Switzerland offers two primary company structures for international founders: the GmbH (CHF 20,000 capital) and the AG (CHF 100,000). Both can be set up 100% remotely in about 3–4 weeks. Notary offer under conditions (UBS account opening + free Helvetia consultation required).
GmbH vs AG: Which is Right for You?
Two company types. Different capital, different governance, different investors. Here is how to choose.
Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung
Ideal for solo founders, SMEs, holding structures, freelancers. Simpler governance — no board required. The most popular structure for non-resident founders starting out in Switzerland.
- CHF 20,000 minimum share capital
- No board of directors required
- Shareholders listed publicly in register
- Simpler corporate governance
- Up to 200 quota-holders
- Preferred for holding structures
Aktiengesellschaft (Stock Corporation)
Preferred for VC-funded companies, institutional investors, crypto projects. Shareholders are private. Board required. The go-to structure when investors or banks require a Swiss AG.
- CHF 100,000 share capital (min. deposit: CHF 50,000)
- Board of directors required (1+ members)
- Shareholders NOT listed publicly
- Preferred for institutional investors
- Easier to issue and transfer shares
- Ideal for fundraising and VC deals
Cost of Opening a Swiss Company
Full transparency — no surprises. The share capital is yours, not a fee.
| Cost Item | GmbH | AG |
|---|---|---|
|
Share Capital (min.)
This is YOUR money — it goes into your company account after incorporation
|
CHF 20,000 | CHF 100,000 min. deposit: CHF 50,000 |
| Notary Fees | Standard ratesPartner offer | Standard ratesPartner offer |
| VOZ Setup Fee (one-time) | CHF 149 | CHF 149 |
| Commercial Register Fee | CHF 550 | CHF 550 |
| VOZ Address (annual) | From CHF 708/yr | From CHF 708/yr |
| Swiss Director (annual) | From CHF 3,000/yr | From CHF 3,000/yr |
| Annual Accounting (minimum) | From CHF 1,200/yr | From CHF 1,500/yr |
| Estimated First-Year Total | ~CHF 25,500–27,000 full capital deposit + notary offer with business account opening support |
~CHF 55,000–58,000 50% capital deposit + notary offer with business account opening support |
★ Banking support notary offer via UBS. Notary fees are offered when you open a business account with UBS with the support of our partners (subject to UBS's acceptance) and attend a free consultation with Helvetia presenting business insurance offers. Share capital and official fees are charged separately. GmbH: CHF 20,000 deposit required. AG: minimum CHF 50,000 to deposit (50% of CHF 100,000 share capital) — the rest can be called up later. Capital is an asset of your company, released to your operating account after registration.
Notary offer with business account opening support.
Via UBS.
Notary fees are offered when you open a business account with UBS with the support of our partners (subject to UBS's acceptance) and attend a free consultation with Helvetia presenting business insurance offers. Share capital and official fees are charged separately.
This saves you the equivalent of your entire first year of domiciliation — on day one.
- GmbH formation — notary offer with business account opening support
- AG formation — notary offer with business account opening support
- Notary document preparation included
- Capital deposit account included
- UBS account opening support
How to Open a Swiss Company: The Process
From first click to commercial register entry — 3 to 4 weeks, 100% remote.
Week 1: Address & KYC
Order your VOZ registered address and complete identity verification online. Your Zug domiciliation address is activated promptly after verification and ready for the articles of association. KYC takes 2–3 business days.
Week 1–2: Draft Articles & Notarise
Your notary drafts the articles of association. You sign before a Swiss embassy or via apostille with a local notary in your country. A 20–30 minute appointment. The notary simultaneously opens a capital deposit account at a Swiss bank.
Week 2: Capital Deposit
Transfer the minimum share capital to the blocked capital account: CHF 20,000 for GmbH / CHF 50,000 for AG. The bank issues a written confirmation letter for the notary. This is not a cost — it stays in your company.
