Company Formation Costs in Switzerland: A Realistic Breakdown

The share capital is not the whole cost of forming a company. Notary, registry and advisory fees add up, and it helps to know them up front.

The cost components

Notary fees (for the founding deed), commercial register fees, and any fiduciary or legal advice. For a GmbH, expect notary and registry costs in the low thousands of francs.

The notary charges for drafting and notarising the deed, and the fee depends on the canton and the complexity of the structure.

The commercial register charges an entry fee, which also varies. The name check and the registration itself are separate items.

If you use a fiduciary or lawyer to guide you through the process, their fees come on top of the statutory costs.

• Notary fees for the deed.
• Commercial register entry fees.
• Fiduciary or legal advice if used.
• Fees vary by canton and complexity.

Typical figures

For a straightforward GmbH, expect formation costs of roughly CHF 1,000 to 3,000 including notary and registry fees. More complex structures cost more.

An AG costs more than a GmbH, both in capital and in formation fees, because of the heavier documentation and governance setup.

Fiduciary package deals often bundle the whole process into a fixed price, which can be cheaper than paying for each step separately.

The capital itself is separate: CHF 20,000 for a GmbH or CHF 100,000 for an AG. That money stays in the company and is not a cost.

• GmbH formation: roughly CHF 1,000–3,000.
• AG formation costs more.
• Package deals can be cheaper.
• Capital is separate from fees.

What you can save

You can reduce costs by preparing the articles yourself and using standard templates, but the notarisation and registration fees are unavoidable.

Using a template for the articles saves legal drafting fees, provided your structure is standard. Unusual arrangements still warrant a professional.

Skipping optional extras like a paid registered-office service or branded share certificates keeps the bill down in the first year.

Do not skimp on correctness to save a little. An error in the founding documents costs far more to fix than it saves.

• Use standard article templates.
• Skip optional extras early.
• Notary and registry fees are fixed.
• Do not skimp on correctness.

Budgeting realistically

Factor the formation costs, on top of the capital, into your start-up budget. A fiduciary can often do the whole process for a fixed fee, which is usually cheaper than piecemeal handling.

Include the first-year running costs in the same budget: the registered office, accounting and any annual audit where required.

Ask for a firm quote before starting. Reputable fiduciaries will state the full formation cost up front rather than discovering it later.