Switzerland at a glance
Switzerland is one of the EU jurisdictions founders most often use today, especially while the EU-wide 28th Regime (EU Inc) is still a proposal. Below are the verified essentials: company types, tax, capital, timing and whether you can set up remotely.
Company types in Switzerland
- GmbH (Sarl), limited liability company The most popular form for SMEs and startups. CHF 20,000 capital, fully paid in; shareholders are listed in the public commercial register.
- AG (SA), joint-stock company The corporation form for larger firms or those wanting shareholder anonymity. CHF 100,000 capital, at least CHF 50,000 paid in before registration.
| Corporate tax | Federal corporate tax is a flat 8.5% on profit after tax, but each canton and commune adds its own, so the combined effective rate ranges from roughly 11.9% in low-tax cantons (Zug, Lucerne) up to about 20.5% in higher-tax ones (Zurich, Bern). The 2025 national average is near 14.4%. |
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| VAT rate | Standard VAT is 8.1% (raised from 7.7% on 1 January 2024), far below typical EU levels, with reduced rates of 2.6% and 3.8%. Registration is mandatory above CHF 100,000 of turnover. |
| Minimum share capital | GmbH: CHF 20,000, fully paid in at incorporation. AG: CHF 100,000, of which at least CHF 50,000 paid in before registration. Capital is first deposited into a blocked Swiss account. |
| Setup time | About 1 to 3 weeks once documents and capital are ready; the commercial-register entry itself takes roughly 5 to 10 working days (faster in cantons like Zug). |
| Remote setup | Yes. The incorporation deed is notarised, but foreign founders can complete it remotely via a power of attorney to a local fiduciary. A Swiss-resident director and a physical registered office are still mandatory, so most non-residents use a formation agent. |
| Director / residency | At least one director or authorised signatory must be resident in Switzerland; shareholders can be 100% foreign. Founders without a local resident appoint a fiduciary nominee director (from roughly CHF 2,900 per year). |
| Banking options | A Swiss account is required; capital goes into a blocked deposit account first. Traditional banks (UBS, cantonal banks, PostFinance) run heavy KYC; Swiss fintechs (Relio, Yapeal) or EU/UK EMIs (Wise, Revolut) are faster. |
| Our formation service | from around €100 to €200 (estimated). You get a fixed quote in your free plan before you commit. |
Switzerland is not an EU or EEA member; it is in EFTA and linked to the EU by bilateral treaties, so it accesses much of the single market without EU membership, and the proposed EU Inc / 28th Regime would not apply to a Swiss entity. It offers strong stability, the Swiss franc and a notably low 8.1% VAT; low-tax cantons like Zug are popular for holdings.
How to register a company in Switzerland
The process is straightforward and, in Switzerland, largely digital. In outline:
- Choose your company type and name. Most founders pick the GmbH (limited); we confirm the name is available.
- Verify your identity. Yes. The incorporation deed is notarised, but foreign founders can complete it remotely via a power of attorney to a local fiduciary. A Swiss-resident director and a physical registered office are still mandatory, so most non-residents use a formation agent.
- File the incorporation. Once documents are signed, registration usually completes in around 1-3 weeks.
- Open a business account and register for tax/VAT. A Swiss account is required; capital goes into a blocked deposit account first. Traditional banks (UBS, cantonal banks, PostFinance) run heavy KYC; Swiss fintechs (Relio, Yapeal) or EU/UK EMIs (Wise, Revolut) are faster.
We handle each step with licensed local counsel, so the paperwork, registered address and filings are done correctly the first time.
Form your Swiss company in days
Tell us where you live and what you are building. Our formation service starts from around €100 to €200 (estimated); we confirm the right structure for Switzerland, give you a fixed quote, and form the company with licensed counsel.
Get your free planWho can form a company in Switzerland
Founders from outside the EU can own and run a Swiss company, with the cross-border requirements handled for you. We flag any residency or local-agent rule for Switzerland up front, so there are no surprises.
Switzerland and the 28th Regime (EU Inc)
EU Inc, the proposed 28th Regime, would let you register one company valid across all 27 EU member states. It is not law yet (expected around 2027-2028), so a Swiss company is one of the ready options you can use today. Forming an EU company now also positions you to adopt EU Inc later, as we cover in how to prepare an EU Inc company. To weigh Switzerland against other countries, see company formation in Europe.