Establish your Company
in Switzerland with Nexova quick and cost-efficient
- Free initial consultation
- Fully digital service
- Attractive prices
Procedure
These three steps will get you there.
Starting from
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Book a call with us for a free consultation.
Incorporation
After reviewing the information, we prepare the incorporation documents, and our notarial partner certifies them.
Registration
Once the signatures are legalized, we will forward your file to the Commercial Registry of your canton.
The legal forms in Switzerland at a glance
Explore our all-inclusive startup packages
Ideal for small business ventures with low investment needs. The cost-effective start for freelancers.
Suitable for SMEs that want to limit liability and start with manageable share capital.
Optimal for companies that want to raise capital and limit liability to the company’s assets.
Recommended for partners who want to run a business together and share responsibility and risk.
Perfect for companies that want to have a presence in Switzerland without incorporating their own entity
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with our experts.
Do you live abroad?
Setting up a company as a foreigner in Switzerland
Legally, every Swiss company limited by shares must have at least one board member who lives in Switzerland. Similarly, limited liability companies must have at least one managing director who is a Swiss resident.
If your company doesn’t have a managing director residing in Switzerland, Nexova can provide you with a local managing director as part of our complete nominee service.
Swiss law also requires that companies have a registered business address in Switzerland. This company address is used for official correspondence and must be a physical location where the company can be reached.
Nexova offers rental of company addresses/domicile addresses in Switzerland to fulfil this legal obligation.
Why should you choose Switzerland
for your business?
A gateway to global success
Global access
Take advantage of Switzerland's strategic location in the heart of Europe, offering easy access to international markets.
Business-friendly environment
Enjoy a stable regulatory framework and growth-promoting tax benefits.
Hub for innovation
Join a thriving community of entrepreneurs and innovators in sectors such as finance, technology, and healthcare.
Book a free initial consultation
with our experts.
How does Nexova help you establish your business?
Nexova ensures a smooth and legally compliant setup
Strategy
Receive tailored advice on choosing the right business structure, adapting your business to Swiss regulations, and understanding tax and liability obligations. Our experts customize their advice to your goals and business model.
Execution
Nexova handles all administrative aspects and frees you from tedious bureaucracy. From creating documents and providing VAT advice to registration in the commercial register, we ensure that every step is carried out correctly, saving you time and avoiding stress.
Ongoing support
Nexova is there for you even after registration. We assist with VAT registration, social security contributions, and all other ongoing administrative requirements, ensuring that your business remains compliant with the law and well-organized.
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with our experts.
What makes Nexova stand out?
Choosing the right partner for your business formation is key to success.
Broad experience
Nexova’s deep knowledge of Swiss regulations minimizes risk and maximizes efficiency for new businesses.
Personalized advice
We prioritize your goals, tailoring guidance to fit your unique business needs.
Flexibility
Our services adapt to your budget and schedule – perfect for freelancers, SMEs, and global businesses alike.
Fully digital
Nexova’s digital process lets you manage everything remotely, no office visits or paperwork needed.
Highly efficient
We ensure a fast, smooth process, helping you start your business without delay.
Complete trust
Nexova values long-term relationships, providing confidential, transparent, and integrity-driven service.
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with our experts.
Discover our expert articles
Up-to-date knowledge for your business
The Fiduciary Profession: Transformation in the Digital Era
The fiduciary – a profession that has been one of Switzerland’s most recognised qualifications for over 30 years! A quick glance at their core responsibilities explains why. Today’s fiduciary is far more than just a numbers expert. Instead, they combine competencies from a variety of fields such as financial accounting, tax consulting, and business advisory. For companies, they act as a trusted support in complex matters. Like many other industries, digital transformation has had a major impact on the fiduciary profession. Routine tasks can now be digitised with ease, allowing fiduciaries to focus on in-depth, future-oriented consulting. So what will the fiduciary’s career path look like in the future? And is this the right profession for you?
