Company Formation Switzerland · CONSAVO Legal | Fiduciaries Zurich
Company Formation in Switzerland – GmbH or AG, Guided from A to Z
From choosing the legal form through articles of association and commercial register entry to accounting and payroll: our legal and fiduciary team in Zurich forms your Swiss company – including for international and Japanese businesses.
- GmbH or AG under Swiss law – we advise on the right legal form
- Articles, notarisation and commercial register entry from one source
- After formation: accounting, taxes and payroll from the same firm
✓ Legal form clarified ✓ Articles drafted ✓ Registered in the commercial register ✓ VAT registered
GmbH & AG
Formation under Swiss law
Legal + Fiduciary
Both competencies under one roof
3 languages
English · German · Japanese
Zurich · Zug · Kobe
Our locations for your formation
Free initial consultation
Setting Up a Company in Switzerland? Talk to Us
In a short initial call we clarify the right legal form for your venture, the formation process and the costs to expect. You then receive a transparent, non-binding quote – with no obligation whatsoever.
- Reply within one business day
- A personal contact instead of a ticket system
- Clear cost estimate before any commitment
Prefer to talk right away?
Phone: +41 44 552 49 30
Email: treuhand@consavo.com
Your Non-Binding Quote
Tell us briefly about your venture – we will get back to you within one business day.
🔒 Your data is treated confidentially and used solely to process your enquiry. No newsletter, no obligation.
Entering the Swiss market
Company Formation in Switzerland: Legal Form, Process and What Comes With It
Switzerland is one of Europe’s most attractive business locations: politically stable, moderately taxed, with highly qualified professionals and a strong reputation for quality. Founders here usually choose between the GmbH (share capital from CHF 20,000) and the AG (share capital of CHF 100,000, of which at least CHF 50,000 paid in) – for foreign companies, a branch office is also an option.
We guide you from choosing the legal form through articles of association, capital contribution account and notarisation to the entry in the commercial register – and seamlessly onwards: accounting, VAT, payroll and taxes from the same firm.
- One contact for legal, tax and fiduciary matters
- Domicile address and authorised signatory in Switzerland on request
- Seamless transition into accounting and payroll
Your benefits
The Benefits of Forming Your Company with CONSAVO
A company formation raises legal, tax and organisational questions at the same time. At CONSAVO, lawyers and fiduciary experts answer them together – under one roof in Zurich.
Legal and fiduciary united
CONSAVO Legal and CONSAVO Fiduciaries work hand in hand: contracts, articles and tax questions are thought through together – not one after the other.
The right legal form
GmbH, AG or branch office? We advise on liability, capital, external image and taxes – based on your specific venture.
Internationally proven
We support foreign companies entering the Swiss market – with particular experience with Japanese businesses.
Everything after formation
Accounting with bexio, VAT, payroll and tax returns: your company is administratively looked after from day one.
Questions? We Will Call You Back.
Leave your number – a member of our fiduciary team will call you back within one business day. No obligation.
Our services in detail
What We Take Off Your Hands
Forming a GmbH & AG
- Advice on the legal form: GmbH, AG, branch office or sole proprietorship
- Drafting of articles of association and formation documents
- Organisation of the notarisation
- Capital contribution account with a Swiss bank
- Registration with the commercial register
- Domicile address in Zurich on request
Market Entry for Foreign Companies
- Subsidiary or branch office in Switzerland
- Authorised signatory resident in Switzerland (legal requirement)
- Location questions and market analyses
- Support with recruitment and permit questions
- Fiscal representation and VAT registration
- Advice in Japanese through CONSAVO Japan, Inc.
After Formation
- Digital accounting with bexio
- Payroll administration and social insurance
- VAT registration and ongoing VAT returns
- Tax returns and tax advisory
- Contracts and legal matters through CONSAVO Legal
- Advice on the auditors incl. opting out
On your own vs. guided
Forming a Company Yourself Is Doable.
Doing It Guided Avoids Detours.
Forms, notary, bank, commercial register – you can push a formation through on your own. The expensive mistakes, however, rarely happen when filling in forms, but at the crossroads: legal form, capital structure, domicile and tax questions.
Option 1
Forming on your own
- Choice of legal form without the full tax and legal picture
- Articles and forms in do-it-yourself mode
- Coordinating notary, bank and commercial register is on you
- Requirements for foreign founders are easily overlooked
- No ongoing support after the formation
Option 2 · Recommended
Forming with CONSAVO
- Legal form, tax and liability questions from one source
- We coordinate documents, notarisation and registration
- Capital contribution account and bank contacts included
- Swiss requirements for international founders fulfilled
- Straight on to accounting, payroll and taxes
How we work together
Three Steps to Your Swiss Company
1
Initial call & legal form
We clarify goals, liability, capital and tax questions and recommend the right structure – GmbH, AG or branch office. You receive a transparent, non-binding quote.
