Setting up a company involves numerous decisions and administrative steps. A checklist for founders helps you keep track of the process, address important points in good time and avoid unnecessary delays. At the same time, fiduciaries, law firms, notaries and corporate consultancies can use it to guide clients through the incorporation process in a structured and efficient way.
Key decisions before you start
Before preparing and submitting documents to the Commercial Register, founders should clarify several fundamental questions:
☐ Choose the appropriate legal form
☐ Select and check the company name
☐ Determine the registered office and business address
☐ Define the company purpose
☐ Establish the founders and ownership structure
☐ Appoint management or the board of directors
☐ Define signing authorities
☐ Secure the required capital
Missing or incomplete information at this stage can lead to delays later on. Therefore, advisors should collect the relevant information from clients as early and systematically as possible.
Which documents and formalities should I consider when setting up a company?
Once the key details have been defined, the formal incorporation process begins. The required documents and steps depend on the chosen legal form. For a GmbH or AG, for example, the process includes preparing the incorporation documents, articles of association and public deed, as well as paying in the required capital.
In addition, the parties involved need to complete the identification and signature requirements correctly. A digital workflow can bring these steps together efficiently. Hoop supports the parties throughout the process with digital identification, signing with a qualified electronic signature (QES), document preparation and capital payment.
For fiduciaries and legal professionals, this means less manual coordination between different parties and a clearly structured process for clients.
What should I check before registration with the Commercial Register?
Before submission, all information and documents should be checked for completeness and consistency. Are the company name, registered office and purpose consistent throughout? Have authorised signatories been recorded correctly? Are all required signatures and supporting documents available?
This final check can reduce queries and help avoid unnecessary correction rounds.
Hoop also enables you to manage this part of the process digitally. The platform submits the signed incorporation documents digitally to the relevant cantonal Commercial Register. This creates a seamless process from data collection through to submission.
What should I consider after setting up the company?
Registration with the Commercial Register does not necessarily mark the end of the process. Depending on the company, additional tasks may follow, including setting up operational processes and keeping company information up to date.
Future changes should also be considered:
☐ Changes to the registered office or business address
☐ Changes to the company purpose
☐ Changes to management or the board of directors
☐ Changes to signing authorities
☐ Check whether other changes need to be registered
For professional advisors, incorporation can therefore be the beginning of a long-term client relationship. A structured digital process makes it easier to support clients efficiently with future corporate changes.
Use the right checklist and keep important steps in view
A good checklist provides clarity and helps keep important steps in view. In addition, a structured digital process brings information, documents and the parties involved together efficiently.
Hoop helps fiduciaries, law firms, notaries and corporate consultancies manage company incorporations and Commercial Register changes digitally, systematically and efficiently. This reduces the time spent on administrative coordination and leaves more time for advising clients.
Use this checklist for your next client incorporation and discover how Hoop can simplify your incorporation process digitally.
This blog article does not constitute legal advice. It is provided “as is” and makes no claim to completeness or accuracy. Hoop provides no warranty and accepts no liability in relation to its content; to the extent permitted by law, any such warranty and liability are excluded. Use is at your own risk and legal advice should be sought where necessary.