Optimizing Pension Fund Contributions with Voluntary Buy-Ins: A Guide for Swiss Employees
Voluntary buy-ins (also known as “purchases”) are one of the most effective tools to optimize your occupational pension contributions, reducing your tax burden today while strengthening your retirement benefits for the future. If you have a contribution gap in your 2nd pillar, it’s worth taking advantage of this opportunity for significant savings. This article explains how buy-ins work, when they’re allowed, and how to make the most of them — including timing strategies, tax planning tips, and combining them with Pillar 3a. Whether you’re mid-career or nearing retirement, understanding how and when to make a voluntary purchase can make a substantial difference to your long-term financial outcome.
Conversion of a sole proprietorship into a GmbH or AG
Many entrepreneurs begin their journey with a sole proprietorship. It's simple to set up, requires no minimum capital, and offers full control. But as the business grows, so do the legal, financial, and reputational demands. At some point, converting your company into another legal form – such as a GmbH or an AG – becomes a logical next step and offers numerous advantages. This article explains when and why converting your sole proprietorship makes sense, the legal mechanisms available for doing so, and how to complete the process correctly while avoiding unexpected tax consequences.
Value Added Tax Exempt and Zero-Rated Services: Important Information
As a rule, all entrepreneurs in Switzerland are subject to value added tax (VAT) if they meet the legal requirements. This means: Depending on the tax rate (8.1%, 3.8% or 2.6%), they add VAT to the invoice amount. However, this obligation does not apply to all deliveries or services! For you as an entrepreneur, it is essential to know what is included and what is not. In this article, we give you an insight into this topic. Among other things, we explain what VAT actually is, who is subject to it and what billing models exist.
Understanding Swiss Withholding Tax: What Is It, Who Pays It, and How do You Reclaim It?
Withholding tax (Verrechnungssteuer) is a distinctive feature of Switzerland’s fiscal system. It is a federal tax that is primarily designed to reduce tax evasion on capital income. Set at a standard flat rate of 35% (with some exceptions), it applies to dividends, interest, lottery winnings, and certain insurance benefits. It is withheld directly at the source and is usually refunded to the taxpayer if they correctly declare their investment income. In this article, we’ll break down how Swiss withholding tax works, which income it affects, how you can reclaim it, and what you should watch out for—whether you're a Swiss resident, an international investor, or a company operating in Switzerland.
Best Payroll Software for Swiss SMEs and Startups in 2025
Payroll is one of the most sensitive and complex areas of business administration in Switzerland. With numerous mandatory contributions (AHV, ALV, BVG, etc.), complex withholding tax rules, monthly declarations, and the need for year-end salary certificates, there's a lot to handle—especially for startups and SMEs with limited internal resources. Digital tools have emerged to simplify these tasks, reduce the risk of error, and help businesses stay compliant. But choosing the right software involves much more than simple feature comparisons. Implementation, configuration, and ongoing use all require the right expertise. In this article, we look at the evolution and advantages of digital payroll systems, the most important features these tools offer, common pitfalls and risks when using payroll software, a comparison of leading tools used by Swiss startups and SMEs, and why having the right fiduciary partner matters just as much as the software itself.
Best Occupational Pension Funds in Switzerland in 2025: A Practical Comparison for SMEs and Startups
Choosing the right occupational pension fund is an important strategic decision for companies. Swiss SMEs and startups that make smart choices in occupational pensions can reduce costs, enhance employee benefits, and boost long-term satisfaction. But with over 1,300 pension funds in Switzerland, how can you tell which ones stand out? This article compares six major collective pension foundations based on publicly available figures and rankings. Our goal is to provide a simplified but informative snapshot of the most relevant metrics for 2025, while keeping in mind that a deeper comparison is complex and depends heavily on individual company needs.
Managing Swiss Payroll in Global Companies: What You Need to Know
Switzerland continues to attract international businesses with its strategic location, political stability, and strong economy. Yet for multinational companies operating in or expanding to Switzerland, one complex issue that regularly proves difficult to handle is payroll accounting. Managing Swiss payroll requires precision, local expertise, and deep understanding of a multi-layered tax and social security system. This article explores why payroll is such a critical topic for international companies with Swiss employees, outlines the various challenges faced, and provides practical solutions to overcome them.
