The cost of setting up a Swiss company depends on the level of support required, the legal form chosen and whether the founders already have their own banking, notarial and incorporation arrangements in Switzerland.
For a standard digital company incorporation, IncoSwiss fees start from CHF 2’300, including notary and Commercial Register fees, preparation and coordination of the incorporation documentation and end-to-end support throughout the formation process.
Founders who only require the incorporation documents and prefer to coordinate the remaining process themselves can use IncoSwiss’s document preparation service from CHF 550.
The company’s required share capital is separate from these fees. In Switzerland the share capital needs to be deposited into a capital payment account in the name of the future company. A Swiss GmbH requires minimum share capital of CHF 20’000, while an AG requires minimum share capital of CHF 100’000, where a minimum of 20% or at least CHF 50’000 must be paid in. Share capital is not an incorporation cost: once the company has been registered and the capital released, the funds belong to the company and may generally be used for legitimate business purposes.
In Short
| Service | IncoSwiss fee | Best suited for |
| Incorporation document preparation only | From CHF 550 | Founders who coordinate the bank, notary and Commercial Register process themselves |
| Full digital incorporation | From CHF 2’300 | Founders who open the capital payment account themselves and want IncoSwiss to coordinate the incorporation |
| Full digital incorporation including capital account coordination | From CHF 2’750 | Founders who want IncoSwiss to coordinate the complete incorporation process, including the capital payment account |
The CHF 2’300 and CHF 2’750 packages include standard Notary and Commercial Register fees for the incorporation, and the packages include IncoSwiss accompanying founders throughout the process. The fees are due prior to incorporation.
What Costs Make Up a Swiss Company Incorporation?
For a standard cash incorporation of a Swiss GmbH or AG, the overall setup cost typically consists of several components:
- Professional and document preparation fees for preparing the incorporation documents and coordinating the process
- Notary fees for the required notarial incorporation
- Commercial Register fees for registering the new company
- Capital payment account fees charged by the bank or financial institution holding the share capital before registration
- Additional costs where required, such as certifications, apostilles, translations or specialised legal or tax advice
How these costs are presented varies between incorporation providers. Some quote only their professional fee and charge notary, Commercial Register and other third-party costs separately. IncoSwiss’s full incorporation packages include the standard notary and Commercial Register costs within one agreed incorporation fee.
IncoSwiss Expert Insight: Comparing Swiss Incorporation Providers
When comparing Swiss company formation providers, founders should look beyond the lowest advertised price and check exactly what the quoted amount includes. A low headline fee may cover only document preparation or professional services, while notary fees, Commercial Register fees, banking support and other steps are charged separately. In some cases, the total cost of a lower-priced package, once all additional items are added, exceeds the cost of a more inclusive offering from the outset. IncoSwiss confirms the full scope and price before the incorporation begins so that founders can compare like for like.
Furthermore, some lower-cost incorporation offers cover only the basic registration process and exclude important supporting services that foreign founders may require, such as a Swiss registered address, Swiss-resident representation or ongoing corporate administration. Arranging these services separately at a later stage can lead to additional costs, coordination between multiple providers and, in some cases, delays to the incorporation or subsequent operation of the company.
What Does IncoSwiss Charge to Set Up a Swiss Company?
Incorporation document preparation – from CHF 550
For founders who understand the Swiss incorporation process and prefer to coordinate the remaining steps independently, IncoSwiss can prepare the required incorporation documentation from CHF 550.
This option is designed primarily for founders who already have their own arrangements for the capital payment account, notary and Commercial Register process. It is a document preparation service rather than a full incorporation package. Notary, Commercial Register, banking and advisory costs are not included.
NB: this fee applies where all required information for document preparation is supplied in full upon completion of our questionnaire
Full digital incorporation – from CHF 2’300
For most founders, particularly international entrepreneurs, a full digital incorporation provides a more straightforward way to establish the company. The CHF 2’300 package applies where the founder opens the required capital payment account directly with the bank or financial institution. Where IncoSwiss also assists with coordinating the capital payment account opening, the incorporation fee starts from CHF 2’750.
The full incorporation packages include:
- Preparation of the incorporation documentation
- Coordination of the digital incorporation process
- Notarial incorporation
- Standard Commercial Register fees
- Preparation and submission of the Commercial Register application
- End-to-end support throughout the incorporation process
There are no separate additional notary or Commercial Register charges added to the agreed package. IncoSwiss confirms the applicable scope and price before the incorporation begins, allowing founders to understand in advance what is included and whether any additional services will be required.
IncoSwiss Expert Insight: Do Banks Charge for the Capital Payment Account?
Yes. One cost that is frequently overlooked when budgeting for a Swiss company formation is the fee charged by the bank or financial institution for opening and maintaining the capital payment account. These charges are separate from IncoSwiss’s incorporation fee and vary significantly between providers.
