A Swiss Branch Office is a permanent establishment of a foreign company in Switzerland. It is not a separate legal entity, but a registered extension of the parent company that can conduct business and generate revenue in Switzerland within the scope of the parent’s activities.
COMPANY FORMATION
Swiss Branch Office
Establish Your Swiss Presence. Extend your foreign company into Switzerland without creating a separate legal entity.
- Extend existing company
- No separate legal entity
- Direct market access
- Free consultation
What is a Swiss Branch Office?
Key Characteristics
- Legally part of the foreign parent company
- Registered in Swiss Commercial Register
- At least one Swiss‑resident branch representative with signing authority required
- Can conduct business in Switzerland, employ staff, invoice clients and sign contracts in Switzerland
Swiss Branch Office Requirements
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Parent Company
- Must be validly incorporated abroad
- Provides certified corporate documents (articles, register extract, certificate of good standing)
- Board or authorised body must pass a resolution to establish the Swiss branch
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Swiss Requirements
- At least one branch representative in Switzerland with authority to sign.
- Registered address in Switzerland
- Branch purpose consistent with the parent company’s business purpose.
- Compliance with Swiss accounting, tax and regulatory rules for the Swiss activities
Register Your Swiss Branch in 4 Steps
We structure the formation process so you can complete it remotely with clear milestones and timeline expectations.
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Prepare Docs
Prepare parent company documents
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Appoint Rep
Appoint Swiss branch representative
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Register
Arrange Swiss address with entry in Commercial Register
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Activate
Open Bank accounts and start activity.
Formation Timeline: 2-3 Weeks
*With all documents ready
-
1-2 Days
Name check
& Reservation -
3-5 Days
Document
Preparation -
1-2 Days
Notary
Filing to Commercial Register -
7-10 Days
Commercial
Register Publication
Swiss Branch Office Costs
Estimated Third-Party Fees
| Item | Cost (CHF) |
|---|---|
| Notary fee | 300 |
| Commercial Register fee ( after publication ) | ~ 600 |
| Total third-party | 900 |
Our Service Fees
CHF 0 - With 12-month Starter package (CHF 750/month)
- Free incorporation when you commit to our Starter service for 12 months.
- Free incorporation means you pay no additional professional fee for the formation work itself; you only cover third‑party and official costs.
- You get company domicile, Swiss resident director, accounting, payroll and admin support included for the first year.
When to Choose a Branch Office
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Testing Swiss Market
Test the Swiss market before committing to a full subsidiary incorporation.
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Stronger presence for existing clients
Offer local contact, billing and support for Swiss and EU clients while keeping one legal entity at group level.
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Project-Based Operations
Manage specific Swiss projects or contracts under your existing foreign company
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Lower upfront costs
No Swiss share capital is required; registration is generally simpler and cheaper than incorporating a subsidiary.
Branch Office vs Subsidiary
| Feature | Branch Office | Subsidiary |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Entity | No – part of foreign parent company | Yes – separate Swiss legal entity |
| Liability | Parent company fully liable for branch | Liability limited to Swiss company |
| Share Capital | Not required in Switzerland | Required (e.g. CHF 20k GmbH, 100k AG) |
| Setup Cost | Lower | Independent |
| Autonomy | Operationally tied to parent | Own board and governance |
Our Branch Office Services
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Registration
Branch registration & domicile
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Representative
Branch rep services
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Accounting
Branch accounting & tax
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a branch office operate independently?
No, a branch is legally part of the foreign parent company. While it has some operational autonomy, all liabilities and final control rest with the parent.
What documents are required from the parent company?
Typically, you'll need the parent's articles of association, a certificate of good standing, and a board resolution authorizing the branch's establishment.
Does a branch office need a Swiss‑resident representative?
At least one person authorised to represent the branch must be resident in Switzerland and registered as such in the commercial register. We can provide this representative for you.
Can the branch open a Swiss bank account?
Yes, as a registered establishment, a Swiss branch can open corporate bank accounts in Switzerland for its operations.
GET STARTED