Set up a company in Switzerland - Stability from neutrality

The best environment for setting up a business in Switzerland.

The Swiss Confederation or Switzerland, is a landlocked country located in central Europe. Switzerland is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east.

It is not part of the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Eurozone. However, it participates in the Schengen Area and the European Single Market through bilateral treaties. This country has a very strong stand when it comes to trading with other European countries. Trading companies in Switzerland will have many advantages from the geographical position as well as neutrality in policies and strong relationships with neighboring countries.

As a developed country, it has the highest nominal wealth per adult and the eighth-highest per capita gross domestic product. Zürich, Geneva, and Basel rank among the highest in the world in terms of quality of life, albeit with some of the highest costs of living in the world. These cities are home to several offices of international organisations such as the headquarters of FIFA, the UN's second-largest Office, and the main building of the Bank for International Settlements. This market is ideal for high quality products and services due to the strong buying power of the consumers. Company formation in Switzerland is the goal for many entrepreneurs who want to build up a strong brand for themselves.

In 2020, IMD placed Switzerland first in attracting skilled workers and the World Economic Forum ranked it the 5th most competitive country globally.

Basel is an old city but also a giant business center of the world

The Swiss Confederation consists of 26 cantons. The cantons are federated states, have a permanent constitutional status and, in comparison with the situation in other countries, a high degree of independence. Under the Federal Constitution, all 26 cantons are equal in status. Each canton has its own constitution, and its own parliament, government, police and courts. Similar to the US, Switzerland’s canton system will provide a variety of choices for business due to very distinct economic policies of each canton.

What benefit will businesses gain being in Switzerland?

Switzerland has a stable, prosperous and high-tech economy and enjoys great wealth, being ranked as the wealthiest country in the world per capita in multiple rankings. The country has been ranked as one of the least corrupt countries in the world. It is the seventeenth largest exporter with exports accounting for one third of the total value.

Zürich and Geneva are regarded as global cities while Basel is the capital of the pharmaceutical industry in Switzerland. With its world-class companies, Novartis and Roche, and many other players, it is also one of the world's most important centres for the life sciences industry.

Zürich is a busy business hub of the world

It is a relatively easy place to do business, currently ranking 20th of 189 countries in the Ease of Doing Business Index. Switzerland is home to several large multinational corporations. The largest multinational corporations by revenue are Nestlé, Novartis, Hoffmann-La Roche, ABB and Adecco. Also, domestic companies such as UBS AG, Richemont, Credit Suisse, and Rolex are notable for their well known brand and quality product or service.

Manufacturing consists largely of the production of chemicals, health and pharmaceutical goods, scientific and precision measuring instruments and musical instruments. Companies operating in these fields will enjoy many benefits in Switzerland.

Switzerland has free trade agreements worldwide and is also a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Apart from agriculture, economic and trade barriers between the European Union and Switzerland are minimal. The main exported products are chemicals (34%), machines/electronics (20.9%), and precision instruments/watches (16.9%). The service sector – especially banking and insurance, tourism, and international organisations – is another important industry for Switzerland.