*** To maintain good standing, your Switzerland company must pay an annual renewal fee. This fee is a flat rate and free from hidden charges.

What’s included for 13900

• Incorporation of Company
• Local director
• Switzerland Government Registration Fees
• Registered Office for 1 year
• Company Secretary for 1 year
• Certificate of Incorporation
• Memorandum of Association
• Register of Members
• Membership Certificates
• Lifetime support

Why Switzerland

Switzerland is one of the most popular locations in the world to set up a company. There are numerous reasons why so many entrepreneurs are attracted to Swiss “shores”. Political stability, friendly corporate legislation, fast and easy incorporation, financial privacy, low taxes, lack of corruption, reputability, and a highly developed economy and infrastructure, are but a few of the benefits that Switzerland offers as a landscape for incorporating a company. It is no wonder why more wealthy foreign investors and ambitious entrepreneurs are choosing Switzerland as their financial and corporate “home base”.

Benefits of opening a company in Switzerland

Switzerland is considered to be one of the best places in the world to set up a business because of its favorable economic environment. Here are a few key points that make Switzerland an attractive destination for businesses :

– Economic and political stability: Switzerland enjoys solid economic and political stability, which creates a business-friendly environment. Government policies generally favour entrepreneurship and economic growth.
– Legal and fiscal framework: Switzerland has a stable and transparent legal framework. Swiss laws are business-friendly, offering strong investment protection and intellectual property rights. The Swiss tax system is also attractive, with competitive tax rates and double taxation agreements with many countries.
– High-quality infrastructure: Switzerland benefits from a state-of-the-art infrastructure, including well-developed transport networks, reliable communications services and an excellent quality of life. Companies can benefit from easy access to European and international markets.
– Highly qualified workforce: Switzerland has a highly qualified and multilingual workforce. The Swiss education system is renowned for its quality, and the country attracts talent from all over the world. Swiss workers are often regarded as productive, well-trained and highly innovative.
– Market access: Although Switzerland is not part of the European Union, it enjoys access to European markets thanks to a series of bilateral agreements. In addition, it has signed free trade agreements with numerous countries, facilitating international trade.
– Support for business and innovation: Switzerland encourages entrepreneurship and innovation through specific support measures, subsidies and tax incentives. The country also has a dynamic ecosystem of start-ups, research centers and technology parks.
– High quality of life: Switzerland is renowned for its high quality of life, offering a safe, clean and well-organized environment. Health, education and leisure facilities are first-class, which attracts international talent and makes it easy to recruit skilled employees.

Types of Business Entities in Switzerland

Anyone wanting to set up or restructure a business needs to decide on a legal structure. Be careful, as not all legal structures are suitable for all businesses.

This section will provide future entrepreneurs with all the necessary information to choose the most appropriate legal structure for their business.

The three most common structures for SMEs in Switzerland are:

• The Sole Proprietorship.
• General Partnership (GP).
• The Swiss Limited Liability Company (SARL/GMBH).
• The Joint Stock (SA/AG).
• Limited Partnership (LP).

Partnerships and capital firms are mainly differentiated by risk-taking. Anyone wanting – or able – to assume risks on their own and take on liability for debts using their own assets can simply register with the trade register as a sole proprietorship.  On the other hand, entrepreneurs setting up with colleagues will be served better by setting up a general partnership or a limited partnership.

Anyone wanting to take less financial risk can limit themselves to a certain amount by setting up a capital firm, i.e. a limited liability company (SARL) or a limited company (SA). It is also possible to provide financial backing for a commercial activity within an association or a cooperative company.

Here are a few factors to be taken into account when choosing the legal structure:

• Capital: the set-up costs, necessary funding and minimum capital requirements vary depending on the legal structure. Capital requirements for the current year as well as for the next 3 to 5 years need to be taken into account.
• Risk/Liability: as a general rule, the greater the business risk or the larger the financial contribution, the better it is to opt for a limited liability company.
• Independence: depending on the legal structure, room for maneuver is restricted. It is therefore a question of ascertaining whether the entrepreneur wants to work on their own or with partners, and whether they prefer to include investors or partners in their activity.
• Tax: depending on the company structure, the income and assets of the business and of the owner are taxed separately or together. The tendency is to tax the significant income of capital firms less than a partnership or sole proprietorship.
• Social security: some social insurance schemes are mandatory, optional or non-existent, depending on the legal structure. Owners of a sole proprietorship are not insured against unemployment and signing up for a pension fund is optional. By contrast, in the case of SAs and SARLs, the director of the company is also considered an employee and included in social insurance schemes.

