Company types to suit every need

Swiss commercial law is characterized by a relatively low level of regulation in comparison to other countries. There are thus a lot of options when it comes to selecting the most suitable form of organization and especially the precise legal structure when setting up a business.

Subsidiary or branch office?

Most foreign companies in the Greater Zurich Area choose to establish a subsidiary or a branch office of the parent company.

The subsidiary founded is most commonly a limited company, either in the form
of an «Aktiengesellschaft (AG)» or a «Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung
(GmbH)», both of which are Swiss forms of corporation with limited liability. The legally stipulated minimum capital (AG: CHF 100'000; GmbH: CHF 20'000) needs to be deposited when the company is founded. At least one authorized signatory is required to be resident in Switzerland (applicable to both AGs and GmbHs).

Legal Structures of Companies – Overview

A branch office is not officially classified as a Swiss company, which means that the foreign parent company bears the financial responsibility. However, since the branch office is subject to Swiss law, it is treated as if it were a Swiss company. This means that both the branch itself as well as at least one authorized signatory who is resident in Switzerland need to be entered in the commercial register.

Central Business Names Index – Commercial Registers