The Registration Process

Overview of the Incorporation Process

Incorporating a company in Switzerland follows a well-defined legal procedure involving a notary, the Commercial Register (Handelsregister), and several administrative steps. With proper preparation, the entire process can be completed in 2 to 4 weeks.

Step 1: Name Reservation

Before anything else, verify that your desired company name is available. Use the ZEFIX database (Swiss Central Business Name Index) to search for existing registrations. The name must be:

• Unique — not confusingly similar to existing entries
• Truthful — not misleading about activities or location
• In compliance with Swiss naming conventions (e.g. "Swiss" or "National" require special approval)

Step 2: Prepare Founding Documents

Your notary will help prepare the key documents:

• Articles of Association (Statuten) — the company's constitutional document
• Founding deed (Gründungsurkunde) — notarized act confirming incorporation
• List of shareholders — with name, address, and share allocation
• Signature of managers — certified specimen signatures

Step 3: Capital Deposit

The share capital must be deposited into a dedicated capital deposit account (Kapitaleinzahlungskonto) at a Swiss bank before the notary signs the founding deed. The bank issues a deposit confirmation letter to the notary.

Step 4: Notarization

The notary authenticates the founding documents. In Switzerland, notarization is a cantonal competency — you must use a notary registered in the same canton as the company's registered office.

Thanks to digital notarization reforms introduced in 2023, many cantons (including Zug) now allow remote video notarization with electronic signatures.

Step 5: Commercial Register Entry

The notary submits the documents to the cantonal Commercial Register. Upon approval and publication in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (SOGC), the company has legal existence.

• Registration fee: approx. CHF 600–900
• Processing time: 5–10 business days