COREDO > Legal Protection for Business > Legal outsourcing > Legal Services and Protection in Switzerland

Legal Services and Protection in Switzerland

Switzerland as a Jurisdiction for Foreign Business

Switzerland is one of the world’s most stable and prestigious jurisdictions, offering a highly developed financial sector, strong investment appeal, and a robust legal system. The country provides international businesses with access to one of the leading financial markets, while requiring compliance with cantonal regulations, corporate requirements, and FINMA rules for regulated companies.

COREDO has been supporting businesses in Switzerland since 2016 — from corporate structuring and company formation to licensing and communication with FINMA.

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Cost of the services
from EUR 500

Doing Business in Switzerland

Switzerland combines federal and cantonal rules, so the canton you choose matters. The country offers a highly developed financial sector and a robust legal system, and the effective tax rate depends on the canton. FINMA regulates banking, insurance, securities and fintech, while crypto businesses must join a FINMA-recognised self-regulatory organisation (SRO). Accounting follows the Swiss Code of Obligations, and many companies need an external audit.

COREDO provides a full range of legal services for foreign companies operating in Switzerland. We work for non-residents, fintech, financial and crypto firms, startups building a Swiss holding and businesses operating between the EU and Switzerland. Our lawyers structure companies and represent clients before FINMA, other authorities and courts.

Describe your situation in a request: we reply within 1 business day.

Business Environment in Switzerland

Taxation

The effective corporate tax rate ranges from approximately 11.85% to 21.6%, depending on the canton. VAT registration is mandatory for companies with annual turnover above CHF 100,000.

Licensing

The financial sector, including banking, insurance, securities and fintech, is regulated by FINMA. Crypto-related activities require membership in a FINMA-recognized self-regulatory organization (SRO).

Reporting and Compliance

Companies must maintain accounting records under the Swiss Code of Obligations and submit annual financial statements in CHF. External audit is mandatory for many companies. The revDSG data protection requirements apply to organizations processing personal data of Swiss residents.

Our Services in Switzerland

Company registration and legal form selection

advisory on GmbH and AG, cantonal comparison by tax burden, structuring with a resident director

Drafting and review of corporate documents

articles of association, shareholder agreements, operational documents

Legal analysis and contract preparation

commercial contracts, SLA, NDA, partnership agreements

Transaction and negotiation support

M&A, investment deals, corporate restructuring

Representation before authorities and FINMA

obtaining permits, interaction with the regulator, defence during inspections

Tax and legal structuring advisory

selection of the optimal canton, tax planning, AML and compliance

Legislative monitoring

timely notification of changes in federal and cantonal law

Company with SRO membership

for crypto-related activities, which require membership in a FINMA-recognised self-regulatory organisation (SRO), we register the company and support it through SRO membership. Such a company may offer payment services in fiat and crypto, crypto custody, card issuance, a fiat/crypto exchange, crypto trading and asset management, and credit and loans. Consumer credit may need additional authorisation; security tokens, securities and derivatives are excluded. The package covers registration, a domicile and a signatory mandate for 1 year, the state registration fees, a capital deposit account, SRO membership support and a customised business case, AML policy and regulatory assessment. The FINMA governmental fee is not included in COREDO’s price and is paid separately.

Who Turns to Us

Our services are designed for:

Foreign companies planning market entry into Switzerland or already operating in the country

Non-residents with assets or operations in Switzerland requiring legal support

Fintech and financial companies operating under FINMA supervision — banks, brokers, payment systems

Crypto companies obtaining SRO membership or undergoing FINMA licensing procedures

Startups and technology companies structuring a holding with a Swiss entity

Companies with cross-border operations between the EU and Switzerland requiring compliance with the bilateral legal framework

How We Work

Initial consultation

we analyse the client’s legal situation, company structure, and objectives in Switzerland.

01

Legal audit

we review documentation, assess compliance with cantonal and federal legislation, and identify risks.

02

Strategy development

we prepare an action plan: company structure, tax planning, documentation.

03

Legal support

document preparation, negotiation management, representation before FINMA and other authorities.

04

Ongoing support and monitoring

tracking legislative changes, timely updates to documentation.

05

For a company with SRO membership, the capital is CHF 20,000 for a GmbH or CHF 100,000 for an AG. At least one board member with single signature right and the AML Officer must be based in Switzerland, as must the headquarters; shareholders can live abroad. Preparation, including appointing the AML Officer and auditor, takes approximately 2–4 weeks, and the SRO then reviews the application in approximately 2–3 months. We need three proposed company names, a completed KYC form, a business model description and CVs of the board and the AML Officer. We also need identity documents and proof of address of the directors, founders and UBOs, and proof of funds of the founders and UBOs.

Timelines

Legal Opinion:

10 working days after payment and receipt of the full set of documents

One-off consultation (up to 5 hours):

1–2 business days

Legal Outsourcing start:

3–5 business days

Contract documentation:

5–10 business days

Pricing

Service	Cost
Legal Opinion	from EUR 1,500 + VAT
Legal Outsourcing — 5 hours	EUR 550
Legal Outsourcing — 10 hours	EUR 1,000
Legal Outsourcing — 20 hours	EUR 1,800
Legal Outsourcing — 40 hours	EUR 3,200
Legal Outsourcing — 80 hours	EUR 5,600
Legal Outsourcing — 160 hours	EUR 9,600
One-off consultation Basic (up to 5 h)	EUR 130/hour
One-off consultation Standard (from 20 h)	EUR 100/hour
One-off consultation Premium (from 80 h)	EUR 80/hour

Pricing depends on the complexity and scope of work. Submit a request for a tailored estimate.
All prices are exclusive of VAT.

Our Experts

Pavel Kos

Head of Legal. At COREDO since June 2017. Has led the legal team since 2020. Specialises in corporate law, licensing, and cross-border transactions across European jurisdictions.

Alena Mach

Executive Director

Nikita Veremeev

Founder & NED

Johann Schneider

Lawyer

Frequently Asked Questions

What does legal protection for businesses in Switzerland include?

Company registration, legal audit, drafting and review of contracts, transaction support, representation before FINMA and courts, and monitoring of changes in federal and cantonal legislation.

Can a non-resident independently manage a Swiss company?

No. Under Swiss law, a company must have at least one Swiss resident with signing authority. COREDO helps establish the appropriate corporate structure to meet these requirements.

How much does legal support in Switzerland cost?

Legal Opinion from EUR 1,500 + VAT, Legal Outsourcing packages from EUR 550 to EUR 9,600 and one-off consultations at EUR 80–130/hour depending on volume.

Can COREDO represent a company before FINMA?

Yes. COREDO provides support in interacting with FINMA: preparing licensing documentation, responding to regulator enquiries, and representing interests during inspections and approval procedures.

Does COREDO work with fintech and crypto companies in Switzerland?

Yes. COREDO has experience supporting companies obtaining SRO membership under FINMA supervision and provides legal support to fintech, EMI, and CASP companies.

Contact Us — Legal Support in Switzerland

Our experts are ready to help. Submit a request — we will get back to you within 1 business day. Tell us what you need — a new company, SRO membership or a contract review — and we will suggest the right format: a one-off consultation, a Legal Opinion or a Legal Outsourcing package.

Phone: +420 228 886 867 Email: info@coredo.eu Office: K Cervenemu dvoru 3269/25a, Prague, 130 00, Czech Republic

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