Dear all,

is there any benefit for starting up a business here in Switzerland (Lausanne) as opposed to setting up a remote business in the UK?

I'm spending a lot of time trying to register my business here. Everytime I think I am almost done, it turns out I need to get another ID or fill in another form or register for something else. The most recent being AVS* (??).

I speak very little french and the process is becoming quite frustrating...

Many thanks,
Andy.

***Bonjour Monsieur,

Toute personne exerçant une activité indépendante doit s'affilier auprès d'une caisse AVS.
Cette dernière vous délivrera une attestation le confirmant.

Afin que nous puissions vous attribuer un numéro de contribuable, merci de nous transmettre une copie de l'attestation
d'affiliation auprès d'une caisse AVS.

D'avance je vous remercie et vous envoie mes meilleures salutations.

Am I mad starting up a bussiness here in CH?? Why not do so remotely in the UK?

i guess you could save some paper work, but if you're working here anyway, i guess you'd always end up with some.

if i were starting up a company, i'd consider using a non-swiss entity and migrating it into switzerland instead of using a swiss company.

Hi
I'm interested in why you think this? I have a UK company and am trying to work out how best to work in Switzerland - e.g. a separate company or a "branch" of my existing company - just wondered what you though the benefits of setting up as a non-swiss entity??
Thanks!

a few factors:

- potential negative factor for personal residency if i owned a UK company
- cheaper to set up a company (20k capital required for a swiss one)
- potentially reduced/simplified admin - could potentially be in english instead of german (thinking annual filing, accounts etc.)

Do you plan to generate revenue in CH? You can then have a tax holiday in certain towns and it is a benefit. Or if you have investments it can be beneficial from a tax point of view too. It is not enough information of your business ...

You dont need 20k chf for a sole propriatorship btw dont quote me, but could be zero

My business is on the web selling my services to people around the world. I doubt i will make much money from switzerland business, but world wide fingers crossed. I am opening us dollar and eu euro bank accounts for my business to handle this (via postbank)

Just a quick couple of thoughts:

1. If the value of the services you export are of a level that you would be obliged to register for VAT if the business were Swiss-generated, you can (at least used to be able to) register for VAT and claim back input VAT if your entity is Swiss

2. Foreigners working in CH for a foreign co is meant to be a temporary situation. If you intend to stay here longer than a few weeks or months, you may want a Swiss employer or to be CH self-employed

3. If you are working in CH for more than 90 days in a year, you will most likely have to register with/for AVS anyway

Those are just off the top of my head, leaving aside any "soft" benefits

I have seen 2 close friends, both non-swiss and not speaking fluent french, trying to open businesses in geneva. unfortunately, they both did not succeed. I think you would probably need a trustworthy partner who knows the language and is familiar with the procedures. Otherwise, you may end up spending too much time and money just to get the basics clear.

Your friends costumers are shopping in France,UK, Germany ,Lichtenstein.Italy .Its cheaper there

If you want to be Uk non resident & not pay UK taxes you have to 'leave the UK permanently ' If your running a UK business you clearly have not left & will be liable to UK taxes on your world wide income. Be warned UK taxes are self assessment.

not a good time to start a business unless you know something other people don't