Registering a GmbH or AG in Switzerland revolves around capital, notarial incorporation, and entry in the Handelsregister. A GmbH is suitable for private businesses, while an AG is for larger companies, holdings, and investment projects. For a foreign bank, transaction, or asset ownership, the official set of company incorporation documents may require notarization and an Apostille.
Information for decision-making
To decide whether this jurisdiction is suitable for your business, compare the company form, owner documents, taxes, annual costs and payment options. We can check these points before registration and prepare a practical solution for the company, corporate account and ongoing support.
Offshore legislation
The corporate framework in Switzerland is based on the local company, accounting and tax rules. For an international owner, we focus on the practical points that affect registration, cross-border contracts, reporting, management and use of the company outside the owners country of residence.
We check the current version of the rules before filing because the company form, capital, reporting and registration practice directly affect the corporate document package.
Company form
The main options are GmbH, AG, a branch and certain cooperative or foundation structures. For most privately owned projects, GmbH or AG is used. We confirm the legal form after reviewing the number of owners, capital, business sector, bank requirements and plans to bring in investors.
The main options are GmbH, AG, a branch and certain cooperative or foundation structures. For most privately owned projects, GmbH or AG is used. We confirm the legal form after reviewing the number of owners, capital, business sector, bank requirements and plans to bring in investors.
Permitted company activities
A Swiss company is suitable when reputation, stable corporate law, international banking, asset management and long-term contracts are important. GmbH is often used for consulting, trade, technology and family-owned projects. AG is commonly chosen for holdings, investment structures, several investors and more flexible transfer of shares.
A Swiss company is suitable when reputation, stable corporate law, international banking, asset management and long-term contracts are important. GmbH is often used for consulting, trade, technology and family-owned projects. AG is commonly chosen for holdings, investment structures, several investors and more flexible transfer of shares.
Prohibited activities
Banking, insurance, investment, payment services, fiduciary services, asset management, medical and other regulated activities require approval from FINMA or another relevant authority. The use of words such as Bank, Insurance or Fund in a company name is reviewed separately.
Company registration time
The founders open a capital contribution account, pay in the capital, sign the notarial deed and file the documents with the cantonal Handelsregister. Standard incorporation usually takes several weeks. Timing depends on the canton, name check, documents of non-resident owners, contributions in kind and appointment of a local representative.
Before filing starts, you provide owner documents, address details, planned activity and capital information. We check the data, prepare corporate resolutions and confirm that the set is ready.
Ready-made company
The law allows the purchase of an already registered company. Availability depends on the current catalogue. We check the incorporation date, register, capital, reporting, obligations and corporate history, then arrange the transfer of interests or shares and changes in management.
Company name
The company name must be different from names already registered and must include the required legal-form designation. We carry out a Name Check, propose several options and file the agreed name with the incorporation documents. Words suggesting government, banking, insurance or another licensed status are used only after the right to use them has been confirmed.
Documents required for registration
The basic package includes the memorandum or founder's resolution, articles, details of owners and directors, registered-office evidence, capital documents and registration forms. If a foreign legal entity is a participant, we also prepare its registry extract, constitutional documents, participation resolution and representative documents. We confirm in advance which papers require notarisation, apostille and translation.
Registered Office Address
The company requires a registered office in Switzerland for official correspondence and registry or tax notices. Where the business or bank requires more practical local presence, we can also arrange mail handling, telephone, administration and quote a physical office separately.
Minimum share capital
We confirm the minimum or agreed capital, contribution method and evidence required for the selected company form in Switzerland. The capital structure is reflected consistently in the incorporation documents, ownership records and bank file.
Ability to issue shares or ownership interests
Corporate rights are represented by ownership interests or shares according to the selected form. The constitutional documents define nominal value, classes, voting rights, transfer rules and pre-emption rights. We record the capital allocation in the corporate register and prepare ownership confirmation.
