Switzerland Company Formations

Swiss companies are governed by the Civil Code at the Federal level. Swiss companies are domiciled in a particular canton and each canton maintains a Commercial Register.

Switzerland GmbH/Sàrl Company Formation

Our Swiss company formation package includes:

• We reserve your company name with the Swiss Federal Commercial Registry
• Opening of a capital payment account
• Drafting of the Statutes and Articles of Incorporation
• Preparation of your Company Registration Forms
• Drawing up of Deed of Incorporation
• Organising the foundation meeting with the Notary Public
• Filing of incorporation documents with the Commercial Registry
• Government registry fee payable at time of incorporation
• Payment of Stamp duty
• Register with the Tax and Social security authorities
• Notary fees and Commercial Registry fees
• Delivery of Certificate of Incorporation
• Delivery of Articles of Association
• Issue of Shares and the production of Share Certificates
• All documents and certificates supplied in a professional folder
• Delivery of documents by FedEx / DHL courier

Documents and Identification

To start incorporating your offshore company in Switzerland we require the following:

• Your Company Name
• The Director/s full name, date of birth, address and nationality
• The Shareholder/s full name and address

Documents you are required to provide:

• Proof of identity. Either passport, national identity card, photographic driving licence
• Proof of residential address. Gas/electricity bill or credit/debit card bank statement dated within the last 3 months

Swiss Company Name

The company name must end with SA, AG, Ltd, GmbH or Sàrl. We will check the availability of your proposed company name. Swiss company names should not resemble any other company name registered with the Swiss Federal Commercial Registry.

Swiss Resident Director

One of the directors must be resident in Switzerland.

Provision of a professional Swiss Director, acting in a supervisory capacity to ensure compliance with corporate law, the company’s articles of association, regulations and directives.

Representation at Notary and Commercial Registry

We can provide your company with a Swiss resident director if required.

Shareholders

There are no restrictions with respect to the nationality or the domicile of the shareholders.

Your Swiss Sàrl/GmbH Registered Office

All Swiss companies must have a Registered Office which must be a physical address in Switzerland.

Share Capital

The minimum share capital for a limited liability company (Sàrl/GmbH) is CHF20,000 this has to be fully paid up on the day of incorporation into a Swiss depository bank. The notary needs to see the certificate of deposit.

The share capital for a limited company (AG) is CHF100,000 . At least CHF50,000 must be paid into a Swiss depository bank and The issued shares are CHF 100 each.

Articles of Association and Public Deed

These include the following information:

• Company name and address
• Company purpose
• Share Capital
• Contributions, types, number and nominal amount of shares
• Calling of shareholders meeting
• Voting rights of shareholders

Swiss Company Registration

A temporary bank account is opened on your behalf and the share capital is paid into the account as stipulated by the incorporation procedure.

We then prepare and file with the Swiss Federal Commercial Registry all translated, signed and notarised incorporation documents.

Swiss Confidentiality

All the initial details need to be given to the Swiss Federal Commercial Registry, and this will include details about the shareholders and directors.

Any subsequent transfer of shares is not disclosed in a public record:

• Any purchase or sale of shares made through a notarial deed, through a Swiss notary, while not public, will remain in the record of the notary’s protocol.

Switzerland Ready Made Company

As Swiss companies are incorporated through a notarial deed the company director must visit Switzerland in order to sign for the company in front of a notary. This combined with high maintenance costs and requirements for a Swiss director means very few ready made companies are available in Switzerland.

However, if you require a Swiss ready made company we are able to source one upon request. All ready made companies are dormant with dormant accounts being filled annually to ensure they have remained in a state of good standing since incorporation.

It is often easier and far less expensive to incorporate a new company as per your requirements; this is what we recommend.