Starting a Business in Switzerland 2026 — Complete Guide (English)

From Idea to Registered Company — Without Expensive Consultants

Starting a business in Switzerland sounds complicated? It doesn't have to be. This guide walks you through every step — from choosing the right legal form to registering with the Handelsregister and setting up AHV contributions.

22 pages of practical knowledge — no legal jargon, no filler, just what you need to know.

📋 What's Inside?

Legal Form Comparison — With Real Numbers

• Einzelunternehmen (Sole Proprietorship) — No capital needed, start in days
• GmbH (LLC) — CHF 20'000 share capital, limited liability, professional appearance
• AG (Corporation) — CHF 100'000 capital, ideal for investors
• Decision guide: Which form fits YOUR situation?

Step-by-Step Founding Guides

• Einzelunternehmen: 7 steps from AHV registration to first invoice
• GmbH: 9 steps including notary, Handelsregister, share capital deposit
• Every step with estimated costs, timelines, and official links

Taxes, AHV & Social Insurance

• AHV contribution rates for self-employed (sliding scale 5.371%–10.6%)
• Säule 3a maximum: CHF 36'288 without pension fund — the biggest legal tax deduction
• When to register for MWST (VAT): CHF 100'000 threshold
• Kantonal tax comparison — why Zug and Schwyz attract entrepreneurs

Bookkeeping & Administration

• When simple bookkeeping is enough vs. when you need double-entry (OR Art. 957)
• Software comparison: Bexio, Banana, Klara, Run my Accounts
• Record retention: 10 years (OR Art. 958f)

Insurance — What's Mandatory, What's Recommended

• AHV/IV/EO: mandatory for everyone
• BVG (pension): mandatory from CHF 22'680 salary
• Krankentaggeld (daily sickness allowance): strongly recommended
• Professional liability: industry-dependent

Complete Cost Overview + Checklists + Glossary

• All founding costs by legal form in one table
• Printable checklists — tick off each step
• Glossary: Handelsregister, Ausgleichskasse, Revisionsstelle, Stammkapital...

🎯 Who Is This For?

• Expats starting a business in Switzerland
• Freelancers going from side project to official company
• Entrepreneurs choosing between Einzelunternehmen and GmbH
• Anyone who wants to save CHF 2'000+ in consulting fees

Information as of: May 2026

Swiss Business Tools — Professional digital templates for Switzerland · swissbusinesstools.ch