Changes to your company's commercial register in Switzerland: a guide for businesses

Changing company names

Changing a company name, business purpose, or registered office is an important step in the life cycle of a company. Each of these changes requires precise planning and compliance with clearly defined legal requirements. First, any change—whether to the name, purpose, or registered office—requires a resolution by the shareholders or general meeting. This resolution forms the basis for entering the necessary changes in the commercial register.

When changing the name, the new company name must be defined. The new articles of association must then be notarized. Finally, the articles of association must be submitted to the commercial register office together with the resolution of the shareholders' meeting or general meeting. The change only becomes effective once it has been officially entered in the commercial register.

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Changing the company purpose

If the company's purpose is changed, this must be defined and new articles of association with the new purpose must be drawn up. The articles of association must also be notarized and finally submitted to the commercial register office together with the resolution of the shareholders' meeting or general meeting. The change in the company's purpose only becomes effective upon entry in the commercial register.

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Changing the company's registered office

A change of registered office brings additional challenges. In addition to the resolution of the shareholders' meeting or general meeting, the new place of business must also be contractually secured – for example, through a lease agreement or a domicile agreement. The new articles of association must be submitted to the commercial register office together with the resolution of the shareholders' meeting or general meeting.

In summary, there are several steps to follow when making changes to the commercial register: internal resolution, notarization, and official entry in the commercial register.

Ensure the success of your company – plan changes to the commercial register carefully and rely on professional help from Startups.ch for smooth and stress-free implementation.

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