Switzerland is an attractive solution for business, investment, and capital placement

Switzerland for Business: General Overview

1. Switzerland is an independent state within the European Union with its own infrastructure, banking system, norms, and business regulations,
2. A Swiss company provides status, convenience in doing business, supported by a developed banking system and the country’s political stability,
3. A significant advantage is that having a company in Switzerland exempts you from CRS,
4. Opening a bank account in Switzerland is simpler than in many European countries.

Organizational-Legal Forms of Companies in Switzerland

As in many jurisdictions, Switzerland has two main types of companies: public limited companies (AG) and limited liability companies (GmbH).
GmbH – founders (investors, owners, etc.) are liable only up to the amount of their contribution to the company’s share capital. Personal assets and funds of the participants are not at risk in case of company bankruptcy, for example.
The minimum share capital for a Swiss company with a GmbH legal form is 20,000 Swiss francs.
Swiss law stipulates that one of the executive directors of the company must be a Swiss resident, who can also be one of its founders.
AG – public limited company. It is in high demand for large and financial companies in Switzerland.
Minimum capital – 100,000 francs. It is also necessary to have a Swiss resident as a director on the board and among the shareholders.
An interesting advantage in Switzerland is that the shareholders’ register is closed, which is a pleasant bonus compared to GmbH, where the register is open, and founders can be easily viewed.
Among the relative disadvantages, one can mention the capital requirement of 100,000 francs, but this can be legally withdrawn, making it a rather relative drawback.
IMPORTANT: Swiss law allows for the contribution of company capital in cryptocurrency.

Opening a Company in Switzerland: Required Documents and Capital Contribution

To open a company in Switzerland, you will need a fairly standard set of documents:

1. Notarized copies of passports,
2. Bank references.

Information about the director required for company registration in Switzerland:

1. Address of residence;
2. Father’s name;
3. Mother’s name and maiden surname;
4. Marital status.

It is worth noting that a separate technical account is opened in Switzerland for the capital contribution.

Opening Business Accounts in Swiss Banks

Now, let’s consider banks for opening accounts for companies in different sectors:

1. UBS and Credit Suisse – most suitable for trading companies,
2. Dukasopy Bank – preferred for trading activities, Forex,
3. Citi Bank – best suited for IT companies.

What is the Cost of Creating and Maintaining a Company in Switzerland?

To calculate the cost of creating a company in Switzerland in detail, you need to understand:

1. its ownership structure,
2. the tasks it will perform, how often, and with what periodicity. This directly affects the cost of maintenance,
3. the bank where the account needs to be opened,
4. the need for directors and co-founders,
5. the presence of a legal address, and if not, the preferred canton for company registration.

For cost calculation, we suggest submitting a request.

Taxation for Companies in Switzerland

It depends on the canton in which the company is established. The most popular cantons are: Zug, Geneva, Basel, Valais. But this is as of the publication date of this article, as they are reviewed every year.
For example, in Geneva, as of 2019, the corporate tax rate was 13.99%, accompanied by the absence of VAT if working with the EU. There was also no capital gains tax, stamp duty, or currency control.

Working with us, you receive full support, including:

1. assistance in company formation,
2. opening an account in prestigious banks,
3. if necessary – selecting a ready-made company with an account,
4. provision of a resident director,
5. legal and accounting services,
6. provision of a legal address in any canton,
7. obtaining any type of licenses.

To contact our specialists, please reach out to:

WhatsApp, Telegram (+38 095 555 1257), email (info@investmakler.com).