- Remote setup
- Visit needed
- Visit, notary or lawyer
- Public deed
- Local director
- Swiss resident
- Registered address
- Registry silent
- Minimum capital
- CHF 20,000 fully paid
- Yearly upkeep
- Not stated
- EU member
- No
- IWG business address
- 52 centresfrom $94/mo
What the registry requires
| Company type | Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH / Sàrl / Sagl) |
|---|---|
| Registry | Cantonal commercial register (Handelsregisteramt), searchable through Zefix |
| Government filing fee | CHF 600 — Commercial register fee for a GmbH with share capital up to CHF 200,000; the public deed costs CHF 700–2,000 extra and a 1% stamp duty applies only above CHF 1,000,000 of capital. |
| Registration time | kmu.admin.ch: registration takes between 5 and 60 days depending on complexity and the register's workload. |
| Resident director | The GmbH must be representable by at least one person domiciled in Switzerland (a manager or a director with signing authority). |
| Visit, notary or lawyer | Formation must be publicly notarised; EasyGov only prepares the founding order for the notary. |
| Registered address | A registered office in Switzerland is required; the pages fetched do not address c/o or provider addresses. |
| Minimum capital | CHF 20,000 fully paid |
| Corporate tax | Federal profit tax 8.5% statutory plus cantonal and communal taxes; kmu.admin.ch puts the national average ordinary profit tax rate at 14.4%, lowest in Zug and highest in Bern, Valais, Ticino and Zurich. |
| Every year | No annual register fee is stated on the official pages checked; cantons levy a capital tax. |
What it costs
- Government filing fee
- CHF 600
- ≈ $724 at ECB rates
Commercial register fee for a GmbH with share capital up to CHF 200,000; the public deed costs CHF 700–2,000 extra and a 1% stamp duty applies only above CHF 1,000,000 of capital.
- Every year
- Not stated
No annual register fee is stated on the official pages checked; cantons levy a capital tax.
- Not included
- Provider fees
Registered agent or address, notary fees, accounting and bank onboarding vary by provider — ask for a quote in the request form.
How to register a company in Switzerland, step by step
- Choose the canton and registered office; the cantonal tax rate follows from it.
- Pay the full CHF 20,000 share capital into a blocked account at a Swiss bank.
- Appoint at least one manager or signatory domiciled in Switzerland.
- Sign the deed of formation and articles before a notary (EasyGov can prepare the order).
- File the application, Stampa and Lex Koller declarations with the cantonal commercial register.
- After publication in the register, have the bank release the capital and register for VAT if required.
Corporate tax in Switzerland
≈14.4% avg (8.5% fed.). Federal profit tax 8.5% statutory plus cantonal and communal taxes; kmu.admin.ch puts the national average ordinary profit tax rate at 14.4%, lowest in Zug and highest in Bern, Valais, Ticino and Zurich.
Rates are the headline figures published by the tax authority; your effective rate depends on residence, activity and treaties. This is not tax advice.
Common mistakes
- Trying to register without a Swiss-resident signatory, which the register will refuse.
- Paying in only part of the capital: unlike an AG, the GmbH's capital must be fully paid.
- Ignoring the canton choice: effective profit tax ranges widely between cantons.
Compare Switzerland with alternatives
| Yearly upkeep | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 NorwayAS | NOK 6,825≈ $718 | Up to 2 weeks | 22% corporate tax | Half of board in EEA | Not required | Norwegian address | Accounts by 31 July |
 SwitzerlandGmbH | CHF 600≈ $724 | 5–60 days | ≈14.4% avg (8.5% fed.) | Swiss resident | Public deed | Registry silent | Not stated |
 AustriaGmbH | Varies | Not stated | 23% (min. €500/yr) | No | Notarial deed | Registry silent | €500 minimum tax |
 LuxembourgSARL | Varies | Permit up to 3 months | 17% CIT + surcharges | Permit holder present | Notary (SARL) | Real premises | Not stated |
4 of 4 · official sources, checked September 27, 2026. Government fees only; agent and address costs are extra.≈ USD at ECB reference rates of September 25, 2026.
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Sources
- CHF 20,000 fully paid, public deed, Swiss-resident representative, register fee CHF 600, notary CHF 700–2,000, blocked account — kmu.admin.ch, checked September 27, 2026
- Registration takes 5 to 60 days; EasyGov prepares the notary order for GmbH/AG; Stampa and Lex Koller declarations — kmu.admin.ch, checked September 27, 2026
- Federal rate 8.5%; national average ordinary profit tax 14.4% — kmu.admin.ch, checked September 27, 2026
- GmbH must be representable by at least one person domiciled in Switzerland; permits for foreign founders — kmu.admin.ch, checked September 27, 2026