Business Formation & Corporate Governance in Switzerland

Setting up a business in Switzerland continues to appeal to entrepreneurs looking for legal security, strategic location, and long-term tax predictability. But recent updates in corporate governance Switzerland frameworks are making legal preparation more important than ever.

Legal experts say that while the process of registering a company remains straightforward in principle, startups and foreign-owned businesses are increasingly advised to plan with compliance in mind – not just paperwork.

Company Formation Services See Steady Demand

Roughly 12,000 new businesses were registered in Switzerland in the first quarter of this year, a 4% rise year-over-year, according to federal figures. Most were structured as GmbH (limited liability companies), followed by AG (public limited companies).

Business-formation way generally includes:

• legal form selection;
• preparing Articles of Association;
• notarial certification;
• opening a Swiss business bank account;
• filing with the Commercial Register;
• obtaining VAT and social insurance numbers.

While these steps are not new, lawyers note that clients now increasingly seek help with governance matters at the formation stage.

Corporate Governance Consulting On the Rise

Legal teams in Zurich, Geneva, and Lausanne report a growing number of startups asking not just how to register – but how to stay compliant after they do.

Key services in demand:

• drafting governance-compliant bylaws;
• setting up supervisory boards or advisory roles;
• legal representation during notarization;
• structuring ownership for tax and regulatory clarity;
• filing beneficial ownership records in line with new rules.

More companies now want a clean file from day one. They’re not just asking about registration, but how Switzerland corporate governance works over time.

Switzerland’s Legal Framework: Stable, but Tightening

Switzerland has long attracted business due to its neutrality, privacy protections, and efficient administration. But new federal governance rules introduced in 2023 – and gradually enforced across cantons – are reshaping how businesses operate internally.

These changes focus on transparency, documentation, and cross-border reporting obligations. Experts say that for most companies, especially in consulting, finance, and tech, the rules are manageable – but not optional. You don’t need to be a multinational to be affected. Even smaller businesses need to show they’re structured properly.

Why It Still Makes Sense

Despite tighter controls, lawyers and formation agents say the fundamentals of doing business in Switzerland remain strong. Tax stability, international access, and legal clarity continue to outweigh the extra paperwork. Compliance costs a bit more now. But the business environment here still ranks among the best in the world – and most entrepreneurs know that.

Setting up a company in Switzerland offers long-term value. But with Switzerland corporate governance standards evolving, it’s more important than ever to combine formation with legal insight from the start.

Whether forming a GmbH or preparing to scale, founders are advised to treat governance as part of the foundation – not an afterthought.