Shine
Online business account and admin assistant for independents and small companies
Shine is a French online business account with cards, invoicing, expense capture and administrative help for freelancers and small companies. Acquired by Société Générale in 2020, sold to Denmark's Ageras in 2024, and then bought with Ageras by French software group Cegid in November 2025, the Shine brand now fronts a group serving several hundred thousand SMEs and accountants across Europe.
Our reading. Best for French freelancers and very small companies that want a free business account with a French IBAN and bundled company-creation and admin help.
Strengths
- Free entry plan with a French IBAN
- Company-creation and admin services bundled
- Now part of Cegid's accounting ecosystem
Limits
- Payment institution, not a bank
- Card and transfer quotas by plan
Founded 2017; merged with Ageras in 2024 and acquired by Cegid for over €1B in November 2025
Sold by Société Générale to Ageras for about €131M in 2024; Cegid acquisition announced 26 November 2025