How To Register A Company In Switzerland. Features In 2025

Byneha

If you’re thinking about company formation in Switzerland in 2025, you’re not alone — and for good reason. This region has long been a magnet for entrepreneurs who want a resilient, innovative, and commercial-friendly sphere. With its predictable legal system, investor-oriented tax mechanisms, and political neutrality, this region is one of those places where doing business just makes sense. Whether you’re mapping out to launch an innovation-driven project or set up a large-scale establishment, this workflow is pretty easy— as long as you know the local ropes.

Major phases to Submit an Organisation

1. Picking the Perfect Commercial Structure: What You Need to Know

Before diving in, you’ll want to pick the right model. Talking about this direction there are two types of establishments are the most appropriate:

  • GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) – An LLC, ideal for small to mid-sized commercial activity. Demands a start share equity of CHF 20,000, fully paid up. 
  • AG (Aktiengesellschaft) – A PLC suited for larger establishments and those looking for investors. In that case it is demanded a share equity of CHF 100,000, of which at least CHF 50,000 has to be purchased during the organisation creation workflow.

Good news: both types are open to international ownership. This direction keeps its doors open for international financiers and doesn’t make it hard to get started.

1. Appointing Directors

Now, here’s a catch you should know about. Swiss law says your organisation needs at least one principal who actually lives in this jurisdiction. This person must be authorized to represent the firm. If none of the firm creators live in the country, that’s not a deal-breaker — many companies simplyhired a nominee director locally. It’s a common workaround and perfectly lawful.

2. Accumulate the Equity in a Swiss Bank

Before your organisation is officially born, you’ll be essential to open a temporary corporate deposit account at a regional monetary institution and park the demanded share equity there. The monetary establishment will then issue a certificate confirming the deposit. You’ll need this document to move forward.

Interestingly enough, some cantons now allow capital deposits in cryptocurrency — yep, Switzerland’s leaning into its reputation as a fintech haven.

3. Paperwork Time: Sorting Out the Company Paperwork

This is the part where things get a bit more formal. You’ll be expected to compile the following paperwork:

  • The Articles of Incorporation
  • The Deed of Incorporation
  • The Capital Deposit Proof
  • IDs of the principals and shareholders

These documents have to be signed and officially witnessed by a notarization expert. Once that’s done, you’re almost there.

4. Getting your commercial unit in the registry

The next phase, the full set of paperwork gets submitted to the Commercial Register in the district where your organisation will be based. Usually, you can expect a waiting time of one to four weeks, depending on how fast the local authorities work.

Once they give you the green light, you’ll get your corporate identification number (UID), and just like that — your company is legally ready to roll.

5. Tax and Welfare Protection Payments

Don’t forget the next important step: registering for state benefits. If your firm expects to earn more than CHF 100,000 per year, you’ll also need to sign up for VAT. And yes, setting up retirement fund contributions and Injury protection coverage is part of the deal too.

So, Why Switzerland?

Switzerland’s decentralized fiscal structure is still one of its strongest suits. Each canton sets its own corporate tax rates, which can be significantly lower than those in many EU countries. The canton of Zug, for example, is especially popular with firms thanks to its low taxes and smooth bureaucracy.

Conditional on what kind of company you’re running, you might even qualify for tax breaks:

  • Holding companies can enjoy big tax benefits if most of their income comes from shares in other companies.
  • Mixed companies, which earn most of their money abroad, can gain from lower taxes on transinternational income. 

If you’re going into a regulated sector like finance, you’ll need to play by the rules — meaning, get a license or register with a self-regulatory organization (SRO). Still, these processes are well-established and manageable if you’ve got the right legal support.

Remote Submission: It’s All About Flexibility

One of the best things about such a workflow is how much you can do remotely. Nowadays, you can:

  • Sign your documents online
  • Hire local agents to act on your behalf
  • Use a e-office for your legal contact details
  • Open a corporate bank account with the help of intermediaries

That means you don’t even need to be in the country to get your business up and running — a real win for busy international founders.

What About Ongoing Costs?

Running a Swiss company isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it deal. Here’s what you’ll need to keep an eye on:

  • Keeping a registered office in Switzerland
  • Doing annual financial reporting
  • Hiring auditors (if needed)
  • Maintaining proper bookkeeping
  • Renewing licenses, if applicable

All of this comes with a price tag, of course. But how much you’ll spend on maintenance really depends on how active your company is and what services you need.

Final Thoughts

All in all, company formation in Switzerland in 2025 is still a smart move — whether you’re looking for a stable legal framework, great infrastructure, or tax perks. While the process isn’t exactly a walk in the park, it’s far from impossible. With the right advisors, you can get everything sorted smoothly, even from abroad.

As the saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” — and in this direction, the way is well-paved for those ready to do business the right way.

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