Swiss Company Formation for Italian Entrepreneurs

# Swiss Company Formation for Italian Entrepreneurs

Italy and Switzerland have been connected by trade, migration, entrepreneurship and investment for generations. For an Italian entrepreneur considering a Swiss company today, that historical relationship has developed into a modern business corridor extending from Ticino to Zurich, Zug and Canton Schwyz.

A Swiss company should not be created simply because Switzerland is attractive.

It should have a clear commercial reason to exist.

For an established Italian entrepreneur, the relevant question is therefore not simply:

“Can I establish a company in Switzerland?”

The more useful question is:

“What should Switzerland add to the business I have already built?”

Italy and Switzerland: a relationship built over generations

Italy and Switzerland are neighbouring countries, but their relationship goes far beyond geography.

Trade, migration, transport, family connections and entrepreneurship have connected the two economies for generations.

According to the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, approximately 347,000 Italian nationals live in Switzerland, excluding dual nationals.

Italians represent Switzerland's largest foreign-national community.

Italy is also one of Switzerland's most important commercial partners.

In 2024, bilateral trade in goods amounted to approximately CHF 50 billion, with Switzerland exporting more than CHF 24 billion of goods to Italy and importing approximately CHF 26 billion.

This is not a marginal cross-border relationship.

It is one of Switzerland's major economic partnerships.

Italians helped build modern Switzerland

Italian migration played an important role in Switzerland's industrialisation.

The relationship is particularly visible in the development of the Gotthard transport corridor.

Italian workers participated in major railway and infrastructure projects that physically connected northern Italy with Central and Northern Switzerland.

Later generations of Italian workers became an important part of Swiss:

• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Hospitality
• Engineering
• Transport
• Small business
• Industrial production

The Italian presence in Switzerland therefore existed long before modern discussions about holding companies, international taxation or corporate relocation.

Zurich has an Italian history

Italian influence is not limited to Ticino.

Zurich itself has a long Italian history.

The City of Zurich records significant Italian immigration from the late nineteenth century.

By 1894, approximately 5,000 Italians were already part of Zurich's Catholic population.

Italian migration increased substantially again after the Second World War.

Italian workers and families became part of Zurich's construction sector, manufacturing economy, restaurants, hospitality industry and everyday city life.

This matters for an Italian entrepreneur considering German-speaking Switzerland today.

Zurich and the Lake Zurich region are not culturally disconnected from Italy.

Italian families and entrepreneurs have been part of this economic region for generations.

Ticino remains the natural cultural bridge

Ticino naturally occupies an important position in any Italy–Switzerland relationship.

Italian is one of Switzerland's official languages.

The canton shares particularly close economic, labour-market and cultural links with northern Italy.

For an Italian company primarily serving Lombardy, cross-border customers or the Italian-speaking Swiss market, Ticino may be the natural location.

But this raises an important strategic question:

Do you want your Swiss company to remain close to Italy, or do you want it to become part of German-speaking Switzerland?

These objectives are not necessarily the same.

Italian companies have already chosen German-speaking Switzerland

Some of Italy's best-known companies provide useful examples.

They demonstrate that an Italian business does not need to establish its Swiss presence in Ticino.

Ferrero, De'Longhi and Calzedonia all operate through companies located in German-speaking Switzerland.

Ferrero: from Piedmont to Zug

Ferrero originated in Alba, Piedmont.

The group developed products including:

• Nutella
• Ferrero Rocher
• Kinder
• Tic Tac

and became one of Italy's most internationally recognised consumer businesses.

Its Swiss corporate company is not headquartered in Ticino.

Ferrero (Schweiz) AG is based in Zug.

For an Italian entrepreneur, this is a useful example.

A company with exceptionally strong Italian roots selected one of German-speaking Switzerland's principal international business centres for its Swiss operation.

De'Longhi: from Treviso to Baar

De'Longhi provides another example.

The internationally recognised appliance group originated in Treviso.

Its Swiss company, De'Longhi Switzerland AG, is located in Baar, Canton Zug.

Ferrero and De'Longhi therefore demonstrate a broader principle.

