01 · Sole proprietorship
Register a Swiss Einzelunternehmen for CHF 190.
No minimum capital, fastest path into the Handelsregister, AHV self-employed status filed for you. Right for freelancers, consultants and one-person operations. Trade-off: personal liability.
02 · Three things to know
Simplest legal form, with one liability trap.
No minimum capital
Unlike GmbH (CHF 20k) or AG (CHF 100k), an Einzelunternehmen requires zero starting capital. You commit your own assets and personal credit.
Fastest registration
5–10 working days at the cantonal Handelsregister, often less. No notary required if your annual turnover is below CHF 100,000.
Personal liability
Trade-off for the simplicity: you are personally liable for all business debts with your private assets. Choose GmbH if liability separation matters.
03 · Pricing
Cheapest legal form to register in Switzerland.
| Service | Our fee | Market range |
|---|---|---|
| Einzelunternehmen registration (HR-Eintragung) | CHF 190 | CHF 150–400 |
| Registered office (Zurich or Zug) | CHF 1,200 / year | CHF 1,400–2,800 |
| Ongoing accounting (active, small) | CHF 1,900 / year | CHF 2,000–5,000 |
| MWST registration (when threshold crossed) | CHF 290 | CHF 300–800 |
Fees excl. MWST. Cantonal Handelsregister office fee (approximately CHF 100) is passed through at cost.
04 · What the fee covers
HR filing plus AHV self-employed registration.
- Name check at the cantonal Handelsregister (must contain the founder's family name)
- Statutory checklist for your activity (regulated trades flagged)
- Filing of the Handelsregister entry
- AHV registration as self-employed (Selbständigerwerbender)
- Optional: VAT registration where annual turnover exceeds CHF 100,000
- Tax-office introduction for cantonal income-tax filing
05 · Process
Operational within two weeks.
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01
Name + activity check
The trade name must include your family name. Activity must be lawful and (where regulated) authorised. 1 working day.
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02
Handelsregister filing
CHF 190 flat covers the filing. Note: HR registration is mandatory only if turnover exceeds CHF 100,000 per year — below that it is voluntary but recommended for credibility.
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03
AHV self-employed status
AHV (old-age insurance) requires recognition as self-employed. We file the request and follow up; AHV typically confirms within 4–8 weeks.
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04
Operations
You are operational from the day the AHV recognition is issued or the HR entry is published, whichever applies.
06 · FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Do I need to register an Einzelunternehmen in the Handelsregister?
Mandatory only if your annual turnover exceeds CHF 100,000. Below that the registration is voluntary but recommended — it gives the trade name legal protection and signals legitimacy to clients and banks.
Can a foreign national register an Einzelunternehmen?
Yes, with caveats. EU/EFTA nationals can register without restriction once they hold a valid residence permit. Third-country nationals need a B-permit with self-employment authorisation under FNA art. 19, which requires showing economic interest to Switzerland. Discuss your nationality at the scoping call — we route you to /services/migration/ if a permit is needed first.
How am I taxed?
Business income is taxed as your personal income (federal direct tax + cantonal + municipal). Effective rate depends on your canton of residence and total income. There is no separate corporate tax. Self-employed AHV contributions: 10% of business profit, capped.
Can I have employees?
Yes. As an Einzelunternehmen you can hire employees under standard Swiss labour law. You become a registered employer for AHV/SUVA/BVG purposes — see /services/payroll/.
When should I switch from Einzelunternehmen to GmbH?
Common triggers: turnover crossing CHF 200k–500k (when the personal-liability exposure outgrows the simplicity benefit), signing meaningful contracts where counterparties prefer a limited-liability counterparty, raising external capital, or hiring multiple employees. Conversion is straightforward — we transfer the assets to a new GmbH with continuity for AHV and tax purposes.
What is the trade-off vs a Verein (association) or partnership?
A Verein is for non-profit purposes. A Kollektivgesellschaft (general partnership) requires two or more partners with joint personal liability. An Einzelunternehmen is the right form for a single-person business that is for-profit and where the founder accepts personal liability.
07 · Get started
Send the trade name and the activity.
The trade name must include your family name. Tell us the planned activity and your residence canton. We file the HR entry and the AHV self-employment request within 5 working days.