Hi,

Does anyone know if it is necessary to register an online business in Switzerland? If yes, which authority should I go to?

Why do you want to register it in Switzerland?

Maybe cause he already lives in Switzerland

Smart answer. Ok he lives in Switzerland but online business can live anywhere in this cyber world

True, but he might want to register it here for tax reasons or maybe it's a Swiss based product, defo he had a certain point why he wants it based in CH....

Assumptions are beginning of all the goof ups.!!!

No, as far as the tax and immigration authorities are concerned every business must have a real bricks and mortar home! In the case of a legal entity such as a company it will have to have a registered office and in the case of a sole trader, i.e. a natural person, then that person's home if not obvious alternative exists.

This can have an impact on how your taxed, your work permit status and even your employment contract, since most contracts restricts you to working for only one employer.

Jim.

http://www.kmu.admin.ch/themen/00614...x.html?lang=fr

'When annual income exceeds CHF 100,000 .-, individual reason must be registered with the trade. However, even if the income is lower, the company can be registered (optional). The registration of trade implies that the company name is protected and that the owner is subject to prosecution through bankruptcy.'

You can simply register as Sole Trader and do the business. The process is very sraight forward. You also need to pay insurance on your profits for SVA, like Is pillar for a salaried person.

Alternatives you can have a GMBH which needs intial capital of CHF 20K and you work as owner and employee which means you can withdraw money as Dividend or Salary.

You can find tons of information here.
Help for Businesses/Freelancers in CH

Probably the most important thing in the early stage is to not forget the SVA, as you are obliged to do so. Registering the company only becomes an obligation form 100k Sfr turnover, as said above. This btw. is also the amount where the question of VAT/MWSt. comes up.

If you make less than 100k and still have another day-job, you have to declaire the income through your online business on top of your day-job income as a side business (not sure how to approach this when you are taxed at source in your main job, but the taxt office will be able to tell you and it's not complicated). You can get away with a quite simple book-keeping (table of earning vs. expenses). So overall, the playground is fairly simple below the 100k limit.

Maybe one more aspect to it is, that if your online venture involves a substantial investment and maybe even risk of loosing money, your should look into the GMBH vs. Sole Trade/Einzelfirma question in order to partly protect your private property.

Making 100k is a great business as a sole trader - why is it that soe many of the posts seem to get stuck around this 100k thing? 100k is a lot of money even with high taxes. Wouldn't you just start with sole trader and related visa ? and see where it goes from there ? please tell me what I am missing (am sure Charlie......will have something) I too am struglling with this á source deal' but have decided to just start sole trader - hence my interest

Wow, I didn't know that! So basically if I have a job where I'm not taxed at source I can work outside of that (provided it's not more than 100k a year) and just add the extra amount to my salary when filing a tax declaration? It sounds amazing!

Can someone help me what happens if I'm married and my salary is declared on my husband's tax at source sheet (i.e. he is taxed on both our salaries)? I suppose we'd have to file a complete declaration to be able to add the extra money I would be earning as a freelancer.

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