Establishing a corporation (SA) is done in several steps, all of which are critical. Below is a checklist so you don’t forget anything.
- Budget for start-up costs
- Decide the company name, clarify with the trade register
- Register with the trade register
- Capital stock and allocation: specify payment date
- Set up the administrative bodies: board of directors, auditors, authorized signatories
- Choose the bank for the share escrow account; open said account
- Draft the incorporation documents, articles of association, etc.
- Submit the incorporation documents to the notary and the trade register to be checked and for possible correction
- Request an auditor’s approval
- Organize the inauguration of the company
- Pay up in full capital stock to the bank (upon presentation of the extract from the trade register)
- Issue share certificates; start keeping the share register
- If you have employees (as a founder, you also count as an employee), register with the Old-Age and Survivors' Insurance (OASI) compensation fund and take out mandatory Occupational Pension insurance (OP) and Accident insurance (UV) policies
- Inform the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) that your corporation will be collecting VAT.