2
Formation & registration
We draft the articles and formation documents, coordinate the capital contribution account, the notarisation and the registration with the commercial register.
3
Launch & ongoing support
After registration we set up VAT, social insurance, accounting and payroll – your company is ready to operate from day one.
Testimonials
What Our Clients Say
Founders and international companies trust CONSAVO with formation, accounting and taxes. Here is what some of them say about working with us.
Get in touch
Form Your Company in Switzerland – with a Partner for Everything That Follows
We will gladly advise you on the right legal form, give you a clear picture of the costs of your company formation and guide you from the idea to a fully operational company. Get in touch and receive your individual quote.
Phone: +41 44 552 49 30 · Email: treuhand@consavo.com
For founders from Switzerland and abroad
Company Formation in Switzerland –
Guided from Zurich to Kobe
We form companies across Switzerland and support founders from home and abroad. With CONSAVO Japan, Inc. in Kobe, we are also the first port of call for Japanese companies on their way to Switzerland.
Zurich · Head office
Formation and advice at Tödistrasse – in Switzerland’s economic centre.
Zug · Office
Formation in the canton of Zug – popular for holding, trading and crypto structures.
Kobe · Japan office
CONSAVO Japan, Inc.: your contacts on the ground – advice in Japanese.
All of Switzerland
We form companies in every canton – including a review of location and tax questions.
Japan
Subsidiary or branch office: we guide Japanese companies entering the Swiss market.
Germany & Austria
For founders from the DACH region: the Swiss GmbH or AG as a second pillar.
EU & UK
Expansion into Switzerland outside EU structures – we clarify what to consider.
USA & worldwide
The Swiss company as your European hub – with an authorised signatory on the ground.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
The GmbH is possible from a share capital of CHF 20,000, feels more personal, and its members are visible in the commercial register. The AG requires share capital of CHF 100,000 (at least CHF 50,000 paid in), allows more anonymous ownership and is common for larger ventures and investors. We clarify which form suits your venture in the initial call.
Besides the share capital, the main costs are the notarisation, the commercial register fees and advisory services. The amount depends on legal form and complexity. After the initial call you receive a transparent, non-binding quote with all items listed.
Once the documents are complete and the capital is in the contribution account, registration in the commercial register usually takes a few weeks. For urgent ventures, individual steps can run in parallel – we sketch a realistic timeline for you.
Yes. However, a Swiss company must be represented by at least one authorised signatory resident in Switzerland. We advise you on how to meet this requirement and support you with domicile and permit questions.
A permissible company name, a registered office or domicile address, articles of association, a capital contribution account, the notarisation of the formation and the registration with the commercial register. We compile the documents and coordinate everyone involved.
A blocked account with a Swiss bank into which the formation capital is paid. The bank confirms the payment for the notarisation; after the commercial register entry, the capital is released to the ordinary business account. We coordinate the process with the bank.
A company generally becomes liable for VAT from a worldwide turnover of CHF 100,000 per year. Voluntary registration can pay off earlier, for example because of input tax deduction during the build-up phase. We assess your situation and handle the VAT registration.
With CONSAVO Japan, Inc. in Kobe we guide Japanese companies entering the Swiss market – from market analysis and the choice between subsidiary and branch office to staff, accounting and taxes. On request, the entire advisory process is in Japanese.
The branch office is legally part of the foreign company and quicker to establish, but offers no liability shield. The subsidiary (GmbH or AG) is a separate legal entity with a clear separation. The choice depends on liability, taxes and market presence – we weigh it up with you.
Smaller companies can waive the limited statutory audit under certain conditions (opting out) – namely with no more than ten full-time positions on annual average and the consent of all shareholders. We advise you whether this makes sense for your company.
On request we take over the complete administration: digital accounting with bexio, payroll, VAT returns, tax returns and legal matters – all from one firm, in English, German or Japanese.
Free initial consultation
What Happens After You Submit the Form
1
We review your enquiry
Within one business day, the right specialist for your topic will look at your situation.
2
Short initial call
In 20–30 minutes we clarify your situation, requirements and open questions – by phone or video call.
3
Transparent quote
You receive a non-binding quote with clearly described services and costs. You decide.
Prefer to talk right away? +41 44 552 49 30 · treuhand@consavo.com
Tell us what you need
Two brief details help us prepare the right specialist and a meaningful first assessment for you.
🔒 Confidential. No newsletter, no obligation.