A comprehensive look at the main types of companies in Switzerland and their advantages for foreign investors in the country. For more information about the legal structures available in Switzerland, please contact our team of Swiss company formation agents at: http://www.companyformationswitzerland.com

1. Company Types in Switzerland
A presentation brought to you by our
company formation specialists in Switzerland
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2. Opening a company in Switzerland
• Switzerland is a country that offers great
investment opportunities for foreign
investors.
• Among the country’s greatest advantages we
list the following:
 a good geographical location;
 highly qualified workforce;
 excellent infrastructure.
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3. Choosing the Right Type of Company
in Switzerland
• Choosing the right company type is an
important decision every investor has to make.
The selected business structure is important for
the future development of a business.
• The available types of Swiss
companies allow for the formation of both
large corporations and small and medium
sized businesses.
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4. Types of Companies in Switzerland
• Switzerland offers a wide variety of business
forms:
 The Limited Liability Company (GmbH);
 The Public Limited Company (AG);
 The Partnership;
 The Sole Proprietorship;
 Branches of foreign companies.
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5. The Limited Liability Company
in Switzerland >>
• The Limited Liability Company in Switzerland
(GmbH) is usually formed by investors who open
small and medium sized companies which
cannot be listed on the Swiss stock exchange.
• This type of company must have shareholders
who are mentioned in the company documents
and disclosed in the Swiss Commercial
Register.
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6. >> The Limited Liability Company
in Switzerland
• The Limited Liability Company in Switzerland
has legal personality and a nominal capital.
• A minimum share capital of 20,000 CHF
is necessary to form a GmbH.
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• The most important advantages of the
GmbH in Switzerland are:
 Limited shareholder liability;
 Low minimum capital.

7. • The Public Limited Company (AG) in
Switzerland is suitable for all business needs
and its simple requirements for the transfer of
shares make it a widely used business form.
• The shareholders have limited liability and
may remain anonymous. The AG requires a
larger minimum share capital than the limited
liability company: at least 100,000 CHF.
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The Public Limited Company in
Switzerland (AG)

8. The Partnership in Switzerland
• Partnerships in Switzerland can be general or
limited.
• General partnerships are commonly used by
small family businesses who carry out
commercial activities.
• The limited partnership in Switzerland is
similar to the general one, however, the
activities undertaken by the business
partners do not need to be commercial.
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9. • The Sole Proprietorship in Switzerland is a
one-man business generally involved in
manufacturing or commerce.
• It has no legal personality and the investor is
fully liable for the debts of the business.
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The Sole Proprietorship in
Switzerland

10. • Branches in Switzerland are suitable for
foreign companies abroad that want to expand
on the Swiss market.
• The mother company abroad is liable
for the debts of its branch in
Switzerland.
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The Branch in Switzerland

11. • Our company registration experts in
Switzerland can give you further details about
the requirements for each business type.
• They can advise you upon the most suitable
form of business to carry out your activities in
the country.
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Business Consultancy in
Switzerland

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For more information please contact us at:
Thank You for
Your Attention!
(+44)203-287 0408 (for international clients)
office@lawyersswitzerland.com
http://www.companyformationswitzerland.com/