Forming a Swiss company

**BlasterBates** · 25 February 2011, 10:58

Originally posted by Ignis Fatuus View Post

Has anyone else formed a Swiss GmbH? It seems to me that this would be an advantage for working in Switzerland, and possibly contracting in Germany too.

No good for Germany you need to be registered there, best to be a Freiberufler.

In Switzerland it gives you a slight advantage, but not that great. Most contractors just work as employees. The unemployment and pension contributions are low so there's not much saving really.

**Brussels Slumdog** · 25 February 2011, 13:25

Originally posted by BlasterBates View Post

No good for Germany you need to be registered there, best to be a Freiberufler.

In Switzerland it gives you a slight advantage, but not that great. Most contractors just work as employees. The unemployment and pension contributions are low so there's not much saving really.

I think that the rules are stricter than UK. I believe you need at least 3 clients to be self employed. May also depend on Canton.

**NotAllThere** · 25 February 2011, 14:20

I have a Swiss GmbH. You need 20'000CHF seed money, and it costs 3000CHF in legal and process fees. You must have two directors. In some (most) cantons, if employees are going to work at other client sites, you must have an employment license.

The only way to take money out of the company and put it in your pocket is salary and expenses. Dividends are a non-starter as you don't get tax relief on dividend income. Having said that, what you can put through expenses is rather more reasonable than in the UK.

There are various mandatory insurances.

Forming a Swiss company