Formation process
Company formation checklist: from idea to first day of work
Published on 16 August 2026 · 3 min read
From business idea to first day at work: founding a company means juggling legal form, insurance, taxes and paperwork. This checklist walks you chronologically through every step – from preparation to running operations.
Phase 1: preparation (weeks 1–2)
- Choose the legal form: sole proprietorship (fast, no capital), GmbH (CHF 20,000, limited liability), AG (for larger ventures). The decision aid: GmbH or sole proprietorship.
- Check the company name: clearance via Zefix, naming rules per form – the guide on choosing a company name shows how.
- Model the business case: revenue forecast, fixed costs, hourly rate.
- Decide provider vs. DIY: the provider comparison shows which platform suits you.
- Clarify foreigner status (if relevant): starting a company as a foreigner explains permits and residence.
Phase 2: formalise the formation (weeks 2–4)
- Sole proprietorship: register with the cantonal compensation fund with proof of self-employment; commercial register entry only mandatory from CHF 100,000 revenue.
- GmbH: draft the statutes, deposit the share capital in the capital deposit account, notarise the formation, apply for the commercial register entry.
- Request the UID number: issued automatically with the register entry – or via the Zefix portal.
- Open a business account: separate private/business from day one. The (German) comparisons on gründer-schweiz.ch help: business accounts for freelancers.
Phase 3: set up operations (weeks 4–6)
- Choose bookkeeping: Excel to start, software from the first real revenue. The (German) guide on buchhaltung-für-selbständige.ch shows how to start bookkeeping cleanly; software options are compared (in German) on rechnungslösungen.ch.
- Set up invoicing: QR invoices are the standard – with the free generator from gratisrechnung.ch you create the first PDFs within minutes.
- Clarify insurance: AHV is registered; review professional liability, daily allowance, equipment cover.
- Keep VAT on the radar: below CHF 100,000 no obligation – but watch the threshold. Details: VAT for new companies.
- Reserve domain, email, website.
Phase 4: the first 90 days
- Build a tax reserve: 20–30 % of profit into a separate account – founders’ most frequent underestimate.
- Plan for AHV contributions: the compensation fund’s first invoice often arrives late.
- Archive receipts with discipline: 10-year retention, digital allowed.
- Document clients and mandates: contracts, quotes, invoices with a sequential numbering scheme.
- 3-month review: is the bookkeeping keeping up? is the hourly rate right?
The three most common founder mistakes
- Thinking about taxes too late – build reserves from the first franc.
- Mixing private and business – without separation every tax audit becomes a nightmare.
- Wrong legal form out of pride – a GmbH is not inherently “more professional”; it costs money and admin. The detailed costs show when it pays off.
Tools for the start
| Need | Solution |
|---|---|
| Find a provider | comparison on firma-grunden.ch |
| First invoices | gratisrechnung.ch |
| Bookkeeping guides | buchhaltung-für-selbständige.ch |
| Software rankings | gründer-schweiz.ch |
| Templates & calculators | rechnungslösungen.ch |
| Self-employment guides | selbständige.ch |
With this checklist you move from idea to operations within four to six weeks – and can focus on what actually matters: your customers.
Frequently asked questions
How long does forming a company in Switzerland take?
A sole proprietorship is ready within days: AHV registration, possibly the commercial register and a business account – often done in a week. A GmbH typically takes 2 to 4 weeks because of the notary and registration, depending on canton and provider.
What should I do first?
Settle the legal form (sole proprietorship, GmbH, AG) and check the company name. Then follow the AHV registration or the notarised formation with commercial register entry. A bank account and a bookkeeping system prepared early round off the launch.
Do I need a fiduciary for the formation?
Not strictly – sole proprietorships and GmbHs can be formed yourself or via online platforms. A fiduciary pays off in complex situations (several shareholders, high risks, foreign ties) and for ongoing bookkeeping often from the first financial year.
When do I have to charge VAT?
From CHF 100,000 annual revenue you become VAT-registered (registration within 30 days of crossing). Below that, voluntary registration can pay off if input-tax deductions justify it. Details in the VAT article for new companies.
Which insurance is mandatory?
Mandatory: AHV/IV/EO (and, as an employee of your own GmbH, the other social insurance). Useful, sometimes required: professional liability, daily sickness allowance, equipment insurance. UVG accident cover is only mandatory for the self-employed who employ staff.
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