Payroll Accounting in Switzerland: What Do Employers Need to Know?
Payroll accounting is one of the most important and legally sensitive areas of running a business in Switzerland. It requires strict adherence to Swiss labor law, social security regulations, and tax obligations. For startups and SMEs in particular, where resources are limited and compliance mistakes can be costly, getting payroll right is both a legal necessity and a foundation for employee trust. In this comprehensive guide, we explain how Swiss payroll accounting works, what responsibilities employers carry, which deductions must be made, and how to issue a compliant payslip. We also offer proactive tips for avoiding common mistakes, improving your payroll efficiency, and deciding whether outsourcing is the right choice for your business.
Internationalizing Startups: Opportunities, Decision Support, Mistakes, and Tips
In this article, we explore the opportunities and challenges startups face. We offer decision-making guidance, highlight common mistakes, and share tips to help ensure a successful international expansion!
Trusted by over 250 companies
Discover the diversity of our customers
As an internationally active biotechnology company that stands for innovation and the highest quality, we work exclusively with partners who meet our high standards. Nexova consistently impresses us with exceptional service quality, robust processes, and an impressive pace. The professional, solution-oriented, and efficient collaboration allows us to fully focus on our core business. Additionally, we would like to highlight the remarkable cost savings of 35% compared to in-house accounting. We particularly appreciate how Nexova quickly understands, develops, and promptly implements complex requirements – both within Switzerland and at our international subsidiaries. We can wholeheartedly recommend the Nexova team.
Nexova AG offers highly professional accounting services that have significantly enhanced our financial management at Learning Lab. Their team is precise and reactive, always delivering accurate and timely reports while promptly addressing our queries. With Nexova AG’s support, we manage our clients’ accounts and finances more efficiently. We highly recommend Nexova AG for their exceptional accounting services.
For us as a new catering company, it is essential that our trustee understands our specific needs and responds flexibly to our requirements. In Nexova AG, we have found the ideal partner who supports us competently in all fiduciary matters and actively promotes our growth.
Uncomplicated or serious? Or is it and? A young, clever team is at work here, offering excellent services, highly uncomplicated and competent. Instead of a prestigious reception, expensive offices and chocolates, there are fast services and competent services. For me as a one-man company, this is exactly what I need.
Arvy AG has found an exceptional partner in Nexova AG. Their very high level of expertise in FINMA-regulated industries ensures that our financial transactions are in safe and competent hands. What sets Nexova apart is their flat-rate pricing structure, which has helped us greatly with budgeting and financial planning. As a company committed to long-term success and integrity in investments, we are very satisfied with the services provided by Nexova AG.
For us as an EdTech startup, it is very important that our trustee is as digital and agile as we are. With Nexova AG, we have found the perfect partner who can actively support us in our growth.
That’s what our customers say
Your feedback matters
5.0 stars
Mr. Merz has a very broad knowledge and was able to help me with all my questions. The conversation was very pleasant and very informative for me. Thank you for your support.
Uncomplicated or serious? Both here. A young, smart team is at work here, offering excellent services, highly uncomplicated and competent. Instead of a prestigious reception area, expensive offices and a few small gifts, you offer fast and competent services. For me as a one-man company, this is exactly what I need.
I have been a Nexova customer for some time now and so far I am very satisfied! Thanks to the digital working methods and high responsiveness of the client managers, little time is lost in the daily process in particular. The prices are also very fair. Nexova handles the annual financial statements for me, including the tax balance sheet. The processes are standardized, which is a great advantage for audits (AHV and taxes). The two founders are two young, innovative guys and very serious.
The friendly and competent Nexova employee was able to answer my questions about company car taxation quickly and specifically. Thank you very much for this!
