Companies by legal form
Swiss law recognises around a dozen registrable legal forms — here are all active entries, organised by form.
- Sole proprietorship (EU)Switzerland's most common legal form: a natural person runs the business in their own name and is personally liable.180'215
- Limited liability company (GmbH)Corporation with at least CHF 20,000 in nominal capital — popular with SMEs thanks to limited liability.291'561
- Stock corporation (AG)Corporation with at least CHF 100,000 in share capital — the classic form for larger companies and holdings.251'367
- Association (Verein)Corporate body for non-commercial purposes under Art. 60 et seq. of the Civil Code — from sports clubs to federations.13'524
- Foundation (Stiftung)Independent assets dedicated to a specific purpose — charitable, family and pension foundations.17'784
- Cooperative (Gen.)Association of persons promoting its members through mutual self-help — from Migros to housing cooperatives.7'943
- General partnership (KLG)Partnership of two or more natural persons with unlimited liability.11'211
- Limited partnership (KG)Partnership with at least one partner with unlimited liability and one with limited liability.1'084
- Swiss branch office (ZN)Legally dependent, geographically separate business unit of a Swiss head office.15'353
- Branch of a foreign company (ANL)Branch registered in the Swiss commercial register of a company headquartered abroad.3'177