Start your Swiss company.
GmbH, AG or any other Swiss legal form, in the canton that fits — with a Swiss-resident director where the law requires one.
A GmbH or AG needs a Swiss-resident director — available as a monthly add-on.
Every legal form in Switzerland, one desk.
One owner, full personal liability. Commercial register entry once turnover exceeds CHF 100,000; no share capital.
Partnership of natural persons, all fully liable. Commercial register entry.
At least one fully liable partner plus limited partners. Commercial register entry.
Limited liability, CHF 20,000 share capital fully paid in. Public deed and commercial register entry.
Stock corporation: CHF 100,000 share capital, at least CHF 50,000 paid in. Board of directors.
Cooperative with at least seven members. Statutes and commercial register entry.
Partnership limited by shares — rare. Combines unlimited partners with shareholders.
Public deed, commercial register entry and supervision by a foundation authority.
Association with statutes. Register entry only if it runs a commercial business.
Swiss branch of an existing foreign company. Commercial register entry and a Swiss-resident authorised representative.
Required by law for a GmbH or AG unless a manager lives in Switzerland. Ongoing monthly mandate.
Zug · Zurich. One-time set-up; monthly fee by location, quoted separately.
Register, trademark and domain check before the formation.
Set up as part of every GmbH and AG formation.
Prices on request: you get a written, fixed offer after a free consultation. Government, notary and register fees and any statutory capital are billed separately at cost. Sole proprietors and partners in a Swiss partnership usually need Swiss residence or a Swiss residence permit.
What's included
- Formation in the Swiss legal form of your choice
- Canton selection (tax + practicality)
- Notarization & commercial register filing
- Capital-deposit account coordination
- VAT registration where relevant
- A dedicated point of contact
Additional services
- Swiss-resident director (GmbH / AG)
- Registered business address
- Company name check
What happens next
- 01Book & confirmSubmit the form; we confirm canton, entity and director setup within one business day.
- 02Capital & documentsCapital-deposit account opened; articles notarized.
- 03RegisterCommercial register entry; resident director in place.
- 04OperationalVAT where relevant, banking live — ready to trade.
Book your Switzerland formation
Free consultation · written, fixed offer after we confirm scope
What trips founders up — and what we plan for.
- A Swiss-resident director is a statutory requirement — plan for it
- Capital deposit must clear a Swiss bank before notarization
- Cantonal tax rates vary widely — the canton you pick matters
- Banking onboarding is thorough; documentation must be complete upfront
Frequently asked questions
01Why do I need a Swiss-resident director?+
Swiss law requires at least one person with sole signatory power to be resident in Switzerland. We arrange this through vetted partners — it's available as an ongoing monthly add-on.
02Which canton should I pick?+
Zug and Lucerne are the classic low-tax choices; Zurich buys prestige and talent. We model the difference for your numbers during scoping.
03GmbH or AG?+
GmbH from CHF 20,000 with visible shareholders; AG from CHF 100,000 (50% paid in) with anonymous shareholders and more weight. Depends on capital and optics.
Anything beyond this scope is billed hourly — support & accompaniment and consulting & expertise, with a written offer before we start. Plus 19% VAT, provided by West Consultings (Germany). Minimum one hour; travel time at the full rate.
Provided by West International Consulting LLC (USA). No VAT is added.