When I founded my company a year ago, I needed a reliable fiduciary partner. In addition to pure accounting, Nexova also offers me very good advice on all aspects of labor law. Thanks to the E-Post solution, I no longer even have to worry about my company mail and can focus purely on my service activities. My contacts at Nexova are always very friendly and pleasant to deal with. The complete package is simply TOP and I can only recommend Nexova!
Top company & friendly owners. A highly recommended trustee.
Very good and competent advice!
Professionally at a very high level. They are very good with Excel and could also support us with automation of processes.
I had a few questions about remote work and was advised super and free of charge. Thank you very much!
Very good service. Good and competent advice with friendly staff. I can definitely recommend
The Nexova team is very professional and I felt they always had my best interests at heart. I highly recommend Nexova and will continue to refer my clients to them and trust them with my business.
I am impressed with their outstanding service, especially in the field of accounting services, they demonstrate a professional approach and exceptional attention. As a lawyer, I have found Nexova to be a valuable partner in the financial world.
I had an excellent consultation with Nexova AG regarding withholding tax. Their expertise is remarkably extensive and their guidance was invaluable, I highly recommend their services. A first class experience.
The Nexova Team is an important partner to our startup, enabling us to pass all of our accounting, tax and payroll duties. We specially value their expertise with Startups and flexibility, which allows us to plan and manage our financials effectively and to focus on the bottom line of our operations.
We are very satisfied with Nexova as our trustee. Thanks to the Teams group chat, I can always count on very fast response times (of a few minutes). The Teams Chat group is great. With our old trustee, we had to write mails and always had to wait a long time for an answer and on top of that we were charged for every little question. Fortunately, this is not the case with Nexova.
Nexova solved my problem with a non-paying tenant quickly and efficiently. I was simply overwhelmed with the situation and glad for the competent legal advice. Nexova handled everything from the reminder with threat of termination, to representation in court, to the police eviction quickly, efficiently and also inexpensively. Many thanks for the valuable help.
Trusted by Swiss local businesses
Facts and figures
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FAQ
Answers at a click
How do I decide which legal form is right for my company?
Choosing the right legal form for your company requires careful consideration of various factors, including capital requirements, personal risk and liability, the degree of desired independence, taxes, and social security. Nexova offers personalized consultations to help you choose the structure that best aligns with your goals and financial situation.
How long does it take to establish a business in Switzerland?
Nexova streamlines the entire process by handling all paperwork and applications, including notarization, through our fully digital system to maximize efficiency. We ensure your documents are prepared, notarized, and submitted to the commercial register within a few days.
After submission, the registration process typically takes about 1–2 weeks, depending on the processing time of the commercial register office in the canton where your business is registered. Please note that this part of the process is beyond our control.
Is it possible to establish a business in Switzerland without living there?
Yes, non-residents can establish a business in Switzerland, but additional requirements apply. For instance, a GmbH or AG must have at least one managing director or board member residing in Switzerland. If you do not plan to relocate, you will need to appoint a representative based in Switzerland. Nexova offers nominee director services to help you meet this requirement seamlessly.
Do I need a physical office to establish a business in Switzerland?
Not necessarily. Many businesses, especially online ones, can operate without their own office. However, your business must have a registered physical address in Switzerland for official correspondence. Nexova can provide a registered Swiss business address and additional services such as digital and physical mail forwarding to meet this requirement.
Are there any additional costs besides the incorporation fees?
Yes, additional costs may arise, such as notarization fees, commercial register fees, and optional services like director services or the provision of a domiciled address, if required. Nexova offers a transparent breakdown of costs upfront, including any additional expenses not covered in our basic startup packages.
Do I need to travel to Switzerland or meet Nexova in person to establish my business?
No, Nexova offers a hassle-free, fully digital incorporation process, allowing you to set up your business from anywhere in the world. With our seamless online service, you can start building your dream business right from your couch. We handle everything on your behalf, making the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Can Nexova help after my business is established?
Absolutely! Nexova provides ongoing support, including VAT registration, social security contributions, compliance with Swiss regulations, and more. Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive services in company incorporation, accounting, and fiscal representation for Swiss businesses.