START A COMPANY / EUROPE
How to register a company in Switzerland
Swiss companies are registered with the cantonal commercial register. A GmbH (CHF 20,000) is the usual start-up vehicle; the AG needs CHF 100,000 capital. Sole traders need no register entry until turnover reaches CHF 100,000.
- REGISTRY
- Cantonal commercial registers (Handelsregister / registre du commerce), federal search portal Zefix
- ONLINE
- Partly online
- FROM
- CHF 0 (≈ £1)
- STRUCTURES HERE
- 3
Setting up from abroad
Foreigners can own 100% of a GmbH or AG. At least one person with signing authority must live in Switzerland (can be a nominee or employee). Non-EU/EFTA founders working in the company usually need a residence permit. A Swiss notary and blocked capital account are needed.
SOLE TRADER
Einzelfirma: Einzelunternehmen (sole proprietorship)
Freelancers and small traders testing an idea with no capital and little admin.
- Liability
- Unlimited: you are personally liable
- You need
- 1 owner (resident in Switzerland)
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- 1-2 weeks
Steps
Check your canton's rules: register entry is compulsory only if annual turnover reaches CHF 100,000 (voluntary below that).
Register as self-employed with your cantonal social insurance office (Ausgleichskasse) for AHV/IV/EO contributions.
Notify your cantonal tax office; self-employed income is taxed in your personal return.
Register for VAT with the Federal Tax Administration if turnover is CHF 100,000 or more (voluntary below that).
If required or wanted, file the entry with your cantonal commercial register with ID and proof of address.
Take out accident insurance (UVG) and occupational pension (BVG) if you have employees.
Documents
- Passport or Swiss residence permit
- Proof of Swiss address
- Registration form of the cantonal commercial register (if registering)
- Ausgleichskasse self-employment registration
Official fees
Commercial register entry about CHF 120-300 depending on canton (unverified); no fee if you do not register. No notary needed.
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | CHF 0≈ £1 | No register entry below CHF 100,000 turnover; entry about CHF 120-300 if registered |
| With an accountant or agent | CHF 500≈ £450 | Accountant help with registrations and bookkeeping set-up, about |
| Full service | CHF 1,500≈ £1,400 | Fiduciary handles registrations, VAT, insurance and advice, about |
Every year
- Annual personal tax return including business income
- AHV/IV/EO contributions on self-employed income
- Quarterly or half-yearly VAT returns if VAT-registered
- Keep simple accounts of income and expenses
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: exact cantonal sole-trader register fee.
PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY
GmbH: Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (limited liability company)
Owner-managed start-ups and small companies wanting limited liability at lower capital than an AG.
- Liability
- Limited to what you put in
- You need
- 1 shareholder and 1 managing director (at least one signatory resident in Switzerland)
- Minimum capital
- CHF 20,000, fully paid in
- Time
- 2-4 weeks
Steps
Choose a company name and check availability on Zefix; pick a canton (it sets tax rate and fees).
Open a blocked capital deposit account (Kapitaleinlagekonto) with a Swiss bank and pay in the full CHF 20,000.
Draft the articles of association and founding deed; sign before a Swiss notary (public deed).
Appoint a managing director resident in Switzerland (or a nominee) and register signing rights.
Notary files the application with the cantonal commercial register; entry is published in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (SOGC).
Release the capital to the company bank account once the register entry is issued.
Register for VAT (mandatory above CHF 100,000 turnover), with the Ausgleichskasse as employer, and notify the cantonal tax office.
Documents
- Passports of founders and managing directors
- Proof of address
- Articles of association
- Founding deed (notary)
- Bank confirmation of paid-in capital
- Registered-office confirmation
Official fees
Notary about CHF 800-3,000; commercial register and SOGC publication about CHF 600-1,200. Fees vary by canton.
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | CHF 1,800≈ £1,600 | DIY: notary about CHF 1,200 plus register and gazette fees about CHF 600 |
| With an accountant or agent | CHF 3,500≈ £3,200 | With a fiduciary/agent handling documents, about |
| Full service | CHF 6,000≈ £5,400 | Law firm, notary, registered address, nominee director and bank help, about |
Every year
- Annual financial statements (approved within 6 months of year end)
- Annual corporate income tax return (federal and cantonal)
- VAT returns, usually quarterly
- Keep share register and internal register of beneficial owners
- Social insurance payroll filings
Good to know. At least one signatory must be resident in Switzerland; a nominee director is a common route for non-residents. Unverified: canton-level notary fee.
PUBLIC COMPANY
AG: Aktiengesellschaft (stock corporation)
Larger or investor-backed companies needing share-based financing and a board structure.
- Liability
- Limited to what you put in
- You need
- 1 shareholder and 1 board member (at least one signatory resident in Switzerland)
- Minimum capital
- CHF 100,000, of which at least CHF 50,000 paid in
- Time
- 2-4 weeks
Steps
Choose name and canton; check availability on Zefix.
Open a blocked capital account with a Swiss bank and pay in at least CHF 50,000.
Draft articles of association and sign the founding deed before a Swiss notary.
Appoint the board of directors (one resident signatory) and the auditor, or opt out of audit if eligible.
Notary files with the cantonal commercial register; entry is published in the SOGC.
Release capital to the company account and register for VAT, social insurance and tax.
Documents
- Passports of founders and directors
- Proof of address
- Articles of association
- Founding deed (notary)
- Bank confirmation of capital
- Auditor opt-out declaration where applicable
Official fees
Notary about CHF 1,000-3,000; commercial register and SOGC publication about CHF 600-1,200. Fees vary by canton.
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | CHF 2,000≈ £1,800 | DIY: notary and register fees, excluding CHF 100,000 capital |
| With an accountant or agent | CHF 4,000≈ £3,600 | With a fiduciary/agent handling documents, about |
| Full service | CHF 7,500≈ £6,800 | Law firm, notary, registered address, nominee director and bank help, about |
Every year
- Annual accounts and board report
- Annual general meeting
- Corporate income tax return
- VAT returns
- Ordinary or limited audit where thresholds are exceeded
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: paid-in minimum shown as CHF 50,000 (Code of Obligations: at least 20% of capital, minimum CHF 50,000).
After you register
- Register for VAT with the Federal Tax Administration if turnover will exceed CHF 100,000; many start-ups register voluntarily.
- Register employees and yourself with your cantonal Ausgleichskasse for AHV/IV/EO.
- Take out compulsory accident insurance (UVG) and occupational pension (BVG) for employees.
- Open the operating bank account once the commercial register extract is issued.
- Keep an internal register of beneficial owners; Switzerland has no public UBO register.
- Check sector licences (finance, healthcare, trade) with the cantonal authority.
Sources
Checked against:
Pound amounts use HMRC's exchange rates for 2026-10 and are a rough guide only.
Other countries in Europe
This guide is general information to help you plan, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Fees, forms and rules change: check the official registry before you file, and take professional advice for anything complex. Agent and lawyer costs are typical market prices, not quotes.