How to Set Up a Company in Switzerland as a Foreigner

Political stability, a strong currency, competitive tax rates and a reliable legal system make Switzerland one of the most attractive places in the world to run a company. This guide explains how founders from abroad set up a Swiss company – what the law requires, how the residency rule works in practice and how you can complete the whole process remotely.

Can foreigners set up a company in Switzerland?

Yes. Swiss law does not restrict the nationality of founders, partners or shareholders. Whether you are an EU citizen, from the UK, the US or anywhere else, you can be the sole owner of a Swiss GmbH (limited liability company) or AG (company limited by shares) – without a Swiss passport and without a Swiss residence permit.

Most international founders choose between these two forms. Our guide GmbH or AG? compares them in detail.

The Swiss residency requirement

Art. 718(4) of the Swiss Code of Obligations (for the AG) and Art. 814(3) (for the GmbH) require that the company can be represented by at least one person resident in Switzerland. In detail:

• Who: for a GmbH a managing director or a director, for an AG a member of the board of directors or a director.
• Signing authority: sole signing authority – or joint signing authority together with a second person who is also resident in Switzerland.
• Residence, not nationality: a foreign national living in Switzerland qualifies; a Swiss citizen living abroad does not.
• New since 1 October 2026: the Swiss-resident representative must also have access to the company's share register.

In practice there are three established solutions:

1. You move to Switzerland with a residence or settlement permit and become the resident managing director yourself.
2. A co-founder or partner who lives in Switzerland joins the management or the board of directors.
3. A professional resident director – typically a Swiss fiduciary – takes on the formal role. You keep ownership and control as shareholder. Expect roughly CHF 1,500–3,000 per year.

A registered office in Switzerland

Every Swiss company needs a legal domicile – an address in Switzerland where it can be reached. This can be your own office or a c/o address with a domicile provider (typically CHF 500–1,500 per year). For a c/o address, the domicile holder confirms in writing that the company may use the address; we include this declaration in the incorporation documents.

Signing from abroad: QES instead of apostille

The incorporation documents have to be signed by the founders. You have three options:

The qualified electronic signature is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature (Art. 14(2bis) Swiss Code of Obligations). It must be issued by a provider recognised under Swiss law – we work with SwissSign. A QES under the EU eIDAS regulation alone is not sufficient for Swiss notarial deeds. All details are in our guide Signing from abroad with QES.

Paying in the share capital

• GmbH: at least CHF 20,000, fully paid in at formation.
• AG: at least CHF 100,000; at formation at least 20% of each share and in total at least CHF 50,000 must be paid in.
• Foreign currency: the capital may also be denominated in a foreign currency that is essential for the business (for example EUR, USD or GBP), provided it is worth at least the Swiss minimum at formation. Accounting must then be kept in the same currency.

Cash is paid into a capital deposit account at a Swiss bank, which confirms the deposit for the notary. Several banks offer this to non-residents, but their know-your-customer checks can be lengthy. If opening the account is difficult, a contribution in kind lets you fund the company with assets instead.

Step by step

1. Choose the legal form and the canton of the registered office – taxes differ considerably between cantons.
2. Arrange the Swiss-resident representative and the domicile.
3. Enter your details with our AI notary assistant – in English, 24/7, including a check of the company name.
4. Receive your documents – usually within 24 hours, reviewed personally by our notary.
5. Pay in the capital and obtain the bank's deposit confirmation.
6. Sign – digitally with QES, by post or in person.
7. Notarisation and filing – within 24 hours after we have received everything.
8. Registration – usually within 5–8 days, depending on the canton.

What it costs

Our flat fee is the same for international and Swiss founders: CHF 390 for a GmbH and CHF 490 for an AG (excl. VAT), including the notarial deed, all incorporation documents and the filing with the commercial register. On top come the official commercial register fees (typically CHF 450–600) and, for fully digital signing, CHF 150. International founders should also budget for a resident director and a domicile address if needed, and for accounting (from around CHF 150 per month). The full breakdown is in What does it cost to set up a company in Switzerland?

Taxes in brief

A Swiss company pays profit tax at federal, cantonal and communal level – the effective rate ranges from roughly 12% to 21% depending on the canton – as well as an annual capital tax. VAT registration (standard rate 8.1%) is required from an annual turnover of CHF 100,000. Switzerland has double taxation agreements with more than 100 countries; check early how your home country treats a Swiss company and its dividends.

Conclusion

Setting up a Swiss company from abroad is easier than ever: no apostille, no consulate, no weeks of waiting for the post. The only real bottleneck is the Swiss-resident representative – and for that there are well-established solutions. Our AI notary assistant and our team guide you through every step in English.