Forming a GmbH in Switzerland: 2026 Costs in Detail

You want to form a GmbH (Swiss LLC) and are wondering what it really costs? The short answer: less than many people think – if you know where the costs arise and where you can save. In this guide we break down every single cost item, from formation to running costs.

The cost overview at a glance

Cost item	Amount	One-time / recurring
Share capital	CHF 20’000	One-time (remains company property)
Notary / notarization	approx. CHF 600–800	One-time
Commercial register fee	approx. CHF 450	One-time
Capital deposit account	approx. CHF 250	One-time
Provider service fee	CHF 0–999	One-time
Bookkeeping & annual accounts	approx. CHF 2’000–6’000	Annual
Taxes (profit & capital)	depends on canton	Annual

Let’s look at each item in detail.

The share capital: CHF 20’000 – but not lost money

The biggest amount first: for a GmbH you need share capital (Stammkapital) of at least CHF 20’000, which must be fully paid in at formation (Art. 773 of the Swiss Code of Obligations).

The most important point that many founders misunderstand: the share capital is not a fee. It does not go to the state or the notary – it remains the property of your company. As soon as the GmbH is entered in the commercial register (Handelsregister), the capital is transferred from the blocked account to the business account – and you can use it to pay salaries, rent, laptops or marketing.

So you only need the CHF 20’000 in liquid funds once. After that, the money works for your business.

The formation costs in detail

Notary and notarization: approx. CHF 600–800

The formation of a GmbH must be publicly notarized. The notary reviews the articles of association and notarizes the deed of incorporation. Depending on the canton and notary’s office, this costs around CHF 600 to CHF 800.

Important: with some formation providers, notarization is already included in the package price – which can change the price comparison significantly. A provider advertising “from CHF 490” but billing the notary separately ends up more expensive than a seemingly pricier all-inclusive package.

Commercial register fee: approx. CHF 450

The entry in the commercial register costs around CHF 450 for a GmbH. This fee is set by the authorities and applies in every case – whether you incorporate yourself or through a provider. Your GmbH only legally exists once it is entered in the commercial register.

Capital deposit account: approx. CHF 250

Before the GmbH is formed, you must pay the share capital into a special blocked account (capital deposit account, or Kapitaleinzahlungskonto) at a bank. The bank issues the capital deposit confirmation, which the notary needs for the notarization. Most banks charge around CHF 250 for this.

Here too: some formation providers have partnerships with banks under which this fee is waived.

Provider service fees compared

If you don’t want to handle everything yourself with the notary and the commercial register office, a formation provider takes care of the paperwork. Prices differ considerably:

Provider	Service fee	Note
Fasoon	CHF 0–490	CHF 0 with partner deals (e.g. bank, insurance)
IFJ	CHF 0–500	CHF 0 with partner offers
Startups.ch	from CHF 490	Notary costs are charged separately
Firmify	CHF 999	All-inclusive, no hidden extras

The model behind the CHF 0 offers: the provider receives commissions from partners (banks, insurers, fiduciaries) when you take up their offers. That can be worthwhile – if you need the partner products anyway. As a GmbH you need a business account and business insurance in any case.

Which provider fits your situation depends on your priorities (price, speed, personal advice). Our provider comparison calculator shows you the right recommendation in two minutes, and on the comparison page you’ll find all providers compared in detail.

A realistic total calculation

Let’s run through two scenarios:

Scenario 1: Incorporating yourself (without a provider)

• Notary: approx. CHF 700
• Commercial register: approx. CHF 450
• Capital deposit account: approx. CHF 250
• Total: approx. CHF 1’400 (plus your time spent on articles of association, forms and coordination)

Scenario 2: Formation via a provider with partner deals

• Service fee: CHF 0
• Notary: often included or reduced
• Commercial register: approx. CHF 450 (sometimes covered as well)
• Total: approx. CHF 0–450

In both cases you also need the CHF 20’000 share capital – which, as mentioned, belongs to your company.

Don’t forget the running costs

Formation is only the beginning. As a GmbH you have recurring costs to plan for:

Bookkeeping and annual financial statements

A GmbH is required to keep double-entry accounts. Depending on whether you do the books yourself (with software from around CHF 20–50 per month) or engage a fiduciary (trustee/accountant), costs range from about CHF 2’000 to CHF 6’000 per year.

Audit: use the opt-out

In principle, a GmbH needs an auditor. But: with fewer than 10 full-time positions on annual average, you can waive the limited audit with the consent of all shareholders (opt-out). For the vast majority of new companies this is the standard – and saves several thousand francs a year. It’s best to declare the opt-out right at formation.

Taxes

Your GmbH pays profit tax and capital tax – the rates vary considerably by canton. In addition: if you pay yourself a salary as shareholder-managing director, income tax and social security contributions apply on top. You’ll find more on this topic in our guide GmbH or sole proprietorship?, where we explain double taxation in detail.

How to save on formation

1. Use partner deals: if you need a business account and insurance anyway, get the formation with a CHF 0 service fee.
2. Compare total costs, not teaser prices: check whether notary and commercial register are included in the price.
3. Opt out of the audit: declare it right at formation.
4. Keep bookkeeping lean: modern software instead of an expensive full mandate, as long as your business is manageable.

Conclusion

In 2026, forming a GmbH realistically costs between CHF 0 and CHF 1’500 in actual fees – depending on how you incorporate. You do need to raise the CHF 20’000 share capital, but it stays in your company as working capital. What matters most for total costs is choosing the right formation route: use our provider comparison calculator to find out in a few minutes which provider is cheapest for your situation.