Art. 117 CO — Zug, Switzerland

Registered Office
Switzerland

Every Swiss GmbH and AG must have a registered office (Sitz der Gesellschaft) in Switzerland, as required by Art. 117 of the Swiss Code of Obligations. Our Zug address satisfies this requirement and appears in the public ZEFIX commercial register database.

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Key Distinction

Registered Office vs Operational Office: What Swiss Law Requires

Registered Office (Sitz)

The legal domicile of the company as recorded in the commercial register and articles of association. Must be in Switzerland (Art. 117 CO). Determines tax canton, applicable commercial register, and legal service jurisdiction.

  • Does not need to be operational
  • A domiciliation address qualifies
  • VOZ provides this service

Operational Office

Where employees actually work and business activities are conducted. Can be anywhere in the world for companies without Swiss operational employees. Not required to match the registered office address.

  • No Swiss location required
  • Can be your home country
  • Subject to substance requirements
Public Transparency

Your Address Appears on ZEFIX

ZEFIX is the central Swiss commercial register information platform. Every company registered in Switzerland is publicly searchable at zefix.ch. Your registered office address, legal form, directors, and share capital are all visible to the public.

This transparency is a feature, not a bug. When partners, banks, or clients search your company on ZEFIX, they see a legitimate Swiss address — not a foreign holding structure or a PO box. It builds trust instantly.

Search ZEFIX →
ZEFIX Extract (Example)
Company Name Your Company AG
Legal Form Aktiengesellschaft (AG)
Registered Office Zug, Canton Zug
Address [Your VOZ Address], 6300 Zug
Commercial Register KGZG (Canton Zug)
Status Active
Process

How to Establish a Swiss Registered Office

1

Order VOZ Address

Select your plan. We issue a formal domiciliation agreement within 24 hours, signed by VOZ as the domiciliary agent and by you as the company representative.

2

Use in Articles of Association

Provide our address to your notary. The address is included in the articles of association as the Sitz der Gesellschaft (registered office).

3

Notary Submits to Register

The notary submits the incorporation documents to the Zug cantonal commercial register (KGZG). Your company appears on ZEFIX within 5-10 business days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Registered Office Switzerland FAQ

Art. 117 of the Swiss Code of Obligations (Obligationenrecht) specifies that every company (AG, GmbH, cooperative) must have a domicile in Switzerland. This domicile is the legal address of the company and must be in the canton where the company is registered. The address must be a physical address capable of receiving official correspondence.
In Switzerland, a company is generally considered resident where it is incorporated or where effective management is conducted. The registered office in Zug creates a prima facie presumption of tax residency in Zug. If effective management is conducted elsewhere, the tax authority may challenge the residency. A Swiss director (which VOZ can provide) helps demonstrate Swiss substance.
After submitting the complete incorporation package, the Zug commercial register typically processes the entry within 3-7 business days. Urgent processing is available at additional cost. Once entered, your company appears on ZEFIX and a commercial register extract (Handelsregisterauszug) can be ordered immediately.
Yes. A Swiss company can change its canton of domicile by passing a shareholders' resolution, amending the articles of association (requires notarisation), and registering the transfer with both the outgoing and incoming cantonal commercial registers. The process typically takes 2-4 weeks and involves register fees in both cantons.
Art. 117 CO Compliant

Establish Your Swiss Registered Office in Zug

Address active in 48 hours. Appears on ZEFIX. Compliant with Swiss commercial law and AMLA domiciliation requirements.