Entering Switzerland from Italy does not necessarily mean stopping in the closest Italian-speaking canton.

For a national Swiss business or an international expansion strategy, the German speaking economic region may be more relevant.

Calzedonia and Oniverse: from Verona to Canton Zurich

The third example is particularly interesting for privately owned Italian businesses.

The group today known as Oniverse was founded in Verona in 1986 by Sandro Veronesi.

Its brands include:

• Calzedonia
• Intimissimi
• Tezenis
• Falconeri

The group remains closely connected with its founder and private ownership.

Its Swiss company, Calzedonia Switzerland AG, is registered in Schlieren, Canton Zurich.

This makes Calzedonia particularly relevant for an Italian family-owned or founder-controlled business considering German-speaking Switzerland.

Another Italian-Swiss model: Gianluigi Aponte and MSC

There is also another model.

An Italian entrepreneur does not necessarily need to build the entire business in Italy first and only later establish a Swiss subsidiary.

Switzerland itself can become the base from which an international business is built.

One of the clearest examples is Gianluigi Aponte, the Italian founder of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company.

MSC is headquartered in Geneva.

It demonstrates that Switzerland can become much more than an additional sales market for an Italian entrepreneur.

It can become the international headquarters of a globally operating family-owned business.

Why German-speaking Switzerland?

For an Italian entrepreneur, German-speaking Switzerland can offer access to an economic environment that is different from the Italian border region while remaining geographically close to Italy.

The relevant economic corridor includes:

• Zurich
• Lake Zurich
• Wollerau
• Pfäffikon SZ
• Zug

This region combines:

• International corporations
• Swiss and international banks
• Private wealth
• Family offices
• Professional services
• Technology companies
• Investment capital
• International entrepreneurs
• Access to the German-speaking Swiss market
• Access to the broader DACH economy

Ferrero, De'Longhi and Calzedonia demonstrate that established Italian businesses already operate successfully within this environment.

Why Zurich?

Zurich is Switzerland's largest economic centre.

For an international entrepreneur, it provides access to:

• Swiss and international banks
• Corporate clients
• Investors
• Family offices
• Professional advisers
• Technology companies
• International headquarters
• Zurich Airport
• A large skilled labour market
• German-speaking Switzerland
• The wider DACH economic region

For a company whose objective is not simply to obtain a Swiss registration but to develop a genuine Swiss commercial platform, Zurich can therefore be highly relevant.

Why Zug?

Zug has developed into one of Switzerland's well known international corporate locations.

Ferrero and De'Longhi are useful Italian examples.

Its advantages include:

• Proximity to Zurich
• An established international corporate ecosystem
• Access to specialist professional advisers
• International management talent
• Competitive corporate taxation
• Strong connections with global business

For an Italian company considering German-speaking Switzerland, Zug should normally form part of the location comparison.

Why Wollerau and Canton Schwyz?

Wollerau offers a different proposition.

It is located in Canton Schwyz, directly within the wider Lake Zurich economic area.

Together with neighbouring Freienbach and Pfäffikon SZ, Wollerau provides access to Greater Zurich while remaining within the separate fiscal and administrative environment of Canton Schwyz.

For an international entrepreneur, the location can combine:

• Access to Zurich
• Proximity to Zug
• International residents and entrepreneurs
• Banking and professional services
• Competitive corporate taxation
• High-quality office infrastructure
• Private and corporate planning within the same broader region

For the right company, it can be a genuine operational location within the Greater Zurich–Central Switzerland economic corridor.

Italian and Swiss company forms are surprisingly familiar

Once the strategic location has been considered, the next question is the legal structure.

For an Italian entrepreneur, Swiss corporate forms are relatively easy to understand.

The legal systems are different, but the principal structures have practical similarities.

An Italian S.r.l. — Società a responsabilità limitata is most naturally compared with a Swiss GmbH — Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung.

An Italian S.p.A. — Società per Azioni is most naturally compared with a Swiss AG — Aktiengesellschaft.

These structures are not legally identical.

They exist under different national legal systems.

But as a practical orientation:

Italian S.r.l. → Swiss GmbH

and

Italian S.p.A. → Swiss AG

are useful comparisons.

