Services · Company formation
Company registration in Switzerland
A Swiss GmbH or AG. We draft the articles, pay in the capital, register with the commercial register and open the account.
A Swiss company means a stable legal environment, strong banks and taxes set by each canton. Most founders register a limited liability company (GmbH) or a company limited by shares (AG). Below: what it costs to open a company in Switzerland according to the federal SME portal, the capital required, the taxes a company pays and why registration gets delayed.
Which company to open
- GmbH. Share capital of at least CHF 20,000, about $24,066, paid in full in cash or in kind at formation.
- AG. Capital of at least CHF 100,000, about $120,330. At formation at least 20% must be paid in, and no less than CHF 50,000, about $60,165.
The company must be represented by at least one person domiciled in Switzerland, so foreign owners need a local director. We find one for your purpose.
How much company registration in Switzerland costs
The federal SME portal lists these formation costs:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Commercial register entry with capital up to CHF 200,000 | ~$722 |
| Notary: founding documents and share certificates | CHF 800-2,500, ~$963-3,009 |
| Advice on formation | CHF 1,000-4,000, ~$1,204-4,814 |
Capital is not an expense; it stays with the company. Our GmbH or AG registration starts from $11,283, and opening a Swiss bank account costs about $6,835. Dollar amounts are converted at the European Central Bank rate of 5 October 2026 and rounded up.
The register is about $722, but the main costs are capital and the notary
The law does not forbid registering a company in Switzerland on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fees: no director living in Switzerland, although the law requires one, capital paid in other than by the rules, articles the notary redoes, a bank that will not open the capital account without a thorough owner check. We prepare the articles, arrange the capital account, support you at the notary, register the company in the commercial register and open the account.
The cost of support depends on the company form and directors; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
Company taxes
Profit tax in Switzerland is levied at three levels: the federal rate is 8.5%, and cantons and communes add their own. The total burden therefore depends heavily on the canton and can differ several-fold. Large international groups with revenue from EUR 750 million have paid at least 15% under OECD rules since 2024. We choose the canton together with a tax calculation; see Switzerland taxes.
How registration works
- Reviewing the business. We choose the form, canton and a Swiss-resident director, and check the name.
- Capital account. We open an account for the capital and obtain the bank confirmation.
- Founding deed. A notary certifies the founding deed and articles.
- Commercial register. We file with the cantonal commercial register; the company exists once entered.
- Tax and social insurance. We register the company for VAT if turnover requires it and with social insurance.
Why registration gets delayed
- No resident director. Without a person domiciled in Switzerland the company cannot be registered.
- The bank will not open the capital account because of an unclear source of funds or links to sanctioned countries.
- Errors in founding documents send the application back from the register.
VAT and audit
A company must register for VAT once its worldwide turnover exceeds CHF 100,000 a year, about $120,340 at the 5 October 2026 rate, rounded up. The standard VAT rate in Switzerland is 8.1%, with reduced rates of 3.8% and 2.6%. A small company with an annual average of no more than 10 full-time staff may, with the consent of all shareholders, opt out of the statutory audit, which noticeably cuts annual costs.
What we do
We choose the form and canton, find a resident director, open the capital account, prepare the notary documents, register the company and register it for tax. Prices for each service are in the table below.
Fees
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Company registration (GmbH/AG) | from €10 070 |
| Swiss bank account opening | €6 100 |
| Brokerage account opening (Swiss Broker) | €6 100 |
| Family foundation setup | from 18 720 CHF |
We will calculate online the cost of registering and running your company for the first year.
See also
Business account · Personal account · Investment property · Country taxes · All country programs
FAQ
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Want to open a company in Switzerland?
We register a Swiss company (GmbH or AG), arrange the Swiss-resident director the law requires and help with the capital deposit account. The catalogue covers every country.
The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.
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