Foundation of Companies in Switzerland

• GmbH
  
• Share capital: GmbH min 20,000
• CHF
  
• Registration of the foundation
  
• Name check
  
• Preparation of certificate of incorporation
  
• 2 shareholders included
  
• 1 shareholder must be Swiss or have a residence permit (B Ausweis)
  
• 1 director is included
  
• Swiss Bank Account required to open company
  
• Expected registration time: 14 – 20 days

Setting up a company in Switzerland Switzerland is a federal republic comprising 26 cantons in Western Europe. It shares borders with Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Lichtenstein. The Swiss Confederation was established in 1291 and received its independence from the Roman Empire in 1499. Due to its location, it is ethnically diverse and thus has embraced several official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh, the latter a language unique to Switzerland. It has a large and well-developed banking system. Establishing a company in Switzerland can be a good opportunity for various types of business activities and offers many advantages. Famous for maintaining neutrality in governmental or military affairs, Switzerland did not participate in either of the two world wars or any other war in modern times and only chose to join the United Nations in 2002. The standard of living there is particularly high and it is considered as one of the most stable countries in various respects. It is characterized by mountainous alpine landscapes that are particularly impressive along lakes and lush valleys. The state capital is Bern, which contains all national authorities, but the two largest cities in size and business are Zurich and Geneva. The population is 8 million.

Four things you didn’t know about Switzerland :

Albert Einstein wrote his “Theory of Relativity” in Bern.

The Swiss are the biggest consumers of chocolate in the world – with an average of 9.5 kg per person. Person annually. Chocolate production began there in the 18th century and grew significantly in the 19th century with the invention of new processing technologies. Switzerland is the home of milk chocolate.

“Like a Swiss watch” is, as they say, not just an idiom. The cost of producing Swiss watches is 330 more expensive than in China.

The country has the densest network of train tracks in Europe with over 5,000 km of track and the amazing sum of 350 million train users annually. This number is especially surprising when you consider that the total population is only 8 million. Recently a new and huge tunnel was opened, the third largest in the world, running through the Alps. It was constructed as part of the ambitious “Alp Transit” project to cross the Alps by train.

Switzerland’s economy

Switzerland has a stable, unpredictable and thriving economy that includes a skilled workforce that specializes in several fields, from industry and tourism to banking and financial services. It offers a competitive and accessible business environment for investment and registration. Tax rates are low and its capital markets are efficient and highly developed. It is one of the richest countries on the planet and certainly the richest in Europe in key economic metrics. Its active sectors include banking and finance, ultra-advanced industry (chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, scientific and technical machinery and luxury goods), tourism and some agriculture. It still retains its local currency – the franc, consistently stable against other global currencies. GDP (adjusted purchasing power) is 362 billion USD and income per Population among the highest in the world – 54,000 USD.

Additional information on establishing companies in Switzerland :
General
Type of company
GMBH
Relevant company law
Bundesgesetz über die Anlagefonds, Bundesgesetz über die Internationale Privatrecht
Offices
Law requires companies to provide a local office address
Language of original incorporation documents
Romansh English in some cantons
Financing and taxation
Currency
CHF
Corporate tax rate
Each canton has its own rates
Standard share capital
CHF 20,000
Office holders
Secretary
Obligation to appoint company secretary
Not required
Duty to appoint local secretary
Irrelevant
Type of entity that can act as company secretary
Irrelevant
Director
Obligation to appoint company director
Required
Duty to appoint local director company
Required
Minimum number of directors
1
Type of entity that can act as company director
Individual
Shareholders
Obligation to register shareholders
Required
Obligation to register local shareholders
Not required
Minimum number of shareholders
2
Type of entity that can register as shareholder
Individual and/or company
Type of shares
Registered shares
Availability of information
Corporate registrar
Information on office holders is not available to the public
Annual meeting and reporting
Duty to hold annual meeting
Required
Duty to prepare financial reports
Required
Duty to submit financial reports
Not required