Italian S.r.l. versus Swiss GmbH

A Swiss GmbH is generally the closest commonly used Swiss structure to an Italian S.r.l.

A Swiss GmbH requires minimum share capital of CHF 20,000.

The capital must generally be fully paid in when the company is incorporated.

A Swiss GmbH can have one or several shareholders.

The shareholders may be:

• Swiss individuals
• Foreign individuals
• Swiss companies
• Foreign companies

The shareholders and their quota holdings are registered in the Swiss Commercial Register.

The GmbH can therefore be particularly suitable for:

• Owner-managed businesses
• Consulting companies
• Professional services
• Trading businesses
• Family companies
• Swiss subsidiaries of Italian SMEs
• Companies with a relatively concentrated ownership structure

For an Italian entrepreneur familiar with an S.r.l., the Swiss GmbH will therefore often feel structurally familiar.

Italian S.p.A. versus Swiss AG

For larger or more international businesses, the Swiss AG may be more appropriate.

A Swiss AG requires nominal share capital of CHF 100,000.

At least CHF 50,000 must generally be paid in at incorporation.

The company is governed by a board of directors.

The AG can be particularly relevant where:

• Investors may enter later
• Ownership may change
• Shares may eventually be transferred
• The company could be sold
• A more institutional governance structure is preferred
• The company is part of a larger international group
• Separation between ownership and management is important

Unlike shareholders of a GmbH, shareholders of an AG are generally not publicly entered in the Swiss Commercial Register simply because they own shares.

This does not mean that ownership is anonymous.

Swiss banking, beneficial-owner, tax and anti-money-laundering disclosure requirements continue to apply.

Can an Italian citizen own 100% of a Swiss company?

Yes.

An Italian citizen can generally own 100% of a Swiss GmbH or AG.

The shareholder does not need to be Swiss.

The shareholder also does not need to live in Switzerland simply because they own the company.

There is, however, an important Swiss requirement.

The company must be capable of being represented by at least one authorised person who is resident in Switzerland.

Ownership and Swiss representation are separate questions.

Can an Italian company own the Swiss company?

Yes.

An Italian S.r.l. or S.p.A. can generally own a Swiss GmbH or AG.

For example:

Italian S.r.l. → Swiss GmbH

or

Italian S.p.A. → Swiss AG

can be perfectly normal corporate structures.

Alternatively, an Italian entrepreneur may own the Swiss company personally.

The correct ownership structure depends on issues including:

• Dividend flows
• Financing
• Taxation
• Transfer pricing
• Succession
• Future sale of the business
• Governance
• Group structure

This should therefore be decided before incorporation rather than reorganised shortly afterwards.

Swiss subsidiary or branch?

An Italian company does not necessarily need to create a separate Swiss legal entity.

It may also establish a Swiss branch.

A Swiss subsidiary is a separate legal person.

A Swiss branch remains part of the Italian parent company.

A subsidiary may provide clearer separation of:

• Swiss contracts
• Swiss liabilities
• Employees
• Management
• Accounting
• Banking
• Commercial identity

A branch may be appropriate where the Swiss activity is simply an extension of the Italian company.

Neither structure is universally better.

The business model should determine the answer.

GmbH or AG?

A Swiss GmbH may be appropriate where:

• The business is closely owner-managed
• Ownership will remain concentrated
• CHF 20,000 capital is appropriate
• Publishing the shareholder names is acceptable
• The company is expected to remain relatively simple

A Swiss AG may be more appropriate where:

• The company is expected to become larger
• Investors may enter
• Shares may later be transferred
• The company could eventually be sold
• A board-led structure is preferred
• Ownership and management should be more clearly separated

The decision should not be based only on capital requirements.

It should reflect what the company is intended to become.

Italy versus Switzerland: corporate taxation

Tax is relevant, but headline percentages need to be compared carefully.

Italy's standard IRES corporate income tax rate is 24%.

Italian companies may also be subject to IRAP, for which the standard rate is generally 3.9%.

However, the IRAP tax base is different from the IRES tax base and rates can also depend on the region and activity.

The two percentages should therefore not simply be added together and presented as a universal 27.9% effective tax rate.

