Start a company online in Switzerland with Nexova AG We offer you a simple, fast and professional service to turn your business idea into reality Benefit from our extensive experience and transparent pricing for a successful start Get free advice and individual support throughout the start-up process Book a call Our Prices No hidden or additional costs With accounting subscription LLC FromCHF 590.– Notary fees included What is included Personal legal advice Formulation of the company purpose Company name review Preparation of the founding documents Preparation of the statutes Notary fees Registration in the Commercial Register VAT advice Additional costs Commercial register fee Qualified electronic signature Book a call Public Corporation FromCHF 590.– Notary fees included What is included Personal legal advice Formulation of the company purpose Company name review Preparation of the founding documents Preparation of the statutes Notary fees Registration in the Commercial Register VAT advice Additional costs Commercial register fee Qualified electronic signature Book a call Sole Proprietorship FromCHF 290.– Notary fees included What is included Personal legal advice Formulation of the company purpose Company name review Preparation of the founding documents Notary fees Registration in the Commercial Register VAT advice Additional costs Commercial register fee Qualified electronic signature Book a call Easily calculate the cost of your accounting here. Prices *without accounting subscription: CHF 490.– ** without accounting subscription: CHF 190.– Before the foundation Choosing a legal form: Finding the right legal form for your company When founding or restructuring a company, choosing the right legal form is crucial. Not every legal form is suitable for every company. In Switzerland, start-ups and SMEs are often organised in one of the following three legal forms: Sole proprietorship, a public limited company (AG), and a limited liability company (GmbH). The difference between partnerships and corporations mainly lies in the risk involved. If you bear all the risks yourself and are prepared to be liable for possible claims with your private assets, you can set up a sole proprietorship. However, if you prefer to cooperate with others, it is advisable to set up a general or a limited partnership. If you want to minimise financial and entrepreneurial risk, you can limit this risk to a certain amount by establishing a corporation, such as a GmbH or AG. Alternatively, you could engage in entrepreneurial activities as an association or cooperative. When deciding on a legal form, the following criteria should be considered: Capital: Formation costs, capital allowance and minimum capital requirement vary depending on the legal form. The current year›s capital requirements and those for the next 3 to 5 years should be included in your considerations. Taxes: Partnerships (sole proprietorships and general partnerships) and corporations (GmbH and AG) are not treated equally for tax purposes. In general, it is difficult to label any of these company forms as fiscally superior. The most suitable legal form has to be determined on a case-bycase basis. Risk/liability: As a general rule, the higher the entrepreneurial risk or the financial commitment, the more sense it makes to choose a corporation. Social security: Different rules apply regarding social insurance compliance depending on the company’s legal form. While sole proprietorship, owners are not insured against unemployment and participation in a pension fund is voluntary. Managing owners of an AG or GmbH are considered employed and are, therefore, socially insured. Independence: Depending on the company’s legal form, its room for manoeuvre may be limited. Decide whether you want to work alone or with partners and whether you prefer pure capital providers or associates acting in partnership. This is where we come in! At Nexova AG we offer you the opportunity to clarify your open questions in a free consultation by telephone or video call. Book your appointment here to prepare yourself in the best possible way for setting up a company in Switzerland. Book a free initial consultation with our experts. Book a call Our foundation process: Simple and uncomplicated Step 1: Make contact On our website, you can easily book a free initial video call without any obligation. Step 2: Discuss and prepare the founding documents In this meeting, we will explain the entire incorporation process to you and answer any questions you may have. As soon as you give us the order to set up your company, we will send you all the necessary incorporation documents by e-mail. Step 3: Sign documents Once you are satisfied with the incorporation documents, print them out and sign them. Each person who receives signatory authority must have their signature officially notarised. For the cash formation of a corporation (AG or GmbH), a capital contribution confirmation from the bank is required as well. After this, the the signed documents, certified signatures and, if applicable, the capital contribution confirmation can be sent back to us. Alternatively, we also offer digital signatures to shorten the process by up to one week. Step 4: Public certification by a notary public As soon as we have received all the required documents in complete form, we will represent you at the notary›s appointment. The notary will then carry out the public certification of the incorporation documents. We then send the incorporation documents to the competent commercial registry office for registration. Your company is now officially in the status of «in formation». Step 5: Commercial register entry Normally, registration in the commercial register takes about 10 to 14 days, but various circumstances could lead to a longer processing time. If the establishment of your company is urgent, please let us know during our first meeting so that we can present you with suitable alternatives. As soon as the entry in the commercial register has been completed, your company is officially founded. We will notify you immediately and send you the founding documents and the certified extract from the commercial register. Calculate the costs of your company incorporation here. Prices Checklist for founders: The most important points for your business start-up Once you have decided on a legal form, it is important to check what you need for a successful company formation in Switzerland. The following checklist guides you through the process of setting up a company and ensures that you consider everything important. For all legal forms Plan your start-up budget Get tax advice and calculate the tax implications of setting up your company Determine a company name and clarify availability at the cantonal commercial registry office Clarify the VAT liability and register with the Federal Tax Administration if necessary For companies with employees Register your employees with the AHV compensation fund (Federal Old Age and Survivors› Insurance) and take out the mandatory insurance for BVG and UVG (Swiss Federal laws on occupational retirement, survivors› and disability pension