How do I set up a company in Switzerland?
It depends on the legal form — governed by the Code of Obligations. The sole proprietorship needs no capital and no notary; it must enter the commercial register from CHF 100,000 annual turnover. The GmbH needs share capital of CHF 20,000 (fully paid in) and a public deed (notary). The AG needs share capital of CHF 100,000, of which at least CHF 50,000 paid in, also with a notary. The GmbH and AG only come into being on commercial-register entry; cash capital sits in a blocked account beforehand. The rules apply nationwide, only the competent commercial-register office is cantonal. In short: sole proprietorship simple and capital-free, GmbH/AG with capital and a notary.
📋 The rules
- Sole proprietorship: no capital, no notary
- GmbH: CHF 20,000, fully paid, notary
- AG: CHF 100,000, at least 50,000 paid in, notary
- GmbH/AG arise on commercial-register entry
- Sole proprietorship: register from CHF 100,000 turnover
🔓 Exceptions
- Cash capital in a blocked account beforehand
- Contribution in kind possible with a founder's report
- Filing via EasyGov.swiss; register office is cantonal
⚠️ Penalties & fines
This isn't about fines, but without a correct commercial-register entry a GmbH or AG doesn't legally exist, and you may be personally liable. Ignoring the registration duty (sole proprietorship from CHF 100,000 turnover) or the capital rules risks corrections and delays. Beware a myth: "I can quickly set up a GmbH with no capital" is false — the GmbH needs CHF 20,000 fully paid-in share capital and a notary. Tip: plan for capital, a notary and a blocked account, use the EasyGov platform for founding, and clarify the VAT and social-insurance duties.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
What legal forms are there?
The most common are the sole proprietorship, the GmbH and the AG. The sole proprietorship needs no capital and no notary. The GmbH and AG are capital companies, needing minimum capital, a public deed before a notary and a commercial-register entry to come into being.
How much capital does a GmbH need?
A GmbH needs share capital of CHF 20,000, which must be fully paid in at founding. The capital sits in a blocked account beforehand and is released after the commercial-register entry. The GmbH only legally comes into being with that entry in the commercial register.
How much capital does an AG need?
An AG needs share capital of CHF 100,000, of which at least CHF 50,000 or 20 percent must be paid in at founding. The AG also needs a public deed before a notary and only comes into being with the entry in the commercial register, like the GmbH.
Do I need a notary for a sole proprietorship?
No. The sole proprietorship needs neither minimum capital nor a notary. But it must register in the commercial register from an annual turnover of CHF 100,000, below which entry is voluntary. You must also have yourself recognised as self-employed by the AHV compensation office.
When must I enter the commercial register?
The GmbH and AG must register; entry is constitutive for them. The sole proprietorship must register from an annual turnover of CHF 100,000. You can make the entry via the EasyGov platform; the competent commercial-register office is organised cantonally across the country.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “set up company switzerland”
- “gmbh switzerland capital”
- “ag switzerland 100000”
- “commercial register entry switzerland”
- “sole proprietorship switzerland”
- “gmbh share capital 20000”