, their decision-making arrangements—such as whether they act jointly or individually—are set out in the statutes. They must act in the best interests of the company, exercising loyalty and due care to avoid conflicts of interest and mismanagement.

Liability and termination: The gérant’s mandate can be terminated by the shareholders and ends with dissolution or expiry of the mandate. Gérants may be liable civilly for mismanagement or breach of duties toward the company or third parties; in some legal forms, such as SNC, managers may face personal liability for the company’s obligations in the course of management. In practice, the exact scope of authority and liability depends on the company form and its statutes.

Beyond corporate law, the term gérant is also used more generally to describe the on-site manager of a business, such as a shop or restaurant, responsible for daily operations.