How to start a business in Switzerland

Switzerland is offering a very attractive business environment, including for foreign investors. The Swiss laws allow anyone, including foreigners to start a business in Switzerland, to form a company or to have a financial interest in one.

What you should know before you start your own business in Switzerland

However, there are certain conditions that are required. Only persons that hold a valid C permit, the spouse of a C permit holder or the spouse of a Swiss citizen have the legal right to start their own businesses in the country.

Company directors in Switzerland

Managing a Swiss company automatically implies having a board of directors, as it is one of the legal requirements in order to incorporate in Switzerland. Company shareholders appoint the company directors. However, company directors must meet certain requirements, depending on the type of company. The main regulatory framework that applies when appointing company directors is the Swiss Code of Obligations.

Top 10 reasons to incorporate in Switzerland

The choice of location for a business has become extremely important in today’s competitive economy. Switzerland offers many unique advantages for entrepreneurs willing to invest in the country, on economical, political and social level. Here are the most important reasons why you should consider investing in Switzerland, a small, yet highly developed country.

Open a company branch in Switzerland

Branch offices are commercially independent businesses of a parent company. Foreign companies are able to open branch offices in Switzerland. Company branches are legally dependent of the head office, thus they do not have a legal personality. The company branch has limited commercial independence. It means that it must carry out the same type of commercial activity as the parent company, in order to form a commercial whole with it.

The Swiss Commercial Registry

The Commercial Registry (“Handelsregister” in German or “Registre du Commerce” in French) provides most of the public information a foreign entity would have to know when doing business with a Swiss company. In act, it’s recommended to verify any Swiss business partner if they are registered with the Commercial Registry. The information provided by the registry are public and easy available for any interested party.

The Swiss pharmaceutical industry

The pharmaceutical industry has a key role in the Swiss exports industry. In 2014, pharmaceuticals exports amounted to more than 70 billion CHF, which means that about one third of money earned abroad by Switzerland comes from pharmaceutical products.

The pharmaceutical sector has contributed to the growth of the Swiss economy over the last two decades, with an annual average market growth of 9.1% .