Company formation

Incoporation requirements for sole proprietorships in Switerland and how to choose sole proprietorship business names according to the Swiss legislation.

Switzerland’s telecom sector is very sophisticated, enjoying one of the largest penetration rates in the OECD. The competitive Swiss mobile market is served by three network operators and a small number of mobile virtual network operators. 

The corporate tax rate is collected in Switzerland from companies, based on their net income obtained from business activities during a fiscal year. 

If you decide to establish a business relationship with a Swiss company, you need to find out more about the respective company in order to determine whether to act with caution or whether it is a trusted business partner.

According to a ranking made by Great Place to Work, a firm specialized in conducting employee surveys and cultural analysis in companies all around the world, 29 companies were chosen in 2017 as the best companies to work for in Switzerland. 

If you are not a Swiss citizen, you need a Swiss residency permit to live in Switzerland for a period longer than 3 months. A tourist visa will only allow you a 3-month stay. There are various types of permits and different ways to get them—it all depends on what you want to do in Switzerland.

Switzerland is often considered one of the most suitable locations for incorporating an offshore company along with many other jurisdictions. However, it is a reputable and prestigious jurisdiction with a relatively low tax rate and especially a well-known reputation for the quality and security of its services and is located in the center of Europe.

Each state has the sovereign right to levy taxes, which means that it has to deal with certain tax issues that concern not only its own citizens, but also citizens that are non-residents who occasionally or temporarily earn income in the respective state.

Though not a common process, changing the legal entity structure of a business in Switzerland is possible. Entrepreneurs who have opened a company in Switzerland are allowed to change the legal structure of the company they formed in Switzerland if needed.

In Switzerland, the business culture it is above all other personal relations. The Swiss business values refer to punctuality, sobriety, responsibility honesty and hard work. This is why is important to know the business culture before starting a new business relationship with a Swiss client or partner.  Here are the top 10 things to know about Swiss business culture.