Switzerland: AG, GmbH and Canton Choice
A premium European jurisdiction with effective corporate tax from ~12% (Zug, Nidwalden) to ~21% (Bern), strong banking and credible governance. We pick the canton, register an AG or GmbH and align banking and residency.
Setup time
4-8 weeks
Corporate tax
Effective ~12-21% depending on canton
Foreign ownership
100% permitted (resident director required)
Main legal form
AG / GmbH
Futura Digital works with local partners and industry associations in Switzerland.
Alexandra Kurdiumova
Co-founder, Futura Digital
Switzerland's real edge is canton-level tax variation — effective rates from ~12% in Zug to ~21% in Bern — combined with strong banking, predictable law and credible governance.
Market
Why Founders Choose Switzerland for Business Registration
Effective CIT from ~12%
Combined federal and cantonal effective rates range from approximately 12% (Zug, Nidwalden) to ~21% (Bern), allowing meaningful tax optimisation by canton.
0
Tier-one banking and finance
Switzerland has one of the world's deepest tier-one banking, wealth-management and capital-markets ecosystems.
0
Strong credibility for investors
A Swiss AG or GmbH carries strong credibility with international investors, banks and B2B counterparties.
0
Stable legal and political environment
Predictable law, neutral foreign policy and high-quality public institutions remain a structural advantage.
0
Who It's For
Who Should Consider Registering a Company in Switzerland
Holding and family offices
Holdings, family offices and ultra-high-net-worth structures benefitting from the participation regime and banking.
Pharma, medtech and deep-tech
Pharma, medtech and deep-tech companies using Swiss R&D, IP regimes and reputation.
Commodity and trading houses
Commodity trading and shipping companies established in Geneva, Zug and Lugano.
Fintech and crypto
Fintech and crypto businesses leveraging FINMA frameworks and the Crypto Valley ecosystem in Zug.
How we help you open a company in Switzerland
One partner for all questions
Switzerland looks expensive at first, but the right canton, AG/GmbH choice, banking and substance often make it tax-competitive with low-tax EU peers.
Futura Digital manages the entire journey — from initial structuring to a fully operational company with bank accounts and a resident team.
- Incorporation: AG or GmbH registration with the cantonal Commercial Register; notary and capital deposit.
- Tax setup: federal and cantonal CIT, VAT registration; participation, IP-box and STAF planning.
- Residency: Swiss work and residence permits for non-EU founders; cross-border arrangements where appropriate.
- Banking: corporate account with a Swiss bank; substance, beneficial-owner and KYC documentation.
- Ongoing: annual accounts, audit (where required), VAT, payroll (AHV) and cantonal tax filings.
Setup process
Partners
We work with selected local partners in Switzerland to support contractors, payroll and compliance for distributed teams.
- Local partner support for contractor management, banking compliance and personal tax accounting.
- Practical solutions for paying a distributed team and contractors across jurisdictions.
FAQ
Discuss
the Task
Speak to our team
Speak to our team. Tell us about your task –
we’ll help you with it in any jurisdiction.