The CHF 20,000 capital: not a fee
GmbH minimum capital is CHF 20,000, paid in full before the notary appointment. The money goes into a temporary blocked account at a Swiss bank, is verified by the bank, and is released to the company's operating account once the Handelsregister entry is confirmed (typically 2–4 weeks).
Crucially, this is your money — it just lives inside the company. From day one, the company can use it for any business purpose: rent, equipment, salaries, marketing, even paying yourself a salary. The only restriction is that net assets shouldn't fall below 50% of nominal capital without triggering board obligations. Treat the CHF 20,000 as working capital, not a fee.
The fee stack — line by line
Notary public authentication of the founding documents (öffentliche Beurkundung): CHF 800–2,000 depending on canton. The notary verifies identities, reads the articles, witnesses signatures. Some cantons (e.g. Zurich) maintain fee tariffs by capital amount; others use the lawyer-notary's hourly rate. Sworn translations of foreign-language IDs add CHF 100–300 if needed.
Bank Sperrkonto setup: CHF 200–500 (some banks waive if you commit to opening the company's operating account with them). Handelsregister entry: CHF 600 federal + CHF 200–500 cantonal = CHF 800–1,100. VAT registration (if turnover threshold met): free. AHV registration: free. Optional but common: incorporation lawyer or specialist (StartUps.ch, FasoonStart) charging CHF 500–1,500 to handle the whole process.
Don't forget the year-1 ongoing costs
Founding cost is the headline; year-1 operating cost is what often surprises founders. Mandatory: annual accounts and tax return (CHF 800–3,000 if outsourced to a fiduciary), audit only if mid-size thresholds exceeded (most micro-GmbHs opt out via 'opting out'). Optional but advisable: business liability insurance (CHF 300–1,500), professional indemnity for advisory work (CHF 800–3,000), legal protection (CHF 500–1,000).
Add ongoing federal stamp duty: zero on capital below CHF 1 million (since the 2022 reform). Cantonal capital tax (Kapitalsteuer): typically 0.001–0.5% of equity per year — Zug ~0.04%, Geneva ~0.25%, Zurich ~0.17%. For a CHF 20k company that's CHF 8–100/year. Communal taxes vary by municipality but are usually negligible at this scale.
Estimate your founding cost
Pick canton, capital level and optional services — the EuroCalc GmbH startup cost calculator gives you the total including notary, register, bank and first-year ongoing costs.
Open the calculator →Frequently asked questions
Can I found a GmbH alone or do I need partners?+
Yes, one person can found and fully own a GmbH (Einmann-GmbH). Same rules apply; you sign the founding documents alone in front of the notary.
What if I want to contribute IP or equipment instead of cash?+
Sacheinlagegründung (contribution-in-kind) is allowed and bypasses the cash deposit. It requires a formal audit-style valuation report, raising notary and audit costs by CHF 1,500–3,000. Worth it only for high-value contributions.
How long does the whole process take?+
From signed articles to active Handelsregister entry: typically 2–4 weeks. Bank Sperrkonto setup is the variable — opening it can take 1–4 weeks depending on the bank and KYC complexity for foreign founders.
Is AG cheaper or more expensive than GmbH?+
AG has higher minimum capital (CHF 100,000, of which CHF 50,000 must be paid in) and higher notary tariffs. Roughly CHF 1,000–2,000 more in fees than GmbH. Founders choose AG mainly for share-transfer flexibility and investor expectations, not cost savings.
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