By Elizabete Klause

Slovenian entrepreneurs can own a Swiss GmbH or AG without relocating. Compare €7,500 d.o.o. capital with Swiss requirements, first-year costs, 2026 taxes and property rules.

Swiss company formation from Slovenia

In the winter of 2013, Slovenia's Tina Maze was making sporting history on Swiss-made Stöckli skis. She finished the Alpine Ski World Cup season with 2,414 points, a remarkable record that connected a Slovenian champion with a manufacturer in Malters, central Switzerland.

Thirteen years later, the economic relationship between Slovenia and Switzerland is remarkable for an entirely different reason. In 2025, bilateral trade in goods reached CHF 52.3 billion, largely driven by the pharmaceutical industry. Switzerland has become Slovenia's largest trading partner.

For an entrepreneur in Ljubljana, Maribor or Celje, that relationship raises a practical question: does a growing business need a Swiss company, or can it continue serving customers directly from Slovenia?

Slovenian citizens and companies can generally establish and own 100% of a Swiss GmbH or AG without relocating. Whether a Swiss company makes commercial sense depends on the activities it will perform, its costs and the people responsible for managing it.

From Slovenia to the Swiss business environment

Both Slovenia and Switzerland are Alpine countries with internationally active businesses. Their economic relationship extends from pharmaceuticals and industrial technology to specialised manufacturing, research and consumer products.

The scale of the relationship is unusual. According to the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland was Slovenia's third-largest foreign investor, and approximately 40 Swiss companies were operating in Slovenia. The exceptional growth in bilateral trade has been strongly influenced by pharmaceutical production and international supply chains.

Three business examples illustrate how these connections work in practice.

Novartis: Swiss management and Slovenian manufacturing

Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis has substantial operations in Slovenia, including development and production facilities in Ljubljana and Mengeš.

In February 2026, Novartis reported that its Slovenian operations had ended 2025 with approximately 4,300 employees and investments of EUR 233 million during that year.

In July 2026, the company opened a new aseptic manufacturing facility in Ljubljana, adding specialised production capacity for biological and RNA-based medicines.

The example shows how a Swiss international group can rely on genuine technological and manufacturing capabilities in Slovenia. Its commercial value comes from the work performed across the organisation, not merely the location of a corporate headquarters.

Slovenian engineering technology across Lake Zurich

Dewesoft, headquartered in Trbovlje, develops measurement instruments and software used in engineering, industrial testing and monitoring.

Its international distribution network includes Schotec AG in Au, on the opposite shore of Lake Zurich from Wollerau.

This is a different business model. A Slovenian technology company develops and produces its specialised systems, while a Swiss distributor provides a local route to customers.

For a Slovenian engineering business considering Switzerland, this distinction matters. A distributor may offer adequate market access before the company needs its own Swiss office.

Elan: Slovenian manufacturing and Swiss customers

Elan is another recognised Slovenian industrial brand, manufacturing skis in Begunje na Gorenjskem.

Its products reach Swiss customers through specialist distribution, including Swiss company Sideshore AG.

Unlike a dedicated Swiss manufacturing subsidiary, this model allows the original Slovenian company to continue production at home while relying on local market relationships abroad.

These examples represent different commercial arrangements. None demonstrates that every successful Slovenian company needs to establish its own Swiss legal entity.

Establishing a Swiss company from Slovenia

1. Can my Slovenian d.o.o. sell directly to Swiss customers?

Yes. A Slovenian d.o.o. can generally sell goods or services directly to Swiss customers without establishing a Swiss subsidiary.

The obligations depend on the transaction.

A manufacturer shipping equipment from Slovenia to Switzerland must consider transport, customs, import VAT, product requirements and delivery arrangements.

A software or consulting company serving Swiss customers remotely may face different requirements.

Slovenia is an EU member state, while Switzerland is outside the EU customs and VAT territory.

Slovenia's standard VAT rate is 22%, compared with 8.1% in Switzerland. Neither rate automatically determines the VAT treatment of a cross-border invoice.

Switzerland abolished industrial import tariffs in 2024. Customs declarations and import VAT remain relevant.

A separate Swiss company becomes more interesting when local employees, contracts, inventory or customer responsibilities create a genuine need for one.

2. Can I own 100% of a Swiss company while continuing to live in Slovenia?

Generally, yes. Slovenian individuals and legal entities can own all the shares of a Swiss AG or all the participation interests in a GmbH.

Swiss company law does not ordinarily require shareholders to be Swiss residents.

The company must, however, have a Swiss registered office and be capable of representation by an appropriately authorised person resident in Switzerland.

A Slovenian d.o.o. can therefore establish a wholly owned Swiss subsidiary while maintaining its Slovenian operations.

The distinction between share ownership and company management is important. The Swiss representative must carry genuine responsibilities, while the company's banking and tax position are assessed separately.

Swiss company formation for foreign owners.

3. How does a Slovenian d.o.o. or d.d. compare with a Swiss GmbH or AG?

The closest comparisons are a Slovenian d.o.o. with a Swiss GmbH and a Slovenian d.d. with a Swiss AG.