Switzerland operates differently.

Swiss companies are taxed at:

• Federal level
• Cantonal level
• Communal level

As a result, the corporate tax burden differs significantly depending on where the company is located.

PwC gives an ordinary overall Swiss corporate income-tax range of approximately 11.66% to 20.54%, depending on the location and applicable circumstances.

Why Canton Schwyz attracts entrepreneurs

Canton Schwyz is among Switzerland's highly competitive corporate tax locations.

For 2026, the canton indicates that companies in its most tax-advantageous municipalities can face an effective combined corporate income tax burden of approximately 11.78%, including direct federal tax.

Wollerau is among the particularly competitive municipalities within Canton Schwyz.

The exact effective rate depends on:

• The company
• Taxable profit
• Municipality
• Applicable tax rules
• Individual circumstances

The tax rate should therefore not be the only reason for establishing a company in Wollerau.

The location should also make commercial sense.

The Italian question that matters more than incorporation

For an Italian resident, establishing a Swiss company does not end with entering it in the Swiss Commercial Register.

One of the most important questions is:

Where is the company actually managed?

Article 73 of the Italian TUIR addresses corporate tax residence.

Relevant factors include:

• Registered office
• Place of effective management
• Principal ordinary management

This means that the actual operation of an Italian-controlled Swiss company matters.

What is esterovestizione?

Italian entrepreneurs researching foreign companies frequently encounter the term esterovestizione.

In simplified terms, the issue can arise where a company is formally incorporated outside Italy but the relevant facts indicate that it is actually managed from Italy.

Consider an example.

A Swiss AG is registered in Wollerau.

The owner lives in Milan.

All important business decisions are taken in Milan.

All contracts are negotiated in Italy.

All employees work in Italy.

The Swiss director has no meaningful role.

In such a situation, the Swiss Commercial Register entry alone does not resolve the Italian corporate tax residence question.

This does not mean that an Italian resident cannot legitimately own a Swiss company.

They can.

It means that the actual business reality should correspond to the corporate structure.

What does genuine Swiss management mean?

There is no single universal substance checklist suitable for every company.

The correct level of Swiss activity depends on the business.

Relevant questions can include:

• Where are strategic decisions taken?
• Who negotiates major contracts?
• Who approves transactions?
• Who controls the bank accounts?
• Where are the employees?
• Where is commercial risk managed?
• What does the Swiss resident director actually do?
• Does the Swiss company have genuine operational autonomy?
• Where are the principal business activities performed?

A small consulting company does not require the same infrastructure as an international trading company generating tens of millions of francs in annual turnover.

The substance should match the business.

Does a Swiss company need a physical office?

Not every Swiss company requires the same level of physical infrastructure.

A registered address can serve legitimate corporate purposes.

But a registered address does not automatically answer every:

• Banking
• Tax
• Regulatory
• Governance
• Substance

question.

Depending on the company, the appropriate solution may include:

• Registered address
• Shared office
• Dedicated office
• Meeting facilities
• Local administration
• Employees
• Operational infrastructure

The appropriate level should follow the activity.

A Swiss resident director should understand the business

Swiss law requires appropriate local representation.

For an international company, the resident director should not simply be viewed as a name required for registration.

Depending on the structure, the Swiss management role may involve:

• Corporate decisions
• Banking responsibilities
• Contract review
• Risk oversight
• Board meetings
• Governance
• Documented approvals

Alpine Capital therefore reviews the proposed activity before accepting resident director mandates.

Alpine Capital is also licensed for finding approperate key personal in Switzerland for its clients (traders, AML specialists, asset managers , managing directors etc.).

How to establish a Swiss company from Italy

Once the structure is clear, the formation process becomes much more straightforward.

Step 1 — Define what the Swiss company will do

The first question is the business activity.

The Swiss company may be intended to:

• Sell into Switzerland
• Develop German-speaking Europe
• Operate an international trading activity
• Provide professional services
• Launch a new business line
• Manage an investment activity
• Act as a Swiss subsidiary of an Italian company

The purpose should be clear before incorporation begins.

