Checklist for the formation of an PLC

The following checklist will help you to consider all the relevant things so that a start-up can be carried out without any problems. A distinction is made between the preparation for incorporation and the incorporation process itself.

Preparation

In the preparation phase, a company founder must consider the following things:

• Company name Choose a name for your PLC. The company name can be freely chosen as long as it corresponds to the facts and does not give rise to any deception. The addition “PLC” is always required, as it provides information about the legal form of the company.
  
• Check the availability of the company name in the central company index (www.zefix.ch).
  
• If necessary, also check the availability of an Internet domain.
  
• Define an appropriate purpose for your AG in your own words. If you need help with this, a Startups.ch consultant will be happy to help you.
  
• Define the registered office (address, location) of the public limited company.
  
• Determine who should participate in the company (at least 1 natural or legal person) and who is authorized to sign.
  
• Determine the amount of the share capital (at least CHF 100,000) as well as the number, type (registered / bearer shares) and par value (at least CHF 0.01) of the shares. If there is more than one shareholder, you must also determine how the shares are to be distributed to the shareholders.
  
• Determine who should be on the board of directors and who should be the managing director or director.
  
• Check whether your AG is subject to VAT (from CHF 100,000 turnover in Switzerland) or whether you would like to voluntarily subject it to VAT. If you have any questions about VAT, you are welcome to contact a STARTUPS.CH consultant.
  
• When setting up a corporation, it is not legally possible to withdraw pension fund assets in advance. If you would still like to make use of your pension fund assets, you can set up a sole proprietorship or general partnership, which you can later convert into an AG. In this case, please contact a STARTUPS.CH advisor!
  

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Formation

Once the preparatory phase has been completed, the actual formation can be carried out. The following points should be noted when founding a company:

• Contact an advertising agency and order the creation of a company logo, business cards and stationery on a provisional basis. At www.startups.ch we have compiled a list of advertising agencies and other partners with whom you can benefit from special conditions thanks to Startups.ch. Important: Do not place a print order before the definitive entry in the commercial register, as the name of your company could change!‍
  
• Calculate a quote for the formation of your AG at www.startups.ch. Register at www.startups.ch and enter the data required for incorporation into the system.
  
• Complete the process with the formation of your AG online.
  
• A consultant from Startups.ch will contact you within 24 hours (on working days) to discuss the company formation and any open questions (e.g. company name, company purpose or the allocation of signature authorizations, etc.) as well as the next steps.
  
• You will then receive all the documents required to form the company (including the articles of association) by e-mail and can print them out immediately.
  
• Sign the documents required to form the AG and have your signature notarized by the relevant municipality or a notary (depending on the canton).
  
• Transfer the share capital to a blocked account at a bank.
  
• The bank will then issue you with a capital payment confirmation, which must be sent to Startups.ch in the original for the formation of your AG.
  
• Send all incorporation documents (including the capital contribution confirmation) by registered mail to
  
• Once we have received the incorporation documents, we will prepare the other documents, carry out the incorporation deed at the notary's office and send all documents to the relevant commercial register office.
  
• If you have any questions about the above steps or if there are still uncertainties regarding the formation of your company, take advantage of a consultation in your area. If you set up your company before, during or after the consultation, the consultation is free of charge for you. If the consultation is for information purposes only and the company formation has not yet been decided, the consultation costs CHF 150. However, you will receive a voucher worth CHF 150 for a later company formation at Startups.ch.
  

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Follow-up support

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• After entry in the commercial register, your AHV compensation fund will contact you.
  
• After receiving the extract from the commercial register, we will prepare the application for the VAT number (if you are liable for VAT) and send it to you.
  
• Once your company name has been confirmed, you can order the final advertising materials and register your Internet domain.
  
• If you need help with bookkeeping and tax accounting, Startups.ch provides you with a broad network of fiduciary partners. You can find a fiduciary near you at www.startups.ch/kontakt.
  
• Have you come up with a particularly creative company name or designed a particularly original logo and would like to protect it as a trademark? The legal department at Startups.ch can also help you with this.
  

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