Swiss company formation for non-residents

A Swiss company, with the Swiss resident the law requires

Switzerland means stability, respected banks and Zug's Crypto Valley. It also requires one person living in Switzerland to sign for your company. Cheap quotes leave that out. Ours includes it, run from anywhere.

Swiss resident director and Zug address included.

Start my Swiss company Why the resident matters

CHF 6,299 in year one, all in
CHF 3,849 a year after
Your CHF 20,000 capital stays yours

CHF 20,000Share capital, paid in once and kept by the company

11.7%Combined company tax in the City of Zug

CHF 420Commercial register fee, included in your price

1Swiss resident who signs for the company, included

01The rule cheap quotes skip

Why a Swiss company needs a Swiss resident director

Swiss formation prices from CHF 289 look tempting. They assume you live in Switzerland. You don't, so here's what changes.

"At least one person domiciled in Switzerland must be able to represent the company."

Living in the EU or EFTA doesn't count, whatever some providers say.
Without that person, the register won't enter your company.
We include a Swiss resident director from our partner in your price.

Swiss Code of Obligations, Art. 814 para. 3, as worded from 1 October 2026.

Your company GmbH

ShareholderYou, from anywhere

You

Managing directorYou run the business

You

Swiss resident directorLives in Switzerland, as the law requires

Included

Registered addressZug, Switzerland

Included

02Your capital

The CHF 20,000 share capital, and where it goes

It isn't a fee. It's your money, and it stays in your company to spend on the business once it's registered.

DepositCHF 20,000 goes into a Swiss capital deposit account, blocked for now.
Bank confirmsThe bank issues the confirmation the notary needs.
Register entryThe commercial register enters your GmbH, usually within 1 to 3 weeks.
Released to youThe money moves to your company's account, ready to use.

CHF 0of your capital goes to us or the state. Our price and the fees are separate from it.

03What's public

What the Swiss commercial register shows

Switzerland isn't a privacy jurisdiction, and we won't pretend it is. Here's your register entry before you commit.

Commercial register of Zug

CompanyYour company GmbH

SeatZug

CapitalCHF 20,000

ShareholderYour name, of anywhere, 20 shares

Managing directorYour name, managing director

Resident directorOur partner, in Zug

PublicNames, roles and stakes

Shareholders, directors and signatories, with their town and country.

Not publicStreet addresses

The register shows where you live by town and country only.

Kept by the state, not publishedBeneficial owners

Reported to the federal transparency register since 1 October 2026, which isn't public.

04Tax, honestly

Swiss company tax rate in Zug: about 11.7%

Not zero, and we won't sell it as zero. What you get is one of Europe's lowest stable rates, in a country banks and partners trust. Slide to see yours, or compare all 26 cantons in our Swiss tax guide.

Yearly profit CHF 200,000

FederalZug canton and cityKept by your company

Company tax, aboutCHF 23,400

Kept by your companyCHF 176,600

7.83%

Federal share8.5% on profit after tax, the same in every canton.

35%

Withholding tax on dividendsTaken when profit is paid out to shareholders.

100k

VAT registrationOnly once worldwide turnover passes CHF 100,000.

Audit for small companiesWith 10 or fewer full-time staff, you can opt out.

05Crypto Valley

A Swiss company for crypto: what Zug and FINMA allow

Zug earned its name. Here's where a Swiss GmbH fits, and where it needs more.

No licenceHold and trade your own crypto

Managing the company's own assets needs no FINMA licence.

Zug onlyPay company tax in crypto

Zug accepts Bitcoin and Ether for company tax bills up to CHF 1.5 million.

Needs moreServices for clients

Exchanging or holding crypto for others needs a self-regulatory body membership or a FINMA licence.

06The whole bill

Swiss company formation cost, all in

Most Swiss quotes add the resident director, the address and the fees later. Ours starts with them.

Year one

FormationDeed, notary and CHF 420 commercial register feeIncluded

Swiss resident directorThe person the law requiresIncluded

Zug registered addressAnd mail handlingIncluded

Bank accountsCapital deposit and business account, set up with youIncluded

You payCHF 6,299

Every year after

Swiss resident directorIncluded

Zug registered addressIncluded

RemindersMembers' meeting, annual report and tax return datesIncluded

You payCHF 3,849

Heirson, three yearsCHF 13,997CHF 6,003 less

Complete package published elsewhere, three yearsCHF 20,000

Not included: your CHF 20,000 share capital (the company's own money), bookkeeping and the tax return itself. Comparison: the only complete non-resident package with published prices we found, about CHF 9,000 in year one and CHF 5,500 a year after, November 2026.

07Your first year

Your first Swiss year, step by step

Choose your starting month and every step lines up with it.

I'll start in

Questions

Swiss company questions, answered

Weighing Switzerland against somewhere cheaper? Email [email protected] and we'll give you a straight answer. Vetting a Swiss company first? Our Switzerland company search guide covers Zefix, signing powers and the debt enforcement extract.

How much does it cost to open a company in Switzerland?

With Heirson, CHF 6,299 in year one, all in: formation, notary and register fees, a Swiss resident director, a Zug address and bank account setup. From year two, CHF 3,849 a year. You also pay in the CHF 20,000 share capital, which stays the company's money.

Can a foreigner open a company in Switzerland?

Yes. Anyone can own a Swiss GmbH. The company needs one person living in Switzerland who can represent it, and we include that person.

Does living in the EU count as the Swiss resident?

No. The law asks for someone domiciled in Switzerland itself. Some providers suggest otherwise; the register won't accept it.

What is the Swiss corporate tax rate?

It depends on the canton. In the City of Zug, the combined federal, cantonal and communal rate is about 11.7% of profit before tax. Dividends paid out carry 35% withholding tax.

Do I need to travel to Switzerland?

Usually not. You sign the founding documents at a notary near you, with an apostille, and we handle the Swiss side.

Is a Swiss company private?

No. The commercial register shows shareholders, directors and signatories with their town and country. Street addresses and the federal list of beneficial owners aren't public.

How long does Swiss company formation take?

Usually 1 to 3 weeks from signed documents and the capital deposit to the register entry. The business bank account follows.

Can a Swiss company hold crypto?

Yes. Holding and trading the company's own crypto needs no FINMA licence, and in Zug you can even pay company tax in Bitcoin or Ether. Services for clients need a self-regulatory body membership or a licence.

Can I open a Swiss bank account for the company?

Yes. The capital deposit account comes first, then the business account. We prepare what the banks ask for and set both up with you. Fees, documents and timing are in our Swiss business bank account guide.

Does a small Swiss company need an audit?

Not if it has 10 or fewer full-time staff and all shareholders agree to opt out. It still prepares an annual report and holds a members' meeting within six months of year end. Every yearly fee, date and penalty: Swiss annual fees and filings.

Ready when you are

Swiss stability, with nothing missing from the price.

CHF 6,299 in year one with the resident director, address and fees included, paid in crypto, and only after you sign.

Start my Swiss company See the whole bill