Step 2 — Decide who will own the company

The shareholder may be:

• The Italian entrepreneur personally
• An Italian S.r.l.
• An Italian S.p.A.
• Another holding company
• Several investors

The ownership structure should be considered together with tax and succession implications.

Step 3 — Choose GmbH or AG

The next decision is the legal form.

A GmbH requires CHF 20,000 fully paid capital.

An AG requires CHF 100,000 nominal capital, with at least CHF 50,000 generally paid in.

The choice should reflect the future ownership and governance model.

Step 4 — Choose the canton and municipality

Possible locations may include:

• Ticino
• Zurich
• Zug
• Schwyz
• Other Swiss cantons

The correct location depends on:

• Customers
• Management
• Employees
• Banking
• Taxation
• Office needs
• Business partners
• Personal relocation plans

For businesses connected with Greater Zurich, Wollerau can provide an interesting combination of Zurich access and a Canton Schwyz corporate location.

Step 5 — Arrange Swiss resident representation

The company must fulfil the applicable Swiss resident representation requirement.

Where the Italian owner remains resident in Italy, this can require a suitable Swiss resident director or managing director.

Step 6 — Choose the Swiss address or office

Depending on the activity, the company may need:

• Registered address
• Shared office
• Dedicated office
• Meeting facilities
• Operational workspace

The infrastructure should correspond to the company's genuine needs.

Step 7 — Open the capital payment account

Before formation, the required company capital is generally deposited in a special capital payment account.

For a GmbH, this is normally CHF 20,000.

For an AG, at least CHF 50,000 is generally paid in.

The bank issues confirmation of the deposited capital for the incorporation process.

Step 8 — Incorporate the company

The company formation documents are prepared and executed with Swiss notary.

The company is then submitted to the relevant Cantonal Commercial Register.

Once registered, the Swiss company legally exists.

Step 9 — Open the operational corporate bank account

The capital payment account and the company's normal operational bank account are not the same process.

After incorporation, the company requires an operational corporate account.

The bank will normally review:

• Beneficial ownership
• Source of wealth
• Source of funds
• Business activity
• Customers
• Suppliers
• Geographic markets
• Expected turnover
• Expected transaction flows
• Management structure
• Relationship with the Italian business

Banking should therefore be considered before incorporation, not after everything else has already been fixed.

Step 10 — Accounting, VAT and administration

After incorporation, the company must establish appropriate ongoing administration.

Depending on the business, this can include:

• Bookkeeping
• Annual accounts
• Corporate tax returns
• VAT registration
• VAT reporting
• Payroll
• Social-security registrations
• Insurance
• Corporate records
• Board documentation
• Commercial Register updates
• SRO registration
• IP registration

Formation is therefore only the beginning of the Swiss company's life.

Start with the numbers

Once the structure is clear, the financial side can be calculated.

Alpine Capital's Swiss company formation calculator provides an initial estimate of the services required for a Swiss company project.

The relevant formation budget can include:

• Company formation
• Notary
• Commercial Register
• Capital payment account
• Corporate bank account support
• Swiss resident director
• Registered address
• Shared or dedicated office
• Accounting and administration

The statutory capital should be distinguished from formation costs.

For a GmbH, the CHF 20,000 share capital remains company capital after incorporation.

For an AG, the share capital similarly belongs to the company once released after formation.

It is therefore not the same as a professional fee or incorporation expense.

Entrepreneurs who prefer acquiring an existing Swiss company can also review Alpine Capital's available Swiss companies.

Where the Swiss project is connected with relocation or property acquisition, Alpine Capital's Swiss property purchase calculator provides an additional initial orientation.

How Alpine Capital can assist Italian entrepreneurs

Alpine Capital works with international entrepreneurs, investors and established business owners developing a Swiss presence.

From our office in Wollerau, Canton Schwyz, within the Greater Zurich economic area, we coordinate Swiss company projects from initial structuring through operational readiness.

