Forming a Swiss GmbH costs CHF 2,500 to CHF 4,000 in one-time fees, plus CHF 20,000 in share capital (which you get back after registration). The first-year total for a foreign founder who needs a registered address, nominee director, and basic accounting: approximately CHF 12,000 plus share capital. This guide breaks down every cost line — one-time and ongoing — so you can plan accurately.
One-Time Formation Costs
These are the fees paid once, at registration. They do not recur unless you amend the articles or change directors.
GmbH Formation
| Cost item | Amount (CHF) |
|---|---|
| Notary fees | 800 – 1,500 |
| Commercial Register fee | ~600 |
| Legal advisory / formation service | varies by provider |
| Translation of foreign documents | varies (CHF 100–500 per document) |
| Apostille on foreign documents | varies by country (CHF 50–300 per document) |
| Total (excluding share capital and advisory) | 1,400 – 2,100 |
AG Formation
| Cost item | Amount (CHF) |
|---|---|
| Notary fees | 1,000 – 2,000 |
| Commercial Register fee | ~900 |
| Legal advisory / formation service | varies |
| Total (excluding share capital) | 1,900 – 2,900 |
Note: notary fees are set by cantonal fee schedules and vary accordingly. The figures above reflect Zug and Zurich. Formation services (acting as your legal representative, preparing the Stampa Declaration, coordinating with the notary) are priced separately and depend on the complexity of your structure.
Share Capital: What It Is and What Happens to It
Share capital is not a fee. It is an asset of the company that you are funding at formation. What happens to it:
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Before registration: Deposited into a blocked capital deposit account (Kapitaleinzahlungskonto) at a Swiss bank. The bank issues a blocking confirmation that the notary requires before signing.
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During registration: Held by the bank. You cannot access it.
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After registration: Released into the company’s operating account. The CHF 20,000 (for a GmbH) or CHF 50,000–100,000 (for an AG) is now the company’s working capital, available for salaries, rent, suppliers, and other operational needs.
Minimum requirements:
| Entity | Minimum capital | Minimum paid in at formation |
|---|---|---|
| GmbH | CHF 20,000 | CHF 20,000 (100%) |
| AG | CHF 100,000 | CHF 50,000 (50%) |
The remaining 50% of AG capital (if you pay only the minimum) must be called in when needed. Most international founders pay in 100% upfront to simplify the structure and improve banking relationships.
Annual Running Costs
These costs recur every year, regardless of whether the company has revenue.
Registered Address (Domizil)
Every Swiss company must have a registered address in Switzerland. If you do not have a physical Swiss office, a registered address service covers this requirement.
| Canton | Annual address fee |
|---|---|
| Zug | CHF 2,400 |
| Zurich | CHF 3,000 |
| Geneva | CHF 3,600 |
The registered address is the company’s legal domicile — where official correspondence is received, where the company appears in the Commercial Register, and where tax is assessed at cantonal level.
Nominee Director
If no founder or senior employee is domiciled in Switzerland, a nominee director is required under Article 718 of the Code of Obligations.
| Service level | Annual fee (CHF) |
|---|---|
| Standard nominee director | 5,900 |
| Premium nominee (higher involvement) | 7,400 |
| Six-month interim arrangement | 4,500 |
The nominee fee covers the directorship — appearing in the register, holding signatory rights, and standard compliance tasks. Additional work is billed at CHF 350/hour. For an active company with significant transactions, budget CHF 2,000–4,000/year on top of the base fee for extra tasks.
For more detail, see our nominee director Switzerland page.
Accounting and Tax Filing
Every Swiss company must prepare annual financial statements. The accounting cost depends on transaction volume and complexity.
| Company type | Annual accounting cost (CHF) |
|---|---|
| Dormant entity (no transactions) | 1,400 – 1,800 |
| Low-activity company (10–30 transactions/month) | 2,400 – 4,800 |
| Active SME (50–150 transactions/month) | 5,000 – 12,000 |
| Complex / audit-required | 12,000+ |
Audit is mandatory for companies that exceed two of three thresholds in two consecutive years: CHF 20M balance sheet total, CHF 40M revenue, 250 full-time employees. Most small to medium Swiss subsidiaries of foreign groups are below the audit threshold.
