FAQ

Questions on Swiss companies, resident directors and Treuhand

Do I need a resident director?

If you form a Swiss GmbH or AG, the company generally needs at least one person who can be reached in Switzerland with authority to sign. That is the usual reason to appoint a resident director.

Can I open a Swiss company if I live abroad?

Yes. Ownership does not require you to move. The company still needs local presence: a director, an address, books, and a file a bank can complete.

How is a resident director different from a nominee?

A documented resident director has duties and can be reached. A nominee who never reads the file is a liability. We do the former.

Will my name appear on the register?

The director’s name is public. Shareholders of an AG are not listed there; GmbH owners above a threshold are. The bank still knows the beneficial owner.

Will the bank know the beneficial owner?

Yes. Beneficial owners are disclosed to the bank. We do not offer anonymity.

Can a GmbH or AG be formed at a distance?

Much of the work can be prepared remotely. Formation, the register and the bank still follow Swiss process and Swiss timing.

How long does company formation take?

It depends on the file, the canton and the bank. We do not quote a number of days as a promise.

Do you guarantee a bank account?

No. We coordinate with the bank. The bank decides.

What does Treuhand include?

Accounts, tax coordination, VAT, payroll, corporate documents and the calendar the authorities actually use.

Are you a FINMA-regulated trustee?

No. Ordinary Swiss Treuhand and FINMA-regulated trustee services are different regimes. If you need a partner with the relevant licence, we say so and involve them.

Do you help with a residence permit?

We do not obtain permits. Immigration counsel remains counsel. Relocation and concierge can run beside that work; they are not the same service.

Can corporate work and concierge be combined?

Yes. That is the point of one curator: the company and the life around it in the same office.

Do you work with Russian-speaking clients?

Yes. Coordination in English and Russian is available. German and French are used with authorities.

What do you need at the start?

A short description of the situation. Identity, source of funds and structure follow. Do not send passports through the website form.

Who do you not work with?

Files designed to hide a beneficial owner, unexplained wealth, sanctions exposure we cannot clear, and instructions to sign unread.

Discuss your situation