Geneva is one of the world's best places to start or relocate a business. Strong legal system, political stability, skilled workforce and strategic location. Here is how to do it as a foreigner.
Switzerland, and Geneva specifically, consistently ranks among the world's top locations for business. The combination of political neutrality, strong rule of law, low corruption, excellent infrastructure, multilingual workforce and access to European markets makes Geneva attractive for businesses of all sizes.
The two most common structures for foreign entrepreneurs are the GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung / SARL in French) - the Swiss equivalent of an LLC, with minimum capital of CHF 20,000 - and the AG (Aktiengesellschaft / SA) - a joint stock company with minimum capital of CHF 100,000. Most small-to-medium foreign businesses choose the GmbH for lower initial capital requirements and simpler administration.
EU/EFTA citizens can work and set up businesses in Switzerland without a work permit (they need only register their residence). Non-EU citizens generally need a work permit category C (permanent) or B (temporary) before they can be employed by their own company. The rules are complex and depend on your nationality and circumstances - consult a Swiss immigration lawyer.
A Swiss GmbH or AG must have a registered office address in Switzerland. This can be a physical office, a serviced office, or a virtual office domiciliation service. The address must be a real Swiss address where official correspondence can be received. We can help you find the right solution for your company registration needs.
Budget for: notary fees for company registration (CHF 1,500-3,000), minimum share capital (CHF 20,000 for GmbH), registered office/domiciliation (CHF 150-350/month), commercial register fees (CHF 600-900), and ideally a Swiss fiduciary or accountant for ongoing administration (CHF 2,000-5,000/year). Contact us for recommendations on trusted local service providers.
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