Company shareholders
Both individuals and legal entities may act as owners where permitted. For each participant, we record the ownership interest, contribution, address and corporate authority. A sole owner can make decisions alone; with several owners, the articles and shareholders' or members' agreement define voting, dividends and exit arrangements.
Company director
The management structure is selected according to the local rules in Switzerland and the real operating model. We define the directors or managers, signing authority, decision-making procedure and any local-residence requirement before the company is registered.
You tell us who actually makes decisions and signs contracts. We match this model with the corporate documents, bank questionnaire and accounting support.
Meetings of directors and shareholders
Corporate decisions are recorded in meeting minutes or written resolutions as required by law and the articles. We prepare the Minutes of First Meeting and resolutions covering the account, registered office, accountant, director authority and later corporate actions. Annual resolutions are coordinated with approval of the financial statements.
Accounting and reporting
After registration, the company in Switzerland keeps the accounting records and completes the corporate and tax filings required for its activity. We agree the accounting documents, reporting calendar and any audit requirement before operations start.
The accountant receives contracts, invoices, bank statements and expense evidence. You maintain consistent transaction records, and we coordinate preparation of the annual package and corporate resolutions.
Information available to third parties on request
The public register normally shows the company name, number, registered office, status, legal form and the information required by national rules. The amount of public information about directors, owners and filings depends on the register. We keep the public corporate record, internal documents and the bank file as separate document sets.
Taxes and annual fees
The tax result in Switzerland depends on the company form, source of income, actual activity and any available regime. We check the applicable corporate and indirect taxes, filing calendar and treatment of profit distributions using the current rules before registration.
The annual budget also includes the address, accounting, reporting, corporate administration and sector permits. We show the cost before work starts and agree which services are included in the first year.
Opening a corporate account
The company may use one or more accounts with banks and payment institutions that accept its activity and ownership structure. We select an offshore account based on contracts, currencies, payment countries and expected turnover, and prepare the corporate resolution and bank file.
The main account can be supplemented by a backup channel, merchant acquiring, corporate cards and digital payments where suitable for the activity. Accounting receives the statements and records the transactions in the company accounts.
Currency control
Before operations start, we check the currencies, cross-border payment rules and any local currency-control requirements that affect the company in Switzerland. The payment structure is then aligned with contracts, invoices, accounting and the corporate account.
Double tax treaty
The tax result in Switzerland depends on the company form, source of income, actual activity and any available regime. We check the applicable corporate and indirect taxes, filing calendar and treatment of profit distributions using the current rules before registration.
How these conditions apply to your business
You tell us the business activity, owners, counterparties, expected turnover and required timing. We confirm the company form, capital, address, documents, taxes, reporting and offshore account options. As a result, you receive a practical sequence for registration and annual maintenance rather than a general description of the country.
GmbH / AG
For company registration in Switzerland, we agree the legal form, owners, management, capital and activities, prepare the incorporation documents and coordinate the filing. The following tax, accounting and account-opening steps are then completed in the agreed order.
Share capital
We confirm the minimum or agreed capital, contribution method and evidence required for the selected company form in Switzerland. The capital structure is reflected consistently in the incorporation documents, ownership records and bank file.
Local representation
For the corporate account, we review the business activity, currencies, counterparties, expected turnover and payment purpose. We then compare a bank, European payment system / EMI or neobank and, where useful, a backup account.
Shares and beneficial-owner disclosure
We prepare one consistent document set for registration, the bank and ongoing administration. It includes the required owner and director identification, proof of address, corporate information and any notarisation, apostille or translation needed for the project.
Additional company registration information for 2026
How to start company registration
Tell us your business activity, owners and director, the countries of your main counterparties, expected turnover, required currencies and preferred start date. We will check the suitable company form, required documents, first-year costs and a strategy for opening a corporate account.
Once the terms are agreed, our specialists can organise company registration, accounting support and preparation of documents for opening an account. You will know the cost, sequence of actions and what we need from you at each stage.