Week 3–4: Commercial Register
The notary submits all documents to the Zug Handelsregister. Processing takes 5–10 business days. Your company appears on ZEFIX. You receive the official commercial register extract by email.
Three founders. Three companies.
What happened the month they set up in Zug.
He spent CHF 20,000 on his GmbH. He invoiced CHF 48,000 the first month.
Julien had been freelancing as a strategy consultant from Lyon for four years. His problem was not clients — it was the conversation he kept having with procurement at large French companies.
“We need a company, not a sole trader. And preferably European — or Swiss.”
He incorporated his Zug GmbH in February. CHF 20,000 share capital deposited. notary offer with business account opening support via UBS (account opening + free Helvetia consultation required). Three weeks later, he had his CHE number.
In March, he landed a three-month retainer he had been chasing for a year. The procurement team had rejected his freelance proposal twice. They signed the company contract without a second conversation.
The GmbH paid for itself in the first invoice. Everything after that was pure leverage.— Julien M., Strategy Consultant · Lyon · GmbH, Zug
His VC said “Swiss AG or nothing.” He had 6 weeks.
Wei had been in term sheet negotiations for four months. His US lead investor was ready to wire. His Swiss co-investor had one condition: “The entity must be a Swiss AG. Clean cap table. Swiss structure only.”
Wei had never incorporated in Switzerland. He had six weeks before the term sheet expired.
VOZ activated his Zug address promptly after verification. The notary drafted the articles within a week. Wei signed at the Swiss consulate in Singapore on a Tuesday. The capital deposit cleared Thursday.
His Swiss AG was in the commercial register before the term sheet deadline. The wire came through the following Monday.
Six weeks seemed impossible. VOZ made it feel routine. My investors were impressed by how clean the process was.— Wei L., SaaS Founder · Singapore · AG, Zug
She needed a holding structure before her Dubai business paid its first dividend.
Aisha had a profitable trading company in Dubai. Her accountant had told her for two years: “Set up a holding before you take dividends. Switzerland is the best option.”
She had delayed because she thought it would be complicated.
It was not. VOZ address fast after verification. KYC in two days. She signed at the Swiss embassy in Abu Dhabi on a Wednesday. Her Zug GmbH holding was active before the end of the month.
The first dividend her Dubai company paid to her Swiss holding triggered 0% withholding under the UAE-Switzerland treaty. She wishes she had done it two years earlier.
I delayed two years because I thought it was complicated. It took three weeks. That delay cost me more than I want to calculate.— Aisha K., Business Owner · Dubai · GmbH Holding, Zug
Founders who opened their Swiss company with VOZ
"My share capital came back to my company account two weeks after registration. I had been nervous about ‘losing’ CHF 20,000. There was nothing to worry about."
"I chose AG over GmbH because my co-founder and I needed a clean share structure. The VOZ team explained the difference in ten minutes. Right decision."
"The consulate appointment in Dubai took 25 minutes. That was the only time I did anything in person for the entire incorporation."
"Three weeks from ‘I want a Swiss company’ to seeing my company on ZEFIX. Faster than I expected and smoother than I feared."
Your Swiss company in 3–4 weeks
- Zug registered address
- Fast activation after verification
- Handelsregister compatible
- Domiciliation certificate
- Client dashboard access
- Full GmbH formation
- CHE number in about 3 weeks
- 100% remote process
- UBS account opening support
- Banking support notary offer
- Art. 718 CO compliant
- All nationalities welcome
- Clear governance agreement
- You retain full control
- Replace anytime
Your company is formed. Now make it work.
Opening a Swiss Company FAQ
Open Your Swiss Company in Zug
Get your registered Zug address quickly. Swiss director, notary referrals, and company formation support included. Notary offer under conditions (UBS account opening + free Helvetia consultation required).
Approx. 3–4 weeks to incorporation · Banking support notary offer · 100% remote process