Depending on the project, this can include:

• Swiss AG formation
• Swiss GmbH formation
• Corporate structuring
• Comparison of Swiss locations
• Capital payment account support
• Corporate banking support
• Swiss resident director support
• Registered office in Wollerau
• Shared office in Wollerau
• Dedicated office in Wollerau
• Notarial coordination
• Commercial Register procedures
• Accounting coordination
• Administrative support
• Acquisition of existing Swiss companies
• Corporate changes
• Coordination with Swiss tax specialists
• Coordination with foreign tax advisers
• Relocation considerations
• Property considerations (commercial or holliday properties for non residents and residential for Swiss residents)

-HR service to find appropriate Swiss employees

For an established Italian entrepreneur, our starting point is normally not the Swiss incorporation form.

It is the business that already exists.

We first want to understand:

• What has already been built in Italy
• Where value is created
• Where customers are located
• Where suppliers are located
• How the owner is involved
• What Switzerland should add
• Where management should take place
• What the business should look like in five years

Only then should the entrepreneur decide whether the correct structure is:

• A Swiss GmbH
• A Swiss AG
• A branch
• An existing Swiss company
• Or perhaps no Swiss company at all

Frequently asked questions

Can an Italian citizen establish a company in Switzerland?

Yes.

Italian citizens can generally establish and fully own Swiss GmbHs and AGs.

The company must nevertheless fulfil the Swiss resident representation requirement.

Does an Italian shareholder need to live in Switzerland?

No.

Ownership and personal residence are separate questions.

At least one person authorised to represent the company must fulfil the applicable Swiss residence requirement.

What is the Swiss equivalent of an Italian S.r.l.?

The closest commonly used comparison is a Swiss GmbH.

A Swiss GmbH requires CHF 20,000 of fully paid share capital.

What is the Swiss equivalent of an Italian S.p.A.?

The closest commonly used comparison is a Swiss AG.

The AG has nominal share capital of CHF 100,000, with at least CHF 50,000 generally paid in at incorporation.

Can my Italian S.r.l. own a Swiss company?

Yes.

An Italian company can generally own a Swiss GmbH or AG.

The appropriate ownership structure should be assessed together with tax, financing, dividend, governance and succession considerations.

Can I keep my Italian business and establish a Swiss company as well?

Yes.

For an established entrepreneur, this can often be more commercially logical than transferring the entire Italian operation to Switzerland.

Can the Swiss company invoice Italian customers?

Yes.

However, invoicing alone does not determine where profits should be taxed.

The economic activity, contracts, management, employees, transfer pricing and permanent-establishment questions should also be considered.

Is Switzerland always lower-tax than Italy?

No universal comparison applies to every company.

Italy applies a standard IRES rate of 24% and companies may additionally be subject to IRAP.

Swiss corporate taxation varies significantly by canton and municipality (11.78% currently in Wollerau for example).

Is Canton Schwyz a low-tax corporate location?

Canton Schwyz is among Switzerland's highly competitive corporate tax locations.

The exact effective corporate tax rate depends on the municipality and the individual company.

What is esterovestizione?

In simplified terms, esterovestizione can become relevant where a company is formally established outside Italy but the facts indicate that it is effectively managed from Italy.

The analysis is fact-specific.

Can an Italian-controlled Swiss company become tax resident in Italy?

Potentially, depending on the facts.

Italian corporate residence rules include criteria relating to the place of effective management and principal ordinary management.

Is Ticino the best canton for an Italian company?

Not necessarily.

Ticino can be particularly suitable for companies closely connected with northern Italy or Italian-speaking customers.

Zurich, Zug and Schwyz may be more relevant where the objective is German-speaking Switzerland, international business, banking or the broader DACH market.

Are major Italian companies based in German-speaking Switzerland?

Yes.

Examples include:

• Ferrero (Schweiz) AG in Zug
• De'Longhi Switzerland AG in Baar
• Calzedonia Switzerland AG in Schlieren, Canton Zurich

Why choose Wollerau?

Wollerau combines a Canton Schwyz corporate location with direct access to the wider Zurich and Lake Zurich economic area and proximity to Zug.

For the right business, this can combine commercial access with an attractive cantonal environment.

Do I need a physical office in Switzerland?

It depends on the business.

A registered address can serve legitimate corporate purposes, while larger or more operational businesses may require shared or dedicated office infrastructure.

Do I need a Swiss resident director?

