Changing an entry in the commercial register: what companies need to bear in mind

04.11.2026

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If your registered company details change, the entry in the commercial register will also need to be updated. This could relate to your business address, company headquarters, name, purpose or registered persons. The formalities and documents required will depend on the legal form and type of change. Here you can find out when a change is needed and how to go about it.

At a glance

  • Changes to registered facts need to be incorporated in the commercial register. You can check which details about your company are currently entered in the commercial register in the Central Business Name Index (Zefix).
  • Your business address and company headquarters are not the same thing. If a company moves within the same political municipality, the company headquarters won't automatically change.
  • The necessary formalities will depend on the legal form and the type of change. With a GmbH or an AG, for example, a change to the articles of association and public notarization may also be required.
  • Changes can be registered with the relevant cantonal commercial registry. Many changes to the commercial register can also be processed via EasyGov.

Do you first want to clarify the significance of an entry in the commercial register for your company?

In the blog post “Commercial register registration in Switzerland: a tedious obligation or an opportunity for your business?”, you can find out who needs to be entered in the commercial register, what information needs to be published and which rights and obligations are associated with the registration.

Which changes have to be entered in the commercial register?

Changes may affect, for example, the company name, address, headquarters, company purpose, registered persons, capital or auditors. 

You can check which details about your company are currently in the commercial register via the The link will open in a new window Central Business Name Index (Zefix).

Quick check: what has changed?

ChangeWhat does this mean for the entry in the commercial register?
Change
Business address/domicile
 What does this mean for the entry in the commercial register?
If the registered address changes, it will need to be updated in the commercial register. If the company remains in the same political municipality, the headquarters of the company will not change.
Change
Company headquarters
 What does this mean for the entry in the commercial register?
If the company moves to a different political municipality, the company headquarters will change. In this case, the articles of association will also need to be amended for a limited liability company or private limited company.
Change
Company name or purpose
 What does this mean for the entry in the commercial register?
The change must be entered in the commercial register. In the case of a limited liability company or private limited company, the articles of association must also be amended for a new company name or purpose.
Change
Registered persons
 What does this mean for the entry in the commercial register?
Appointments and departures as well as changes to registered functions or signing rights need to be recorded in the commercial register.
Change
Capital or auditors
 What does this mean for the entry in the commercial register?
Changes need to be updated if they concern registered facts. Additional formalities may apply depending on the legal form and the type of change.

Changing your business address or headquarters: what’s the difference?

The business address or  domicile indicates the address at which your company can be reached. The company headquarters, on the other hand, refers to the political municipality in which the company is based.

For example, if a limited liability company moves from one street to another within the city of Bern, its domicile address changes, but its company headquarters is still Bern. If, on the other hand, it moves to another political municipality, this is a relocation of the headquarters.

In the case of a limited liability company or a private limited company, the headquarters are specified in the articles of association. If the company moves to another political municipality, the articles of association will also need to be amended.

Good to know

If your company is entered in the commercial register, PostFinance will apply the new domicile address as soon as it has been updated there.

Changing an entry in the commercial register for a sole proprietorship

Sole proprietorships need to update changes to information entered in the commercial register. In particular, this includes:

  • Change of company name
  • Change of company purpose
  • Change of domicile (address)
  • Change of company headquarters
  • Change of authorized signatories

The documents required for the change depend on the specific change being made.

Changing an entry in the commercial register for a limited liability company or a private limited company

For a limited liability company or private limited company, changes to information entered in the commercial register also need to be incorporated. Depending on the legal form, these include, in particular:

  • Change of company name
  • Change of company purpose
  • Change of domicile  or address
  • Change of company headquarters
  • Changes to partners, managing directors or boards of directors
  • Changes to authorized signatories
  • Changes to the capital structure
  • Changes in connection with the auditor

If the change concerns a statement that is also set out in the articles of association, the articles of association must also be amended. Depending on the legal form and the type of change, this may require public notarization.

How can I change the entry in the commercial register?

You can register changes with the relevant cantonal commercial registry. Many changes to the commercial register can also be processed via EasyGov. The documents and formalities required depend on the change and the legal form of your company.

You can record any changes to the entry in the commercial register with the relevant cantonal commercial registry. The documents required depend on the type of change and the legal form of your company. You should ask the relevant commercial registry which documents you'll need.

If you’re moving, what you need to do will depend on whether the company headquarters also change:

  • For a move within the same political municipality, your company headquarters remain the same. If the registered address changes, it must be updated with the relevant commercial registry.
  • Relocation to a different municipality in the same canton: the company headquarters will change. You need to register the change with the commercial registry of your canton.
  • Relocation to another canton: you need to register the change of headquarters with the commercial registry of the new canton. The participating commercial registry offices will coordinate the change of canton between themselves.

Companies already entered in the commercial register can make the following changes on the The link will open in a new window EasyGov online platform:

  • Change of company (company name)
  • Change of purpose
  • Change of headquarters
  • Adding, deleting and changing partners in the case of a limited liability company
  • Change of the composition of the board of directors of a  private limited company
  • Change of the composition of the management of  a limited liability company
  • General changes to the articles of association
  • Deletion of a company from the commercial register
  • Change of auditor

Different information and documents are required depending on the change. EasyGov will guide you through the relevant steps.

Manage your business data at PostFinance

Want to update information about your company at PostFinance or handle admin tasks yourself? Find out which self-service functions are available to you as a business customer.

Discover self-services for business customers

FAQs on changing your entry in the commercial register in Switzerland

  • Article 933 of the Swiss Code of Obligations doesn’t specify a particular deadline in days. However, you need to report any changes to the relevant commercial registry without delay.

  • The costs depend on the type of change and the required formalities. Besides the registration fee, you may incur costs such as public notarization or attestation, for example. EasyGov itself is free to use, but you’ll incur fees from the commercial register when registering via EasyGov.

  • Yes. With The link will open in a new window EasyGov, companies that have already been registered can process various changes to the commercial register online, such as changes to the company name, purpose or headquarters, as well as personnel changes at limited liability companies and private limited companies. The steps required depend on what you want to change.

  • Who can register a change depends on the legal form and type of change. Besides the company’s authorized persons, an authorized third party, such as a trust company, can also report an update. The power of attorney required for this must be signed by members of the highest management or administrative body who are authorized signatories in accordance with their signing rights.

  • No. The company headquarters correspond to the political municipality in which the company is based. If the company moves within the same municipality, only the address or legal domicile will change. If you move to a different political municipality, however, you’ll need to amend the company headquarters.

Note that the information in this article is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. The requirements for changes in the commercial register may vary and change depending on the legal form and type of change. If necessary, check the currently applicable provisions or contact the relevant commercial registry or a professional.

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