Legal forms of business in Switzerland: Everything you need to know to choose the best option

Switzerland is known for its thriving economy and successful businesses. Whether you are a first-time entrepreneur, an experimented entrepreneur or a foreign investor, it is important to understand the different legal forms of business in Switzerland in order to choose the one that best suits your situation.

Here are the main legal forms of business in Switzerland:

1. SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP

The sole proprietorship is the simplest and most common form of business in Switzerland. It is often chosen by beginners who want to start a small business without too many formalities. In this type of business, the owner is responsible for all debts and obligations of the business. In other words, there is no legal separation between the business and the owner.

The sole proprietorship is easy to set up and does not require a minimum capital. However, it presents significant risks for the owner, who may lose his or her personal assets in the event of bankruptcy.

2. GENERAL PARTNERSHIP (GP)

A general partnership is a form of business in which two or more people join together to carry out a business activity. In a SNC, each partner is responsible for the debts and obligations of the business. The profits of the business are divided among the partners according to their shareholding.

The SNC is relatively easy to set up and does not require a minimum capital. However, it also presents significant risks for the partners, who are liable for all the debts of the business.

3. SWISS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (SÀRL/GMBH)

The limited liability company is a form of business in which the owners are only liable to the extent of their capital contribution. This means that the debts and obligations of the company are separate from those of the owners. The owners of a GmbH are called “partners” and their liability is limited to the amount of their capital contribution.

The Swiss LLC is the most common form of company in Switzerland. It offers some protection to the owners and makes it easier to raise funds. However, the creation of a limited liability company requires a minimum capital of CHF 20,000 and involves more complex administrative formalities than sole proprietorships or partnerships.

4. SWISS JOINT STOCK (SA/AG)

The public limited company is a form of company in which the owners are shareholders and the management is carried out by a board of directors. In an SA/AG, the debts and obligations of the company are also separated from those of the owners. The shareholders are only liable to the extent of their capital holding.

The SA/AG is often used by SMEs and listed companies. It offers great flexibility in raising funds, but requires a minimum capital of CHF 100,000 and is a complex administrative structure. Shareholders also have voting rights, which depend on the number of shares they hold.

One of the advantages of the legal form of a public limited company (SA/AG) in Switzerland is that the names of the shareholders do not have to be published in the commercial register. This means that shareholders can remain anonymous, unlike other legal forms of business where the owners must be registered in public documents (Sàrl/GmbH).

This confidentiality can be an advantage for shareholders who prefer not to be publicly associated with a company, or for companies that do not want to reveal their ownership structure to competitors or other interested parties.

However, it is important to note that the names of the company’s directors must be registered in the commercial register, which means that this information is publicly available. In addition, the shareholders must be registered with the company itself, which means that the company will have information about the identity of its shareholders.

It is also important to remember that shareholder confidentiality is not absolute. Swiss courts may require disclosure of shareholder information in certain circumstances, such as criminal investigations or court proceedings.

In summary, although the SA/AG offers the possibility of keeping the names of shareholders confidential in the commercial register, it is important to take into account other factors that may affect shareholder confidentiality.

5. LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (LP)

The limited partnership is a form of business in which there are two types of partners: general partners and limited partners. The general partners are liable for the debts and obligations of the company, while the limited partners are only liable for the amount of their capital contribution. The limited partners have no right to participate in the management of the company.

The SCS is often used in sectors where it is common to use outside investors, such as real estate or investment funds. However, it is less common than other legal forms of business in Switzerland.

In Switzerland, there are several legal forms of business, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The choice of legal form will depend on several factors, such as the size of the business, the objectives of the entrepreneur and the complexity of the legal structure. It is important to understand the different legal forms of business in Switzerland before starting a business or investing in an existing business. If in doubt, it is recommended to consult an expert Swiss fiduciary for professional advice tailored to your situation.

Incorporation Procedure

Documents from individuals:

• Certified Copy of a Passport
• Certified Copy of a Utility Bill e.g., Gas / Electrical or Bank Statement (dated within the last 3 months)
• 3 Proposed company name
• Application Form (we will provide).
• CVs/Resume.

Documents from legal entities:

• Copy of the Certificate of Incorporation;
• Copies of incorporation documents (Articles of Association and Memorandum of Association).
• Register of directors/shareholders/members.

Note: Where documents are in a language other than English, a certified translation of the full document into English must be provided, with the original document.

Company Structure

• Directors: One local director above 18 years is mandatory in Singapore. However, a nominee director can be appointed.
• Shareholders: : One shareholder is required for companies in Singapore. A director can be a shareholder. And they can be an individual or corporate entity.

Timeline

Once we have received all the required identification documents, the company formation process will take approximately 10-12 working days subject to compliance review.

Taxation Policies