Switzerland is one of the most attractive places to open a company in Europe due to its stable economic conditions and highly developed financial systems. It has a very high standard of living, HDI, and has the second-highest GDP per capita, and is home to some of the most recognizable banks in the world including UBS and Credit Suisse.
Generally known for offshore banking and financial industry; it has also recently positioned itself for a hub for startups in the financial technology and cryptocurrency space.
Switzerland has several company formation structures with two standing out the most. The Swiss GMBH and the Swiss AG. While the Swiss Trust Company was once one of the most popular vehicles it has since not become worth the extra cost and has lost much of its prestige in the last decade.
Abbreviation GMBH stands for “Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung” which means ‘Company with Limited Liability’ in German.
The Swiss GMGH is the equivalent of a Limited Liability Company (LLC) where members receive limited liability. The GMBH is the second most popular company formation structure, apart from the Swiss AG.
The incorporation and the administration is fairly simple and it is possible to start the company with only one founder/ shareholder.
The minimum contribution or paid-up capital required is 20,000 CHF (20,076 USD) and liability is limited to the contributions made by the members.
See here for more information on Switzerland as an Offshore Financial Centre.
Table of Contents:
Swiss GMBH | Corporate Details |
General | |
Type of Entity | GMBH |
Registered Office in Switzerland | Yes |
Shelf company availability | No |
Our time to establish a new company | 1-2 weeks |
Corporate Taxation | 8-15% |
Access to Double Taxation Treaties | Yes |
Share capital or equivalent | |
Minimum paid-up | CHF 20,000 |
Bearer shares allowed | No |
No-par-value shares allowed | No |
Directors or Members | |
Minimum number | One |
Local required | Yes |
Publicly accessible records | Yes (beneficial owner is not public) |
Location of meetings | Anywhere |
Corporate directorship allowed | No |
Company Secretary | |
Required | No |
Local or qualified | N/A |
Accounts | |
Requirements to prepare | Yes |
Audit requirements | Yes |
Requirements to file accounts | No |
Publicly accessible accounts | Yes |
The requirements to form a Swiss GMBH are as follows:
The entire application process can take from 3 to 5 business days.
Personal filings are not required and can be done via Express Mail
The Swiss GMBH must prepare its Articles of Association including:
The Swiss GMBH files its own tax return as a separate legal entity or Corporation.
After approval of registration by the Commercial Registry for corporate tax and VAT identity numbers. The Company must apply to the Federal Tax Administration.
Taxes are payable to the federal government and the canton in which one is registered. Each Canton has different Tax rates.
Given below are the federal and canton corporate tax rates and their ranges:
The Value Added Tax (VAT) is 8% which is the lowest rate in Europe.
The details of the shareholders, directors as well as the company’s financial statements are publically accessible, and though the details of the beneficial owner are disclosed they are not made publically available. The disclosure of Beneficial owner is only to be made to banks when opening a bank account for Money Laundering checks
The liability faced by the Company is limited to its assets. Shareholders are only liable to the extent in which they have invested with the company and cannot be held personally liable for any legal action that is taken against the LLC
There Minimum capital requirement is 20,000 CHF
Financial statements are required to be maintained under the double-entry book-keeping system. A Balance Sheet and an operating profit and loss Account and an inventory must be maintained.
Provides members with a limited liability to which they are not held personally financially responsible for the losses of the company, and are liable only up to the amount held with the company.
Yes, Directors must be local
Yes, however, a virtual office can be registered
Generally only for larger companies meeting any two of the following criteria - CHF 40 Million Turnover, Assets CHF 20 Million + or 250 Employees
Not required
Shelf Companies are not readily available
1-2 weeks
Name must include GMBH
Yes Switzerland and the GMBH has access to 80 different Double Taxation Treaties with countries
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