Geneva is the capital of the Swiss canton of the same name, located in South-West Switzerland. The city is located between the Alps and the Jura Mountains at the southern tip of the wide Lake Geneva.
If you are interested in registering a company in the Canton of Geneva and open a bank account in Geneva, then you should know the following:
- The area of the canton is 282 m², including enclaves of the Selinha of the canton of Vaud;
- The population of the Canton of Geneva is more than 490 000 people, and the population of city is over 2 500 people, 48% of which are foreigners. Here lives the largest number of millionaires after Monaco;
- As the headquarters of the Red Cross, as well as 34 international organizations, Geneva is a global diplomatic and banking centre;
- The city of Geneva is considered as the cultural, economic, and even political capital of the region.
To find out more, please request for personal advice on business registration process in Geneva from qualified YB Case experts.
Business advantages
Those, who are planning to register a company in the Canton of Geneva, can choose the following most popular business lines:
- Any activity related to Swiss watches: here are the production of world-famous brands, for example Rolex;
- The leading industry is the service sector: transport, communications, tourism, healthcare. A special point is international trade: the headquarters of transnational corporations are situated here;
- If you want to set up a company in Geneva, take into account that finance and private banking are Switzerland's strengths;
- Production of flavors and fragrances;
- Exhibition services for "Geneva Motor Show";
- Manufacturing and construction;
- A new direction is the import of garbage for recycling into electricity by the incinerator Le Chenouvier.
It is also profitable to register a company in Geneva and open a corporate bank account in Geneva, because it is an international financial center. Almost every worldꞌs major production and trading corporation seeks to open a European headquarters in Geneva: Hewlett-Packard, SGS, Caterpillar, Japan Tobacco International, Cargill, Mediterranean Shipping Company, Procter & Gamble, Oracle and others.
For more information, please ask for professional support in a company registration procedure in Switzerland and qualified advice on the account opening in Geneva, obtaining a business license and other related matters from YB Case experts.
Legal forms
Registering a GmbH in the canton of Geneva is the most common option for non-residents*. The second most important legal form is AG with an average corporate tax rate of 18,4%. The branches are taxed at the same rate.
Holding companies are subject to 9,2 %, and there is no corporate tax for LLP, RO, and Charitable foundations.
* It should be borne in mind that at least 1 director must be a resident.
How to register a GmbH in Geneva?
The minimum share capital is 20 thousand CHF (the minimum share is 100 CHF). The share capital may belong to non-residents, a founder can be both a legal entity or an individual.
If the company has less than 10 employees, an audit is not required. A report is submitted every year.
Preparation of documents
In order to set up a company in Switzerland, you will need to provide us with the package of documents.
- For individuals:
- Copy of the passport of the country of residence;
- Copy of the foreign passport;
- Confirmation of tax resident status.
- For legal entities:
- Originals of constituent documents or copies with notarization and apostille;
- Copy of the passport of the country of residence;
- Confirmation of tax resident status.
Tax regime
If you want to open a company in Geneva, note that in terms of tax flexibility, Switzerland ranked 20th in the world ranking. The Canton of Geneva is an expensive canton, both in terms of residence and in terms of taxation:
- Corporate tax rate in Geneva is 10%;
- Income tax rate in Switzerland is 8.5%;
- Value added tax is 8%. Companies with annual turnover below 100 000 CHF are not subject to VAT.
- Personal income tax in Geneva is 19%.
Also, you have an opportunity to pay minimum taxes. To learn more, please ask for advice on a company registration in Switzerland with YB Case specialists.
How to open your own business in the Canton of Geneva?
Our company will provide you with support services in registering a business in Geneva. With the qualified assist of YB Case experts you can set up a company in Geneva remotely in two weeks or in one day with a personal visit. Also our team provide advice on how to open a corporate account with a Swiss bank remotely.
The corporate account can be opened both in CHF and in EUR or USD in any bank in Geneva, except Berner Kantonalbank and Valiant, because these banks do not providing their services for non-residents.
For more information, please call our office and request for personal advice on a business organization process in Switzerland.
