My company in Switzerland: The ultimate guide to creating and developing your swiss business

Do you dream of creating your own company in one of the world's most attractive countries for entrepreneurs? Switzerland offers an exceptional business environment that attracts thousands of company founders each year. Discover everything you need to know to make my company in Switzerland a success.

Why choose Switzerland for my company?

Switzerland offers numerous advantages for creating a company. The country is renowned for its favorable corporate taxation, political and economic stability, privileged access to international markets, confidentiality and discretion, favorable business environment, quality infrastructure, and highly qualified workforce.

The essential tax advantages

One of the main assets for creating my company in Switzerland lies in its attractive taxation. Social charges are also significantly lower than in other European countries, which can constitute a significant financial advantage for entrepreneurs establishing their company in this country.

Furthermore, depending on the canton chosen to domicile your registered office, you can benefit from different tax rates, which allows you to optimize your tax burden from the creation of your company.

A business-friendly environment

Switzerland stands out for its administrative simplicity in the steps of company creation and registration, once again to remove barriers to creation and entrepreneurship. This administrative ease makes Switzerland a preferred destination for entrepreneurs wishing to focus on developing their activity rather than on bureaucratic procedures.

Available legal forms for my company in Switzerland

Before creating your company, it is essential to choose the legal form best suited to your project. Here are the main available options:

Sole proprietorship (SP)

The sole proprietorship (SP), also called individual enterprise (IE), is a Swiss business form that consists of only one natural person and where the owner is the sole manager of the company.

Advantages:

• Simplicity of creation
• No minimum capital required
• Avoid double taxation
• Management flexibility

Disadvantages:

• Unlimited liability of the owner
• Mandatory registration in the Commercial Register from CHF 100,000 in turnover

Limited liability company (LLC)

The LLC is particularly suitable for small and medium enterprises. You simply need to pay in the share capital of your LLC (CHF 20,000 minimum) to create this form of company.

Joint stock company (JSC)

For more ambitious projects, the JSC offers a more robust structure with a minimum share capital of CHF 100,000 (partial liberation possible).

Key steps to create my company in Switzerland

1. Define your project and choose the legal form

First of all, it is crucial to properly define your activity, your objectives, and your financing needs. This reflection will determine the choice of the most appropriate legal form.

2. Choose the strategic location

The business orientation of the company being created is an absolutely essential criterion in choosing the location of its future registered office. There are indeed a multitude of thematic technology parks throughout the territory that offer the possibility of settling in an environment that corresponds as closely as possible to your field of activity.

3. Open a professional bank account

Opening a professional bank account with a Swiss bank, credited with the amount of the company's share capital is a prerequisite. The bank then issues a certificate of capital payment (this step is only necessary for capital companies).

4. Draft articles of association and official documents

This step requires legal expertise to ensure the compliance of all documents with Swiss legislation.

5. Registration in the Commercial Register

To be able to register my company in the Commercial Register, you must be able to provide the document provided for this purpose, with a certified signature, necessary to prove the identity of the signatory(ies).

Post-creation obligations for my company in Switzerland

Accounting obligations

Once your company is created, you will have to respect certain accounting obligations that vary according to the chosen legal form and the turnover achieved. Our partner company Findea SA can help you with this process. Make an appointment for a consultation today.

Tax obligations

The tax obligations of a company in Switzerland include several aspects. First, the net profit of the company is taxed both at the cantonal and federal level by corporate income tax. If the annual turnover exceeds CHF 100,000, value-added tax (VAT) must also be collected. Findea SA can also provide you with support at this stage.

Mandatory social insurance

Certain insurances are mandatory in Switzerland. Old Age and Survivors' Insurance (OASI), Disability Insurance (DI), and Loss of Earnings Compensation (LOEC) are financed by employee and employer contributions and by the State.

Why use a professional to create my company in Switzerland?

The importance of professional support

We have observed for years that the company creator is often left to himself. His often very limited budget discourages him from using service providers (notary, lawyer, fiduciary, specialized consultants, etc.) to get his company on track or ensure its development.

However, surrounding yourself with competent professionals from creation presents numerous advantages:

Startups.ch services: your trusted partner

As the Swiss market leader, Startups.ch offers in-depth knowledge and a wide range of services for founders. With 26 locations throughout the country, we are always close to you and can advise you in several languages.

The advantages of Startups.ch:

• More than 35,000 successful company creations
• Processing of creation documents within 24 hours
• Legal, accounting, and tax expertise
• Personalized support
• National network with 26 offices
• Creation of partnerships (sole proprietorship and general partnership) from CHF 99
• Creation of capital companies (LLC or JSC) from CHF 290

Our own experts are at your disposal. Among them are lawyers, jurists, fiduciaries, and tax specialists.

The importance of professional accounting for my company in Switzerland

Why outsource your accounting?

Once your company is created with the help of professionals like Findea SA, it is crucial to maintain rigorous accounting management. Using an accounting specialist presents several advantages:

1. Regulatory compliance: Compliance with Swiss legal obligations
2. Tax optimization: Maximizing deductions and minimizing tax burden
3. Time savings: Concentration on the core of your activity
4. Technical expertise: Mastery of Swiss accounting specificities
5. Strategic advice: Support in financial decisions

Complementary accounting services

Professionals can also accompany you on:

• Bookkeeping
• Tax declarations
• Payroll management
• Audits and reviews
• Financial management consulting

Special cases: my company in Switzerland as a foreigner

For European citizens

Any French person or citizen of a European Union member country with a right of residence and work in Switzerland can create a company there. This involves obtaining a B permit allowing work there for a period of more than one year, or even a C permit called "settlement permit."

Specific obligations

For certain forms of companies, particular conditions apply:

• For a JSC, at least one member of the Board of Directors must be domiciled in Switzerland
• For an LLC, at least one authorized signatory administrator must be domiciled in Switzerland

Timeframes and costs to create my company in Switzerland

Creation timeframes

Count two to three weeks for the registration of your company once you have gathered and provided all necessary documents. These rapid timeframes make Switzerland one of the most efficient jurisdictions for company creation.

Transparent costs

Professionals offer clear and transparent rates:

• Creation of partnerships (sole proprietorship and general partnership) from CHF 99
• Creation of capital companies (LLC or JSC) from CHF 290

Conclusion: succeeding with my company in Switzerland

Creating my company in Switzerland represents an exceptional opportunity to develop an activity in one of the world's most favorable business environments. The combination of attractive taxation, efficient administration, and a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem makes Switzerland the ideal destination for ambitious company creators.

The keys to success:

1. Prepare your project well: Clearly define your activity and objectives
2. Choose the right legal form: Adapt the structure to specific needs
3. Surround yourself with competent professionals: Use experts like Startups.ch for creation
4. Outsource accounting: Entrust accounting management to specialists
5. Stay informed: Keep up with regulatory and tax developments

By following these recommendations and relying on the expertise of recognized professionals, your company in Switzerland will have all the cards in hand to prosper in this exceptional environment.

Are you ready to take the plunge? Don't wait any longer to realize your entrepreneurial project in Switzerland!