Before registering a company in Switzerland, several key prerequisites must be fulfilled to ensure compliance with local legal and regulatory frameworks. The most common company type for both domestic and foreign entrepreneurs is the Swiss GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) or AG (Aktiengesellschaft), both offering limited liability protection. One of the main prerequisites is having a Swiss-registered office address, which must be a physical location within Switzerland where legal documents can be served.

At least one director who is a Swiss resident is required, especially for an AG or GmbH, although additional directors and shareholders can be foreign nationals. The company must also appoint a local legal representative if none of the directors reside in Switzerland.

Minimum share capital is another critical requirement: CHF 20,000 for a GmbH and CHF 100,000 for an AG, with at least CHF 50,000 paid up at incorporation. The chosen company name must be unique and not misleading, and it must be approved by the commercial registry.

Additional prerequisites include drafting articles of association, preparing a public deed of a Swiss company registration before a notary, and registering with the Commercial Register. Compliance with anti-money laundering and Know Your Customer (KYC) norms is also mandatory.