They share certain characteristics but are not legally identical.

  • Slovenian d.o.o.: A limited liability company requiring at least EUR 7,500 in share capital. It can have one or several owners and is widely used by privately held businesses.
  • Slovenian d.d.: A joint-stock company requiring at least EUR 25,000 in nominal share capital. It provides a share-based corporate structure with its own governance requirements.
  • Swiss GmbH: Requires CHF 20,000 in fully paid share capital. Its shareholders and registered participation interests are publicly recorded in the Commercial Register.
  • Swiss AG: Requires CHF 100,000 nominal share capital, with at least 20% of each share's nominal value and at least CHF 50,000 overall paid at incorporation. Shareholders are generally not publicly recorded merely because they own shares.

For a Slovenian business establishing one wholly owned Swiss operating subsidiary, the GmbH may be a suitable choice.

Where outside investors or future changes in ownership are important, the AG may offer a more appropriate framework.

Swiss AG versus GmbH: capital, ownership and governance.

First-year costs and banking

4. How much should I budget for the first year in Switzerland?

The first-year budget consists of one-time incorporation costs and yearly maintenance costs, alongside the company's capital contribution and operating funding.

One-time incorporation costs depend on the complexity of the setup.

The legal form, ownership structure, documentation and required services all influence the amount. Existing Swiss bank accounts and established banking relationships can affect the preparations, particularly where new capital-payment and operating accounts are required.

The choice between GmbH and AG also determines the capital commitment.

  • A GmbH requires CHF 20,000, fully paid at incorporation.
  • An AG requires CHF 100,000 nominal capital, with at least CHF 50,000 paid at incorporation and a minimum of 20% of each share's nominal value covered.

The capital belongs to the company rather than being an incorporation service fee. After registration and bank release, the funds can generally be used for legitimate corporate expenditure, subject to capital-maintenance rules.

Yearly maintenance costs depend on the complexity of the company's continuing operations.

Accounting, annual financial statements, tax administration, banking, payroll and any required Swiss representation form part of the recurring budget.

Employee numbers and the office model also matter. A registered address with occasional workspace involves different costs from a dedicated office and permanent local team.

Salaries, employer contributions, premises and other operational expenses need to be budgeted separately.

Finally, the canton and municipality influence corporate taxation. The location should also correspond to the company's actual business and management arrangements.

Our calculators and related articles provide initial guidance on formation costs, legal forms and location-specific taxation.

Company formation cost calculator, AG versus GmbH and Swiss corporate taxes by canton and municipality.

5. Can a Slovenian entrepreneur open a Swiss business bank account?

Yes, a Slovenian-owned Swiss company can apply for a corporate bank account. Approval depends on the bank's assessment of the company and its owners.

The bank will consider beneficial ownership, source of funds, business activity, expected transactions and the commercial reasons for the Swiss operation.

An existing Slovenian d.o.o. with established Swiss customers may have a different banking profile from a newly formed company without a trading history.

The capital contribution account used during incorporation and the operating account required afterwards also serve different purposes.

Existing banking relationships can be helpful, but they do not guarantee approval of a new corporate account.

Swiss banking for international companies.

Corporate taxation and personal relocation

6. Is corporate tax lower in Switzerland than in Slovenia?

Slovenia's ordinary corporate income-tax rate is 22% for the tax years 2024–2028.

The underlying statutory rate is 19%, but Slovenia temporarily increased it to 22% as part of measures associated with reconstruction following the 2023 floods.

This distinction matters because older business articles may still quote 19% as the applicable current rate.

In Switzerland, corporate profit tax combines federal, cantonal and municipal components.

For 2026, the ordinary combined effective corporate profit-tax burden in Wollerau, Canton Schwyz, is approximately 11.6% for a typical company under the relevant assumptions.

For illustration, Canton Schwyz's published calculation for CHF 100,000 of pre-tax profit shows approximately CHF 11,599 of corporate income tax in Wollerau.

The corresponding illustration for the municipality of Schwyz is CHF 13,302.

This does not mean that establishing a Swiss company automatically transfers Slovenian profits to Switzerland.

Relevant factors include the actual business activity, location of management, personnel, contractual responsibilities and the applicable allocation of profits.

Slovenia and Switzerland also have a double-taxation agreement. An amending protocol applicable from 1 January 2025 strengthened the treaty's anti-abuse provisions.

For a Slovenian company with substantial operations at home, the Swiss subsidiary should perform a commercially justified role.

Compare Swiss corporate taxes by canton and municipality.

7. Can I move from Slovenia to Switzerland to manage my company?

Yes, Slovenian citizens can generally move to Switzerland for employment or qualifying self-employment under the EU/EFTA free-movement framework, subject to the applicable conditions.

For employment lasting more than three months, EU/EFTA nationals normally register with their Swiss municipality within 14 days of arrival and before beginning work.

For shorter employment, notification requirements may apply even when a residence permit is not required.

