Setting Up a Swiss Company Without a Swiss Bank Account

Many international founders do not struggle with Swiss company law – they struggle with the bank. Opening a capital deposit account can take weeks for non-residents or fail altogether. The solution is a formation by contribution in kind: legally sound, and without any Swiss bank account before the company exists.

Why is opening a bank account so difficult?

Swiss banks are subject to strict know-your-customer and anti-money-laundering rules. Before opening a capital deposit account they typically examine:

• the residence and status of the founders,
• the source of the capital,
• the business purpose and expected turnover,
• the ownership structure and beneficial owners,
• sanctions and PEP screening.

For founders without Swiss residence this often means certified and translated documents, in-person meetings – and banks may decline without giving reasons.

How a contribution in kind solves it

Swiss law expressly allows the share capital of a GmbH or AG to be paid up with assets instead of cash. Instead of a bank account you need:

• a contribution agreement between the contributor and the new company,
• a founders' report describing and valuing the contribution,
• an audit confirmation by a licensed Swiss auditor – which we coordinate,
• the notarial deed and the entry in the commercial register.

The articles of association name the contributed asset, its value, the contributor and the shares issued in return, so the contribution remains documented and traceable.

Which assets qualify?

By law, an asset counts towards the capital if it can be recognised in the balance sheet, transferred to the company, freely disposed of by the company immediately after registration, and realised by transfer to third parties. For international founders the following work particularly well:

• Securities, e.g. listed shares,
• Receivables against a solvent debtor,
• Participations in other companies,
• Crypto assets and stablecoins such as USDT, USDC, Bitcoin or Ether – transferable worldwide within minutes,
• Intellectual property with a demonstrable market value (patents, trademarks).

Stablecoins are especially practical: USDT is pegged to the US dollar, can be transferred instantly from anywhere and has a clearly documented market value. Mind the exchange rate: for a share capital of CHF 20,000 you need correspondingly more than 20,000 USDT at the current USD/CHF rate – plus a buffer for fluctuations until the deed is executed.

The process for international founders

1. Initial assessment: we clarify which assets are suitable for the contribution.
2. Documents: we prepare the contribution agreement, the founders' report and the articles of association.
3. Auditor: a licensed auditor reviews and confirms the valuation.
4. Signing: by qualified electronic signature (QES) – no travel, no apostille.
5. Notarisation and registration with the commercial register.
6. Operating bank account – opened afterwards by the registered company.

For both legal forms there is a dedicated AI notary assistant that speaks English: GmbH with contribution in kind and AG with contribution in kind. Our notary then reviews everything personally.

Requirements that still apply

A contribution in kind replaces the bank account – not the other formation requirements. Every Swiss GmbH or AG must be able to be represented by at least one person resident in Switzerland and needs a registered office in Switzerland. How founders abroad solve this is explained in Setting up a company in Switzerland as a foreigner.

Costs

• Our flat fee: CHF 950 for a GmbH or AG (excl. VAT)
• Licensed auditor: around CHF 500–700, coordinated by us
• Commercial register fees: official fees, typically CHF 450–600
• Signing by QES: + CHF 150 (from the third signatory + CHF 50 per person)

Conclusion

For international founders, a formation by contribution in kind is often faster and more predictable than the detour via a Swiss capital deposit account. You avoid the hardest step before formation and open the operating account later – with a registered company as the applicant.