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Setting up a sole proprietorship in Switzerland<\/strong>\u00a0is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to start a business in Switzerland. This legal form is ideal for independent consultants, freelancers, and small business owners <\/strong>looking to operate under their own name or a commercial brand without incorporating a full company.<\/p>\n In this guide, we walk you through the steps, legal obligations, advantages, and pitfalls<\/strong> of setup a Sole Proprietorship in Switzerland, with practical advice from our experts at My Swiss Company SA<\/strong>, a leading fiduciary in Geneva.<\/p>\n A Sole Proprietorship <\/b>\u00a0is an unincorporated business structure owned and managed by a single individual. It is not a separate legal entity, meaning the owner is personally liable<\/strong> for all obligations and debts of the business.<\/p>\n This structure is widely used in Switzerland by independent professionals<\/strong>, such as IT consultants, architects, therapists, online retailers, and artisans.<\/p>\n Ownership<\/strong>: Single individual<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Legal status<\/strong>: No separate legal entity<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Liability<\/strong>: Unlimited personal liability<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Business name<\/strong>: Can be your full name (e.g., John Smith) or a brand (e.g., Smith Consulting)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Applicable law<\/strong>: Swiss Code of Obligations (CO), Articles 945 and following<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n If your business name\u00a0does not contain your surname<\/strong>, you must register it with the\u00a0Swiss Commercial Register <\/strong>(Trade Register). If your full name is in the business name, registration is optional (until CHF 100,000 in turnover).<\/p>\n For a sole proprietorship in Switzerland:<\/p>\n If you use your full last name (e.g., Jean Dupont), registration in the Commercial Register is optional as long as your annual turnover remains below CHF 100,000. To setup a sole proprietorship in Switzerland<\/strong>, it is important to understand the legal naming rules and registration thresholds. Choosing a business name that differs from your full surname requires mandatory registration.<\/p>\n Whether you operate under your own name or a business brand, knowing when and how to setup a sole proprietorship in Switzerland<\/strong> ensures compliance and a smooth business launch.<\/p>\n Example:<\/p>\n You must register with the\u00a0social security office (AVS)<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0as self-employed within 3 months of starting activity. You\u2019ll need:<\/p>\n Once accepted, you\u2019ll receive a\u00a0self-employment certificate<\/strong>\u00a0and AVS number.<\/p>\n Mandatory if:<\/p>\n Registration is done at the cantonal level (e.g., Geneva, Zurich, Vaud).<\/p>\n While not legally required, having a dedicated\u00a0Swiss business bank account<\/strong>\u00a0is highly recommended for clear bookkeeping and credibility.<\/p>\n If your turnover exceeds CHF 100,000\/year from taxable services or goods, you must\u00a0register for Swiss VAT <\/strong>(TVA\/MWST<\/a>).<\/p>\n Optional registration is possible below this threshold if you want to deduct input VAT.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Advantages<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Limitations<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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What is a Sole Proprietorship?<\/h3>\n
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Main Characteristics<\/h3>\n
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Step-by-Step Guide to Setup a Sole Proprietorship in Switzerland<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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However, if you use a different trade name, even partially (e.g., Dupont Consulting or JD Renovation), registration in the Commercial Register becomes mandatory regardless of the turnover.<\/p>\n\n
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Why Choose to setup\u00a0a Sole Proprietorship in Switzerland ?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Fiduciary Support from My Swiss Company SA<\/strong><\/h3>\n