Setting Up A Branch In Switzerland

When establishing any kind of business in Switzerland, the first – sometimes only – suggestion made to entrepreneurs by their financial or fiduciary advisers is to set up a joint stock company. Would be entrepreneurs will be offered standard bye-laws and regulations, directors domiciled in Switzerland and external auditors as provided by Swiss law – but will they be happy with this ?

They may not wish to disburse the capital to set up the company; from a legal minimum of CHF 100’000 to 10’000’000 for a financial institution. Nor may they consider it worthwhile disbursing stamp duty of 1% on the nominal value of the shares of the new company or of the market value of the assets allocated to the company, whichever of the two values is higher.