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Law 96: your website, software and emails in French

English rarely hides in the main text of your website. It hides in an error message, an automatic email or an invoice produced by software. Answer the checklist, see where you stand and what to fix first. A PDF guide comes with it.

Check my French compliance

What's inside the guide

  • 1
    What the law means for your digital toolsWebsite, software, emails, invoices: where the French language matters for a small business, in general terms.
  • 2
    The printable checklistThe 14 points of the online checklist, to tick off with your team, each with a concrete action.
  • 3
    The 10 places where English hidesEmail footer, 404 page, form confirmation, automatic invoice and six more.
  • 4
    6 questions for a software vendorComplete French version, support, updates: what to ask before you sign.
  • 5
    How to test in 15 minutesA full customer journey in French, from the ad to the invoice.
  • 6
    Francization: where to startA 4-step plan to see where you stand and what to validate with the Office québécois de la langue française.

Who this is for

Owners and managers of Québec small and mid-size businesses (clinics, retail, construction, transport, professional services) who use a website, software or automated emails and want to know whether their tools speak French to customers.

This guide is not legal advice.

We build websites and software, we are not lawyers. The precise rules (thresholds, dates, signage or contract requirements) must be validated with the Office québécois de la langue française or an advisor. Our checklist helps you spot obvious gaps, not certify your compliance.

Frequently asked questions

Does this checklist confirm that I comply with the law?

No. It spots where French is missing in your digital tools. Compliance has to be validated with the Office québécois de la langue française or an advisor.

Does my website have to be entirely in French?

As a general rule, French must be present and easy to reach for your Québec customers. The exact requirements for your type of business are to be validated with the Office québécois de la langue française.

Are my answers sent anywhere?

No. Your answers stay in your browser. Only your contact details, asked once to display the result and the guide, are saved.

What about software bought abroad?

Check what your customers and staff actually see. If a product has no French version, ask the vendor: the guide includes 6 questions to ask.

A tool to check together?

Tell us which website, software or automatic email worries you. We give you an honest read of what needs fixing, and what does not.

Talk to us