The company must fulfil the Swiss resident representation requirement.

Depending on the ownership and management structure, a suitable Swiss resident director or managing director may therefore be required.

Can Alpine Capital provide a Swiss resident director?

Yes, subject to review and acceptance of the company, business activity, ownership, jurisdictions involved, expected transactions and governance requirements.

Can Alpine Capital provide an office in Wollerau?

Yes.

Depending on requirements, Alpine Capital offers:

• Registered address
• Shared office
• Dedicated office solutions
• Meeting facilities

in Wollerau.

Can Alpine Capital help open the company bank account?

Yes.

Alpine Capital can assist with both the capital payment account process and preparation for the subsequent operational corporate bank account and choice of the bank.

Final account acceptance always remains with the bank.

Can I buy an existing Swiss company?

Yes.

An existing company can sometimes be appropriate.

However, due diligence is important, and an existing bank account does not guarantee that the bank relationship will continue after ownership, management and business activity change. Also companies previouse business shoul be alligned with planned companies activities.

How much capital do I need for a Swiss GmbH?

The statutory minimum capital is CHF 20,000, generally fully paid in at incorporation.

How much capital do I need for a Swiss AG?

A Swiss AG requires CHF 100,000 nominal share capital, with at least CHF 50,000 generally paid in at incorporation.

Is the share capital a formation cost?

No.

The share capital belongs to the company after incorporation and is generally released for the company's legitimate business purposes once the formation process is completed.

It should therefore not be confused with incorporation fees.

Sources & References

Swiss Confederation SME Portal

Official information on Swiss GmbH and AG structures, capital requirements and company formation:

https://www.kmu.admin.ch/

Invest in Italy

Official information on Italian S.r.l., S.p.A., subsidiaries and branches:

https://www.investinitaly.gov.it/en/doing-business/setting-company

PwC — Italy Corporate Tax

PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries information on Italian corporate income tax, IRES and IRAP:

https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/italy/corporate/taxes-on-corporate-income

PwC — Switzerland Corporate Tax

PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries information on federal, cantonal and communal Swiss corporate taxation:

https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/switzerland/corporate/taxes-on-corporate-income

Italian legislation — Article 73 TUIR

Official Italian legislation concerning corporate tax residence and place of effective management:

https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:presidente.repubblica:decreto:1986-12-22;917~art73=

Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs — Italy and Switzerland

Official information on bilateral relations, trade and the Italian population in Switzerland:

https://www.eda.admin.ch/en/bilateral-relations-switzerland-italy

Canton Schwyz Tax Administration

Official information concerning taxation of legal entities in Canton Schwyz:

https://www.sz.ch/behoerden/verwaltung/finanzdepartement/steuerverwaltung/juristische-personen.html

City of Zurich — Italian migration and population history

Historical information concerning immigration and the Italian community in Zurich:

https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/de/stadtleben/stadtportraet/zuerichs-geschichte/digitale-zeitreise/zuercher-bevoelkerung.html

Ferrero Switzerland

Official Swiss corporate information for Ferrero (Schweiz) AG:

https://www.ferrero.com/ch/de/impressum

De'Longhi Switzerland

Official Swiss corporate information for De'Longhi Switzerland AG:

https://www.delonghi.com/de-ch/contact-us

Oniverse

Official information concerning Oniverse, its history, brands and founder Sandro Veronesi:

https://www.oniverse.it/en/the-group/who-we-are

Swiss Federal UID Register — Calzedonia Switzerland AG

Official Swiss federal company information:

https://www.uid.admin.ch/Detail.aspx?lang=en&uid_id=CHE287459583

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company

Official information concerning MSC and founder Gianluigi Aponte:

https://www.msc.com/

Important notice

This guide provides general information only and does not constitute Swiss or Italian legal, tax, accounting, investment or immigration advice.

Cross-border structures should be assessed individually, including questions concerning:

• Corporate tax residence
• Place of effective management
• Permanent establishment
• Transfer pricing
• VAT
• Customs
• Withholding tax
• Beneficial ownership
• CFC rules
• Social security
• Personal tax residence
• Applicable Italy–Switzerland double-taxation rules