Corporate tax returns are filed annually with the cantonal tax authority. Filing assistance is typically included in accounting packages.
Full First-Year Cost Scenarios
Scenario 1: Sole foreign founder, GmbH in Zug, nominee director
| Item | Cost (CHF) |
|---|---|
| GmbH formation (notary + register + legal) | 3,500 |
| Share capital (returned after registration) | 20,000 |
| Registered address, Zug (year 1) | 2,400 |
| Nominee director (year 1) | 5,900 |
| Accounting, basic (year 1) | 1,800 |
| Total cash outlay | 33,600 |
| Total excluding returned share capital | 13,600 |
Scenario 2: Foreign founder with Swiss resident co-founder, AG in Zurich
| Item | Cost (CHF) |
|---|---|
| AG formation | 4,500 |
| Share capital paid in (50%) | 50,000 |
| Registered address, Zurich (year 1) | 3,000 |
| Nominee director (not required — Swiss co-founder acts as director) | 0 |
| Accounting, basic | 2,000 |
| Total cash outlay | 59,500 |
| Total excluding returned share capital | 9,500 |
Scenario 3: Shelf company (GmbH, existing 2018), Zug
| Item | Cost (CHF) |
|---|---|
| Shelf company acquisition price | 18,500 |
| Articles modification and director change | 1,700 |
| Registered address (year 1) | 2,400 |
| Nominee director (year 1) | 5,900 |
| Accounting (year 1) | 1,800 |
| Total | 30,300 |
No share capital deposit is required for a shelf company — the capital was already paid in at original formation.
Shelf Company vs New Formation: Cost Comparison
| Factor | New GmbH | Shelf Company |
|---|---|---|
| Formation / acquisition cost | CHF 3,500 | CHF 15,000–47,500 |
| Share capital required upfront | CHF 20,000 | None (already paid) |
| Time to operational entity | 2–4 weeks | 1–2 days |
| First-year total cost (excl. capital) | ~CHF 13,000 | ~CHF 25,000–58,000 |
| Best for | Standard formations | Urgent deadlines; prestige of older reg. date |
For most clients who are not under extreme time pressure, a new formation is the more cost-efficient route. The shelf company premium is justified when a live entity is needed within 24–48 hours, or when the historical registration date carries commercial value.
Hidden Costs Founders Miss
1. Director additional tasks. The CHF 5,900 nominee fee does not cover attending banking meetings, signing work permits, or executing specific corporate actions. Budget CHF 2,000–4,000/year on top for an active company.
2. Banking delays with cost consequences. If a capital deposit account application is rejected, you may need to pay notary rescheduling fees (CHF 200–500) and restart parts of the process. Bank rejection rates for certain company profiles are non-trivial.
3. Translation and apostille costs. Foreign founders with documents in non-German languages need certified translations. An apostille on a foreign notarial document costs CHF 50–300 depending on the country. These costs are easy to overlook in early planning.
4. Purpose clause amendments. If you choose a purpose clause that is too narrow and your business evolves, a notarial amendment costs CHF 500–1,000 in notary fees plus a register update fee of CHF 200–400.
5. Social security contributions. If the nominee director performs any compensated work, AHV/IV/EO contributions apply from the first franc of salary. For directors receiving only the nominal CHF 1 annual fee typically used for nominees, this is not an issue — but it is worth confirming with your accountant.
Next Steps
Morgan Hartley Consulting handles GmbH and AG formation from Baarerstrasse 135, 6300 Zug. We provide fixed-fee formation packages with full cost transparency upfront — no surprises at invoicing.
Request a Free Assessment and receive a complete, itemised cost estimate for your specific structure within 1–2 business hours.
- Phone: +41 44 51 52 592
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: Baarerstrasse 135, 6300 Zug, Switzerland
For the full process step-by-step, see our GmbH formation guide or our company registration guide.
Morgan Hartley Consulting | Baarerstrasse 135, 6300 Zug | +41 44 51 52 592 | [email protected]