Bank fees range from relatively low fixed fees of around CHF 145 to CHF 1’000, depending on the provider and the subsequent banking relationship. Some institutions calculate the charge as a percentage of the deposited capital, usually subject to minimum and maximum fees. (Banking fees and conditions quoted in this article are indicative as of August 2026 and may change.)
The fee is commonly deducted directly from the capital payment account when the funds are released following incorporation. Some banks waive or reduce the capital payment account fee where the newly incorporated company also opens and maintains its operational business account with the same institution. For example, UBS currently waives its standard capital deposit commission under its qualifying business-account offering, while other banks publish reduced conditions where the subsequent business relationship remains with them.
For more information, see our guide.
Share Capital Is Not an Incorporation Cost
One of the most common misunderstandings among foreign founders is that a Swiss GmbH costs CHF 20’000 or that an AG costs CHF 100’000 to establish. These amounts represent the company’s share capital, not a professional or governmental incorporation fee.
For a standard cash incorporation, the required capital is deposited into a capital payment account before incorporation. The bank issues the confirmation required for the incorporation process and the funds remain blocked until the company has been registered. Once the company is registered and the capital is released, the funds belong to the company and may generally be used for legitimate business purposes.
Are Notary and Commercial Register Fees Included?
Yes, when using one of IncoSwiss’s full digital incorporation packages. The CHF 2’300 and CHF 2’750 packages include the standard notary and Commercial Register fees.
This is an important distinction when comparing Swiss company formation providers. Some advertised incorporation prices represent only the provider’s professional fee, with notarial, Commercial Register or other administrative costs added separately. IncoSwiss uses an inclusive pricing model for its full incorporation packages so that founders can plan the principal cost of establishing the company in advance.
The CHF 550 document preparation service does not include these third-party costs, as the founder coordinates the remaining incorporation process independently.
Does a GmbH Cost Less to Set Up Than an AG?
For a standard incorporation with IncoSwiss, the incorporation fees are generally the same for a GmbH and an AG. The more significant financial difference is the share capital requirement rather than the incorporation fee itself.
The decision between an AG and a GmbH should be based primarily on factors such as ownership structure, external investment and whether shareholders may change over time, shareholder privacy and future growth plans rather than the company share capital alone.
For a detailed comparison, see our guide to Swiss AG vs GmbH.
What About the Ongoing Cost of Running a Swiss Company?
The costs discussed in this article relate primarily to establishing the company. Once incorporated, a Swiss company may have recurring expenses for accounting, annual tax compliance, domiciliation, Swiss-resident representation, banking, payroll, insurances, VAT administration and other services depending on its activities. These ongoing costs are separate from the one-time company formation costs and vary considerably according to the size and complexity of the business.
For a detailed breakdown, see our guide: How Much Does It Cost to Run a Swiss Company?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set up a Swiss company for CHF 550?
IncoSwiss can prepare the incorporation documentation from CHF 550 where the founder coordinates the remaining process independently. This is a document preparation service and does not include the capital payment account, notary fees, Commercial Register fees or full incorporation coordination. A standard full digital incorporation with IncoSwiss starts from CHF 2’300.
Is the CHF 20'000 GmbH capital an incorporation fee?
No. CHF 20’000 is the minimum share capital of a Swiss GmbH. It is deposited for the incorporation and belongs to the company once the company has been registered and the capital released.
Does an AG require CHF 100'000 to be paid in at incorporation?
No. An AG must have minimum share capital of CHF 100’000, but the entire amount does not necessarily need to be paid in at incorporation. At least 20% of the nominal value of each share must be paid in, with an overall minimum paid-in amount of CHF 50’000.
Is the capital payment account free?
Not necessarily. Banks and financial institutions set their own fees for capital payment accounts. The fee may be a fixed amount or a percentage of the deposited capital and may sometimes be reduced or waived if the operational business account is subsequently maintained with the same institution.
How much does a full Swiss company incorporation cost?
A standard full digital incorporation at IncoSwiss starts from CHF 2’300 where the founder opens the capital payment account directly. Where IncoSwiss also coordinates the capital payment account opening, the incorporation fee starts from CHF 2’750. Both packages include standard notary and Commercial Register fees.
Planning to Set Up a Swiss Company?
IncoSwiss, a Swiss corporate services provider, has supported international entrepreneurs, startups and cross-border corporate groups with company formation and administration in Switzerland for almost two decades. IncoSwiss offers different levels of incorporation support depending on how much of the process you would like to manage yourself. From document preparation to a fully coordinated digital incorporation, the applicable scope and pricing are agreed in advance so that founders can understand their Swiss company setup costs before the process begins.
Contact our team for an initial assessment and a clear calculation of the costs applicable to your Swiss company formation.
