Glossary · Business management

What is the SIRET number?

5 min read · Updated on 8 July 2026
Definition The SIRET (Système d'Identification du Répertoire des Établissements) is a 14-digit identifier assigned by INSEE to each establishment of a company. It consists of the company's SIREN (9 digits) followed by a 5-digit NIC code specific to the establishment.
The full entry
The essentials in brief
  • SIRET = 14 digits: the 9-digit SIREN + a 5-digit NIC identifying the establishment.
  • One SIRET per establishment: headquarters and branches each have their own SIRET, but the same SIREN.
  • The NIC (Internal Classification Number) includes a final check digit.
  • It changes if the establishment relocates: a new SIRET is assigned, the SIREN remains the same.
  • Public data available in the business directory and INSEE Sirene API.
I How is a SIRET number str...

How is a SIRET number structured?

The SIRET has 14 digits, split into two parts:

  • The first 9 digits = the SIREN, which identifies the company
  • The next 5 digits = the NIC (Numéro Interne de Classement), which identifies the establishment within that company; the last digit of the NIC is a check digit

For example, for company 123 456 789, the headquarters might have the SIRET 123 456 789 00012 and a branch 123 456 789 00020. Same SIREN, different NICs.

Each physically distinct establishment — a location where the company operates — receives its own SIRET. The registered office always has one, marked as the head office in the directory.

14 digits
length of the SIRET (9 from SIREN + 5 from NIC)
5 digits
length of the NIC specific to each establishment
1 /establishment
a distinct SIRET per business location
II SIRET vs SIREN: what is t...

SIRET vs SIREN: what is the exact difference?

The confusion is common. The rule is simple:

CriteriaSIRENSIRET
Length9 digits14 digits
IdentifiesThe company (legal entity)An establishment
CompositionStandaloneSIREN + NIC (5 digits)
Number per company1As many as there are establishments
Changes if relocatedNoYes (new SIRET)

In short: the SIREN says who, the SIRET says where. A single-establishment company has one SIREN and one SIRET; a multi-site company has one SIREN and multiple SIRETs.

III What is the SIRET used fo...

What is the SIRET used for in a customer record?

The SIRET is the data that allows you to invoice and deliver to the correct establishment. Two branches of the same group share the SIREN but have different addresses, contacts and sometimes terms: the SIRET distinguishes them.

Linking an opportunity to the SIRET rather than just the SIREN prevents mistakenly aggregating the turnover of an entire group into a single record, and ensures documents (quotes, invoices, delivery notes) are routed to the correct site. A CRM that manages the SIREN/SIRET pair properly distinguishes the parent company from its establishments.

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IV Frequently asked questions

Answers to the questions we get asked most.

Does a SIRET change if a business relocates?

Yes. If a business establishment changes its address, INSEE assigns it a new SIRET (the NIC changes), as the NIC is tied to a specific location. The company’s SIREN, however, remains unchanged. This is a key difference from the SIREN, which never changes throughout the company’s lifetime.

Can a company have multiple SIRETs?

Yes. A company has as many SIRETs as it has establishments: the head office has its own, and each branch, workshop or separate point of sale has its own SIRET. All share the first 9 digits (the common SIREN), only the 5-digit NIC varies from one establishment to another.

Where can I find an establishment’s SIRET?

The SIRET appears on the establishment’s SIRENE status notice, on its invoices (mandatory mention) and in the official business directory. It is also accessible via the INSEE Sirene API. A CRM like Orizen can query this source to automatically link a record to the correct establishment and avoid confusing head offices with branches.

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