Live Zefix Register Search
Swiss Company
Name Checker
Search the Swiss Commercial Register (Zefix) in real time. Check if your desired company name is available before filing — instantly, no account required.
Search the Swiss Commercial Register
Powered by the official Zefix API — Federal Office of Justice, Switzerland. Results show all active registered companies matching your search term.
About This Tool
How the Name Check Works
This tool searches Zefix — the official Swiss Federal Commercial Register database maintained by the Federal Office of Justice.
Live Zefix API
Results come directly from the Zefix REST API (zefix.ch) — the official Swiss federal company register. Data is updated daily from all 26 cantonal commercial registers.
Active Companies Only
The search filters for currently active registered companies only. Dissolved, cancelled, or struck-off entities are excluded from results — giving you a clean picture of name availability.
Not a Legal Guarantee
Zero search results indicates no current match, but final name approval rests with the cantonal commercial register. Our formation team verifies name availability definitively before filing.
All 26 Cantons
Swiss company names are unique across the entire country — not just the canton of registration. A name taken in Geneva blocks the same name in Zug. The Zefix search covers all Swiss cantons simultaneously.
Naming Rules
Swiss Company Naming Requirements
The Swiss Code of Obligations (Art. 944 OR) governs company names. Understanding the rules saves you time during registration.
Rule 01
Must be unique nationwide
No two active Swiss companies can share the same name. The check is national — if a company with that name exists in any canton, your name will be rejected.
Rule 02
Must include legal form suffix
The legal form must appear in the name: "AG" (Aktiengesellschaft), "GmbH" (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung), "Sàrl" (in French-speaking Switzerland), or "SA" (Société Anonyme).
Rule 03
No misleading geographic terms
Terms like "Swiss", "Switzerland", "National", "Federal", or specific city/canton names require justification. "Swiss" in the name, for example, typically requires the company to have a meaningful connection to Switzerland.
Rule 04
No reserved or protected terms
Terms like "Bank", "Banque", "Banca", "Assurance", "Insurance", "Fund", or "Investment" may require FINMA licensing. Government or regulatory terms (e.g. "Swiss Post", "SBB") are strictly reserved.
Rule 05
Must not be confusingly similar
Even if no exact match exists, the register may reject names that are confusingly similar to existing companies or well-known trademarks — particularly in the same industry sector.
Rule 06
Language flexibility
Swiss company names can be in any language — German, French, Italian, English, or even invented words. Most international companies use English names with "AG" or "GmbH" as the suffix.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Zero Zefix results strongly suggests the name is available, but the cantonal commercial register has final authority. Our company formation team runs a full pre-filing check including confusing similarity analysis before submitting your application — this is included in our formation service.
Switzerland does not have a formal name reservation system. The name is secured at the moment of registration in the commercial register. For time-sensitive situations, we can accelerate the filing process to minimize the window between name check and registration.
Once all documents are submitted and the name is cleared, Zug Canton typically processes AG and GmbH registrations within 5–10 business days. Our formation service handles the notarization, capital deposit coordination, and register submission for you.
No. Swiss company formation for non-residents is entirely possible remotely. You will need certified/apostilled identity documents and a certified copy of your signature for notarization — which can be done in your home country. Our formation service guides you through the exact document requirements.