Company registration/sale in Switzerland, legal services for companies in all cantons, opening bank accounts

Why Business Prefers Switzerland

Switzerland is traditionally considered a highly favorable country for doing business. The recent history of Switzerland demonstrates the stable banking and political systems of the country, consistently creating the most favorable conditions for attracting foreign capital. As a result, entrepreneurs who register a company in Switzerland feel the most secure and comfortable.

This is facilitated by:

• the tradition of banking secrecy and long-term monetary stability;
• the advantageous geographical location of the country for conducting global-European business;
• high ranking in the Heritage Foundation Index for economic freedom;
• clear procedures for opening bank accounts and registering companies for non-residents;
• stability of the national currency;
• low corporate tax rates (tax rates vary depending on the canton; for more details, consult a manager).

Registering or purchasing a company in Switzerland is a promising, financially advantageous idea. And our company can help you with this.

Why Business Prefers Switzerland

According to the constitution, any foreign person can own a business in Switzerland or receive financial profits within the country.

The process of opening a company is highly simplified, but to take full advantage of it, knowledge of the language and local legislation is required. Not least because documents are submitted to the administration of a specific canton. The legislation of cantons has significant differences, including in registration costs and taxation. The company itself must have a unique name registered in the state register and a resident of the country as the managing director. Therefore, it is best to entrust all legal work to a specialist.

Registration Steps:

• checking the uniqueness of the name;
• choosing the form of legal entity;
• signing a lease agreement and registering a legal address;
• entering into an agreement with a managing director;
• opening a consignment bank account and depositing the charter capital;
• notarial verification and registration;
• opening a corporate bank account;
• registering as a VAT payer with the tax office;
• registering with the social security system if there are employees.

Documents needed include original and notarized copies of:

• passports of shareholders;
• charter documents (if the shareholder is a legal entity);
• documents confirming the residential addresses of directors and shareholders in Switzerland;
• statement from the consignment account.

Types of Legal Entities in Switzerland

To open a company in Switzerland, it is necessary to appoint a director who is a resident of the country to represent the company. A major advantage of registering a company in Switzerland is the possibility of contributing capital in cryptocurrency.

For non-residents, two types of companies are available in Switzerland:

1. GmbH – a limited liability company for small and medium-sized businesses;
2. AG – a public limited company for medium and large businesses.

GmbH

To create a limited liability company, a capital of CHF 20,000 is required, but not exceeding CHF 2 million. It can be represented in the form of movable or immovable property and must be fully contributed at the time of registration. This is a flexible management structure with a smaller initial capital requirement. As the name suggests, founders risk only the invested capital in case of bankruptcy, excluding personal assets.

Registration in the commercial register is required. Information about all founders is provided. Transfer of shares to third parties is only possible with the approval of at least 2/3 of the founders or according to the company’s articles of association, through changes in the commercial register with subsequent notarial certification.

AG

The minimum capital required to register a joint-stock company is CHF 100,000. It can also be represented in the form of corporate assets. At least 50% of the capital must be deposited at the time of registration. The charter fund is quite substantial, but shareholders can freely manage it as they wish. To settle debts with creditors in the event of bankruptcy, the company’s shares held by shareholders are used. The responsibility for managing the joint-stock company lies with the appointed director.

Shareholders have the right to maintain anonymity. The exception is the directors and persons with signing authority. Shares can be freely sold or transferred to third parties without needing to notify the commercial register or a notary.

Swiss Banking System

Any Swiss bank is usually a branch of a large financial institution. The owner of a Swiss company can open a corporate technical account with any of them. The high level of confidentiality of capital is maintained, which is one of the main reasons why foreign businesses are keen to open accounts in Swiss banks. One-third of global capital is managed by Swiss banks.

However, any bank is required to check your financial history and demand proof of the legality of the source of capital.

Taxation in Switzerland

Local democratic taxation provides significant competitive advantages. This is confirmed by anyone who has opened or purchased a company in Switzerland. The total corporate taxes are much lower compared to other European countries, making the investment climate here comparable to that of Singapore or Hong Kong, even considering the differences between cantons. For example, the VAT rate here is only 7.7%.

The total tax consists of three parts: federal, at 8.5%, cantonal, and municipal. Together they range from 13% to 30%, depending on the canton and municipality.

Financial Reporting in Switzerland

The reporting period is the financial year. Any company in Switzerland reports on profit and loss. The reporting is done according to Swiss GAP, IFRS, and FER standards and is not public.

There are two types of audits depending on the type and size of the company. With shareholder consent, a company with fewer than 20 employees and an annual turnover of less than CHF 2 million can be fully exempt from audits.

What You Get When Buying or Opening a Business in Switzerland

In summary, here are the main advantages of doing business in Switzerland:

• simplicity of registration and business management;
• favorable banking system;
• lenient taxation and simplified financial reporting;
• ability to maintain anonymity when registering a joint-stock company;
• stability of banking, legal, and political systems.

Opportunities for Ukrainian Entrepreneurs in Switzerland

Switzerland and Ukraine have signed more than 30 bilateral agreements and several multilateral agreements that exclude double taxation. They can be found on the official Swiss ministry website.

If you want to open a company or account in a Swiss bank, register a firm, or buy a business in Switzerland, you have the most favorable conditions for this.

Our company can help you navigate all legal intricacies and handle registration documents.

How Our Company Can Help

Our interests include: investments, sale and purchase of businesses, real estate, and business immigration. We professionally handle company and bank account openings in Switzerland and provide comprehensive corporate services. For more details, consult with a manager.

Our specialists will provide you with detailed consultations on legal and financial matters, help you choose the canton, and prepare a preliminary calculation.

Why Choose Us

There are three reasons:

1. We operate in all cantons.
2. We always have ready-made companies for sale with accounts in top banks (Credit Suisse, UBS).
3. If needed, we can offer a competent Swiss resident director.

Swiss Companies We Currently Offer for Sale

1. A company registered in 2009 in the canton of Ticino. Open accounts in the local UBS bank (account operates with CHF, EUR, USD). Director – a local Swiss citizen. Initially intended for marketing. The project did not materialize, but the company has remained active and in good standing.
2. A company registered in 2012. Charter capital CHF 20,000, paid in and withdrawn. Accounting is in order, filed up to the present day. The current account is opened with UBS. Activity type – consulting, sale of new and used goods for children and adolescents; warehousing and any secondary retail activities, operation of a beverage bar. The company has no debts or outstanding obligations, VAT payer status confirmed. Re-registration takes 6-12 weeks from the date of submission of all documents. Any changes to the charter (activity, name, address, dividend distribution procedures, etc.) are made at the re-registration stage.
3. A company registered in 1993. Charter capital CHF 250,000, of which CHF 100,000 is paid and withdrawn. Accounting is in order, filed up to the present day. The current account was opened with BCVs and is now closed. Activity type – business management, financial participation in the capital of small and medium-sized companies in the construction industry, repair, hotel equipment or hotel services; management. No debts or outstanding obligations, VAT payer status is absent at the moment. Registration is done by notification and takes up to 2 weeks. Re-registration takes 3-4 weeks from the date of submission of all documents. Any changes to the charter (activity, name, address, dividend distribution procedures, etc.) are made at the re-registration stage.

To find out the price of the company you are interested in, contact a manager. The price includes: re-registration of the company, assistance in opening a current account or re-registering an existing one.

Our contacts: Email: info@investmakler.com
Phone (WhatsApp, Telegram): +38 095 555 1257