Category: Company changes
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Checklist for founders: What not to forget when setting up a company in Switzerland
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…
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Company formation without a fiduciary? What to consider when setting up a company in Switzerland
A company formation without a fiduciary is generally possible in Switzerland. However, the key question is often not just “Can I set up a company myself?”, but also how to avoid errors, unnecessary follow-up questions and administrative work. For fiduciaries, law firms, notaries and business consultancies, this creates an opportunity to support their clients while making the…
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Preparing for the Swiss Transparency Register: data, processes and responsibilities
Why SMEs should start preparing now Switzerland’s new Transparency Register (Transparenzregister – TJPG) will make beneficial ownership reporting a practical compliance topic for many Swiss companies. The new rules are expected to enter into force on 1 October 2026 and will require affected legal entities to identify, verify and keep information on their beneficial owners…
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Indirect Participations and Holding Structures: How to Identify the Beneficial Owners Behind a Company
Why beneficial ownership matters Indirect participations and holding structures are common in modern business. Investors may hold shares through a holding company. Founders may create a group structure for growth. International entrepreneurs may use foreign parent companies. Fiduciaries, lawyers, and corporate legal teams may manage ownership chains across several entities. These structures can be perfectly…
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Documenting shareholder changes correctly: how to update the share register after a share transfer
For a Swiss company limited by shares (Ltd), the share register is more than just an internal list. It is the company’s official record of who it recognises as shareholders and who may exercise shareholder rights. When shares are transferred, when an investor enters, or when the ownership structure changes, the share register should be…
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Can I complete government processes online in Switzerland?
Yes, many government processes in Switzerland can now be handled online. For founders, investors, fiduciaries, lawyers, and corporate legal teams, this is an important shift. Tasks that once meant printed forms, appointments, and repeated follow-ups with authorities are increasingly moving into secure digital workflows. Switzerland is not replacing public administration with a single platform overnight.…
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25% threshold and beneficial ownership in Switzerland
In Swiss company practice, direct shareholdings often raise one practical question: when does a shareholder or company member count as a beneficial owner? The answer matters for investors, international founders, fiduciaries, lawyers, and corporate legal teams because ownership data is no longer just an internal formality. It is becoming a key part of clean corporate…
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Administrative procedures for companies in Switzerland: what SMEs need to know
Administrative procedures for companies (Behördengänge für Unternehmen) are part of every company’s life cycle. They start before incorporation and continue whenever a company changes its structure, address, management, capital, purpose, or ownership setup. For founders, investors, fiduciaries, and legal teams, the challenge is rarely a single form. It is understanding which authority is involved, which…
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Share register: required information, supporting documents, and common mistakes
For every Swiss company limited by shares, the share register (Aktienbuch) is more than an internal spreadsheet. It is the record that shows who the company recognises as shareholders and who may exercise shareholder rights. For founders, investors, fiduciaries and legal teams, a clean share register is essential for governance, financing rounds, due diligence and…
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Which Commercial Register Extracts Are Available in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, a commercial register extract (HR extract or Handelsregisterauszug) and register information (Registerauskünfte) are essential tools for understanding, verifying and documenting a company’s legal status. They are used every day by investors, international entrepreneurs, fiduciaries, lawyers, founders, and corporate legal teams. Whether you are checking a potential investment, preparing a transaction, opening a bank…