Switzerland flag Switzerland: Operating a Business in Switzerland

Starting a business in Switzerland

Legal Forms of Companies

Private Limited Company (SARL/Gmbh)
Number of partners: Minimum one executive domiciled in Switzerland. No maximum.
Capital (max/min): Minimum CHF 20,000.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is limited up to the registered capital and not to the amount contributed.
Public Limited Company (AG/SA)
Number of partners: Minimum one executive domiciled in Switzerland. No maximum.
Capital (max/min): Minimum CHF 100,000. When issuing registered shares, 20% of the share capital, but minimum of CHF50,000, has to be paid-in at the time of incorporation.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is limited to the amount contributed.
General Partnership
Number of partners: Minimum 2 partners.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is unlimited.
Limited Partnership
Number of partners: Minimum 2 partners. Two types of partners: active partners and sleeping partners.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital.
Shareholders and liability: Liability of active partners is unlimited. Liability of sleeping partners is limited to the amount contributed.
Sole Propietorship
Number of partners: 1 natural person
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is unlimited.
 

Business Setup Procedures

Setting Up a Company Switzerland OECD
Procedures (number) 6.0 5.2
Time (days) 10.0 9.5

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.

 
The Competent Organisation
Chamber of Notaries in Geneva

Chamber of Notaries in Zürich

Swiss Federation of Notaries

For Further Information
Doing Business: Switzerland, procedures to start a business in Switzerland
Federal Commercial Registry Office
Swiss Commercial Gazette (SHAB)
 

Financial Information Directories

Dun & Bradstreet - Worldwide directory with financial information on businesses

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Latest Update: March 2024

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