Comparison of legal forms:
The LLC, Ltd., sole proprietorship, general partnership.

The most common legal forms in Switzerland are the stock corporation (Ltd), limited liability company (LLC), sole proprietorship and general partnership (KLG). In the following table you will find the most important differences. We would be happy to advise you personally in this regard (click here for a consultation).

Comparison of legal forms

  LLC ltd. Sole proprietorship General partnership
Capital Min. CHF 20’000.- Min. CHF 100’000.- (partial payment: at least CHF 50’000.-) No capital investment No capital investment
Liability No personal liability No personal liability Personal and unlimited liability Personal and unlimited liability
Name «Fantasy name» + LLC «Fantasy name» + Ltd «Fantasy name» + Surname «Fantasy name» + KLG
Number of people Min. 1 person Min. 1 person 1 person Min. 2 persons
Bookkeeping Always double-entry bookkeeping Always double-entry bookkeeping Double-entry bookkeeping from turnover of CHF 500’000.- Double-entry bookkeeping from turnover of CHF 500’000.-
Participation Possible Possible Not possible Possible
Taxes Separate tax return; only shares in private tax return Separate tax return; only shares in private tax return Profit goes into private tax declaration Profit goes into private tax returns
AHV Salary is decisive Salary is decisive Profit is decisive Profit is decisive
Advantages
  • No liability
  • Transfer of the company possible
  • low minimum capital
  • No liability
  • Transfer of the company possible
  • Anonymity
  • high acceptability
  • cost-effective foundation
  • no capital necessary
  • Withdrawal of the pension fund possible
  • cost-effective foundation
  • no capital necessary
  • Withdrawal of the pension fund possible
Disadvantages
  • no anonymity
  • deeper acceptance than Ltd
  • double taxation
  • high capital requirement
  • double taxation
  • personal liability
  • Transmission not possible
  • No ALV reference possible
  • personal liability
  • No ALV reference possible

 

Select legal form:

LLC


Capital

Min. CHF 20’000


Liability

No personal liability


Name

«Fantasy name» + LLC


Number of people

Min. 1 person


Bookkeeping

Always double-entry bookkeeping


Participation

Possible


Taxes

Separate tax return; only shares in private tax return


AHV

Salary is decisive


Advantages

  • No liability
  • Transfer of the company possible
  • low minimum capital

Disadvantages

  • no anonymity
  • Lower acceptance than Ltd.
  • double taxation

Ltd.


Capital

Min. CHF 100’000.- (partial payment: at least CHF 50’000.-)


Liability

No personal liability


Name

«Fantasy name» + Ltd.


Number of people

Min. 1 person


Bookkeeping

Always double-entry bookkeeping


Participation

Possible


Taxes

Separate tax return; only shares in private tax return


AHV

Salary is decisive


Advantages

  • No liability
  • Transfer of the company possible
  • low minimum capital
  • high acceptance rate

Disadvantages

  • high capital requirement
  • double taxation

Sole proprietorship


Capital

No capital investment


Liability

Personal and unlimited liability


Name

«Fantasy name» + Surname


Number of people

1 person


Bookkeeping

Double-entry bookkeeping from turnover of CHF 500’000.-


Participation

Not possible


Taxes

Profit goes into private tax declaration


AHV

Profit is decisive


Advantages

  • cost-effective foundation
  • no capital necessary
  • Withdrawal of the pension fund possible

Disadvantages

  • personal liability
  • Transmission not possible
  • No ALV reference possible

General partnership


Capital

No capital investment


Liability

Personal and unlimited liability


Name

«Fantasy name» + KLG


Number of people

Min. 2 persons


Bookkeeping

Double-entry bookkeeping from turnover of CHF 500’000.-


Participation

Possible


Taxes

Profit goes into private tax declaration


AHV

Profit is decisive


Advantages

  • cost-effective foundation
  • no capital necessary
  • Withdrawal of the pension fund possible

Disadvantages

  • personal liability
  • No ALV reference possible