A Slovenian entrepreneur moving to Wollerau to run a Swiss business should therefore consider employment, residence, health insurance and social-security arrangements together.

There is also an important distinction for entrepreneurs who live in Slovenia but do not hold Slovenian or another EU/EFTA nationality. Residence in Slovenia alone does not automatically confer the same Swiss immigration rights as Slovenian citizenship.

Owning a Swiss company and obtaining permission to live or work in Switzerland remain separate questions.

8. What changes for my personal taxes if my family moves to Wollerau?

Slovenia applies progressive personal income-tax rates ranging from 16% to 50% in 2026.

Dividends received by individuals are generally subject to a separate 25% tax, subject to the applicable rules.

In Switzerland, personal income taxation depends on the canton, municipality, income and family circumstances.

Canton Schwyz also levies personal wealth tax.

For example, its official 2026 illustration for a married couple with two children and CHF 2.5 million in taxable assets shows annual wealth tax of CHF 2,610 in Wollerau, excluding church tax.

A founder moving to Switzerland while retaining shares in a privately held Slovenian d.o.o. may therefore need to consider the value of that business in the Swiss wealth-tax assessment.

Tax residence should be reviewed in both countries. Slovenia's tax authority explains that a person moving abroad may remain Slovenian tax resident where important personal and economic ties continue to connect them to Slovenia.

Moving the family, changing the place of work and transferring the centre of personal and economic interests can therefore matter as much as the number of days spent in either country.

Could expenditure-based taxation be relevant?

Some qualifying foreign nationals moving to Switzerland without gainful activity in the country may be eligible for expenditure-based taxation, also known as lump-sum taxation.

Canton Schwyz permits this regime under specific statutory conditions.

The minimum cantonal income assessment base is CHF 600,000, with expenditure and statutory comparison calculations potentially producing a higher amount.

This is a taxable assessment base, not the amount of annual tax payable.

An investor who has retired from active management and a founder intending to manage a business daily from Switzerland have different circumstances.

Residence permission, actual activities and tax eligibility must each be assessed under the relevant rules.

Swiss property for Slovenian investors

9. Can I buy Swiss commercial property while living in Slovenia?

Generally, yes. Foreign non-residents can often acquire genuine commercial property in Switzerland under the relevant exemption from Lex Koller authorisation.

Qualifying properties may include offices, shops, warehouses, industrial premises and other buildings used for economic activity.

Such property may also be leased to an independent commercial tenant.

A mixed-use building containing both business premises and residential apartments requires closer review.

For an investor living in Ljubljana, the financial analysis should include the purchase price, tenant, lease duration, financing, maintenance and currency exposure between the euro and Swiss franc.

Our commercial-property guide explains the ownership rules, and the calculator provides an initial assessment of acquisition-related costs.

Can foreigners buy commercial property in Switzerland? and Swiss property purchase cost calculator.

10. Can I buy a Swiss apartment and rent it out?

If you continue living in Slovenia, purchasing ordinary Swiss residential property solely to rent it to private tenants is generally restricted under Lex Koller.

A Swiss company owned by persons abroad can also fall within those restrictions.

However, Slovenian citizens have a different position once they are genuinely and lawfully domiciled in Switzerland.

As EU nationals, they generally enjoy the same acquisition rights as Swiss citizens under Lex Koller when domiciled in Switzerland. This can extend beyond their own principal residence to ordinary residential investments, subject to other property and planning rules.

Buying Swiss property does not itself establish a right to reside in the country.

The distinction between remaining in Ljubljana and actually relocating to Wollerau therefore matters for both immigration and property ownership.

Can a foreign investor buy Swiss residential property to rent out?.

Three distinctions worth remembering

  • Slovenia is in the EU; Switzerland is not. EU membership facilitates movement and business relationships, but it does not eliminate Swiss customs, VAT, banking or company-law requirements.
  • A lower Swiss corporate tax rate is not automatically a saving for the group. The profits taxable in each country depend on the actual commercial activities, management and applicable tax law.
  • Company ownership, personal residence and property acquisition are separate decisions. A Slovenian founder can own a Swiss company while living in Slovenia, but that ownership does not settle where they may work or which residential investments they may acquire.

Planning your Swiss presence

A Slovenian business may enter the Swiss market through direct sales, a distributor, a local service team or a separately incorporated subsidiary.

The suitable structure depends on customers, contracts, employees, financing and the work actually performed in Switzerland.

For an initial discussion, it is useful to identify the activity you intend to establish, its owners, the expected Swiss customers and the type of local presence required.

From Wollerau, Alpine Capital supports international entrepreneurs with Swiss company formation, banking, ongoing corporate administration, relocation and commercial-property considerations.

Discuss your Swiss business plans with Alpine Capital.

Sources and further reading

Slovenia and Switzerland

Company law, banking and taxation

Related Alpine Capital guides and calculators

Information reviewed: 5 November 2026. This article provides general information and does not replace individual legal, tax, banking, immigration or investment advice.

This overview is for general information and does not replace individual legal, tax or financial advice.

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