Company formation in Switzerland

In Switzerland, it is relatively easy to set up your own company. If you are interested in formation of a company in Switzerland, this guide will be useful for you.

Company formation in Switzerland: essential steps

The most common form of company incorporation in Switzerland is a limited liability company (Sarl/GmbH) with no restrictions on foreign ownership. The process of registration usually takes 2 weeks. To start with, there must be at least 2 people to set up and register a business in Switzerland. Important to know that under the law, one director must be a resident of the country, but not necessarily a Swiss citizen. No nationality restrictions are imposed on shareholders, moreover, an owner may choose to appoint a nominee.

To gain their legal personality, limited liability companies amust have their names approved by the commercial register and confirm that they are not already being used. After approval, the directors and shareholders must prepare and provide their personal data to the appropriate authorities. This information covers their names, date of birth, and, for the director, their address and nationality. In the process of application, you may be asked to prove your identity by submitting a government-issued photo ID.

The next step is the stamp duty payment and the procedure of company registration with both the Social Security Authority and the tax offices. The country law necessitates the opening of a registered office but sets no requirements to hold annual meetings in Switzerland. Initial details about the company must be indicated in the Commercial Register, but after initial data submission, you do not need to disclose the sale of shares for public records. Pay attention that banking institutions that have company accounts will require information about the company’s beneficiaries. The public deed for the company refers to the voting rights of shareholders, the share capital, the number of shares, the calling of shareholder meetings, and other details.

If you are looking for assistance with formation of a company in Switzerland, lawyers of ELI Swiss are at your service with advice on what to do. Our company has extensive experience in providing high-quality company formation services in Switzerland. To learn more, please contact our specialists.

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