plans, and on accident insurance). As the founder of a GmbH or AG, you are also considered an employee Sole proprietorship Register with the Commercial Register Office (if required) Register with the AHV compensation fund Limited liability company (GmbH) Determine share capital, capital contributions, and payment (in cash or in-kind) Determine shareholders and management Determine bank for blocked account for capital contributions, and open an account Draw up memorandum and articles of association, etc. Send incorporation files to notary and commercial registry office, for preliminary examination, with space for amendments If auditors have been appointed, request declaration of acceptance Conduct inaugural meeting Register with the Commercial RegisterOffice Release of the capital contribution at the bank (show an extract from the commercial register) Public limited company (AG) Determine share capital and division, specify freed up capital Determine management organs: Board of Directors, Auditors, Authorised Signatories Determine bank for blocked account for capital contributions, open an account Draw up articles of association, statutes, etc. Send incorporation files to notary and commercial registry office, for preliminary examination, with space for amendments Request acceptance statement from the auditors Conduct inaugural meeting Register with the Commercial Register Office Release of the share deposit amount at the bank (present an extract from the commercial register) Issue share certificates, open share register With this checklist, you are well prepared for the foundation of your company. If you do not want to take care of all these administrative steps yourself, Nexova AG will gladly do this work and take care of the company formation for you. Click here to outsourcecompany formation Contact 3 reasons for founding a company with Nexova AG Quick You will receive all the necessary incorporation documents within 24 hours. Experience Countless founders already rely on our expertise. Competence We provide you with comprehensive and transparent advice. What are you waiting for? Start your online company formation in Switzerland with Nexova AG now and benefit from our firstclass service, comprehensive expertise and simple, fast company formation. Book your free consultation today, and let us work together to make your business idea a reality! Book a free initial consultation with our experts. Book a call FAQ Answers at a click What are the advantages of incorporating a company in Switzerland with Nexova AG? Nexova AG offers you a fast, simple, and professional service. You benefit from our extensive experience, transparent pricing, and personalized support throughout the entire incorporation process. Our specialized fiduciaries guide you through every step of setting up a company in Switzerland. What legal forms can I establish in Switzerland? In Switzerland, you can set up a sole proprietorship, public limited company (AG), limited liability company (GmbH), general partnership or limited partnership. Associations and cooperatives are also possible. GmbHs and AGs are particularly suitable legal forms for start-ups and SMEs. How does the incorporation process with Nexova AG work? The incorporation process consists of five steps: contacting us, discussing and drawing up the incorporation documents, signing the documents, public notarization by a notary and entry in the commercial register. This enables you to set up a company quickly and efficiently online. What factors should I consider when choosing the legal form? You should consider capital requirements, risk/liability, independence, tax aspects and social security. Each legal form has different requirements and advantages, which our fiduciary service will be happy to explain to you in detail. What do I need to prepare before incorporating a company? Plan your start-up budget, get tax advice, decide on a company name and clarify your VAT liability. For companies with employees, additional steps must be taken, such as registering with the AHV compensation fund. Our trustees will also support you with digital bookkeeping and other administrative tasks. What are the differences between a GmbH and an AG? A GmbH requires a minimum share capital of CHF 20,000, whereas an AG requires a minimum share capital of CHF 100,000. In a GmbH, shareholders are only liable for their capital contribution, while in an AG, the share capital itself is liable. These differences are crucial for startups and SMEs looking to minimize risk. What documents and steps are required to establish a GmbH? You need share capital, the appointment of shareholders and management, the preparation of the certificate of incorporation and articles of association, as well as the opening of a blocked account for capital contributions and registration with the commercial register office. Our fiduciary office will help you to complete all the necessary steps smoothly. What are the requirements for incorporating an AG? An AG requires a defined share capital and share distribution, appointment of the board of directors and auditors, preparation of the incorporation deed and articles of association, opening a blocked account for capital deposits, and registration with the commercial register office. Nexova AG is also at your side here as a competent fiduciary service. How long does the commercial register entry take? Registering with the commercial register typically takes around 10 to 14 days but may take longer depending on circumstances. Nexova AG also offers fast-track options for urgent incorporations to make your company formation in Switzerland as efficient as possible. What are the costs associated with company formation? The costs for company formation with Nexova AG start at CHF 290, including notary fees. The exact pricing depends on the chosen legal form and specific requirements. Our fiduciaries provide comprehensive advice on all related costs. Can I complete the company formation entirely online? Yes, Nexova AG offers the option to complete the entire incorporation process online, including digital signatures, to speed up the process. This makes online company formation easy and convenient. How can I book a free consultation? You can easily book a free initial consultation via video call online on the Nexova AG website. Our fiduciary office is at your disposal to answer all your questions about company formation in Switzerland. What support does Nexova AG provide during the incorporation process? Nexova AG offers comprehensive support, from advising on the choice of legal form to preparing and notarizing the necessary documents, all the way to registration in the commercial register. We also assist with digital accounting and other fiduciary services. What happens after company formation? After incorporation, you will receive the certified commercial register excerpt and the incorporation documents. Nexova AG continues to support you after incorporation with advice and assistance. We also offer outsourced accounting services to make your transition easier. Planning to start a company in Switzerland?Let us work together. Book a call