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Entry in the Swiss commercial register: a tedious obligation or an opportunity for your business?

27.02.2026

Founding a company is a conscious step. By the time they get to the commercial register, however, many founders find themselves asking fundamental questions. This article explains what companies are required to make an entry in the commercial register, how much it costs, and what rights and obligations are associated with it.

At a glance

  • Whether an entry in the commercial register is mandatory depends on the legal form – in the case of sole proprietorships, it also depends on revenue
  • The commercial register contains public company data and creates transparency
  • The costs vary depending on the canton and legal form, but are easy to plan
  • The entry brings advantages such as name protection and greater credibility and is a precondition for further steps in the case of corporations, such as paying in capital, for example via a capital payment account at PostFinance
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At first glance, an entry in the commercial register appears to be a formality. In actual fact, however, it is much more than mere bureaucracy. It determines whether your company is officially visible, what protection your company name enjoys and how you are perceived by business partners.

Do I have to enter my company in the commercial register?

In Switzerland, whether an entry in the commercial register is required depends primarily on the legal form of your company. This determines whether an entry is mandatory, what its legal effect is and the scope of the information entered.

The entry in the commercial register is always mandatory for corporations.

  • It is not until the registration has been carried out that the limited liability company or private limited company is legally established
  • Without an entry, these legal forms may not commence their business activities

The entry in the commercial register is therefore not an optional step, but a precondition for the existence of the company.

The entry in the commercial register is also mandatory for partnerships.

  • The company is not officially recognized until it has been registered
  • The entry governs, among other things, representation, liability and the company name

Particularly with more than one person involved, the entry ensures clear legal relationships.

In the case of sole proprietorships, the obligation depends on annual revenue:

  • From revenue of 100,000 francs per year, the entry in the commercial register is mandatory
  • If the revenue is lower, the entry is voluntary

In practice, this revenue limit is often underestimated – for example, when a secondary occupation grows rapidly or a larger order comes in.

When a voluntary entry in the commercial register makes sense

An entry in the commercial register can also be useful without a legal obligation. This applies particularly if:

  • you work with business partners or banks
  • you want to position your company professionally right from the outset
  • you place value on protecting your company name

In these cases, the entry often builds trust and makes the next entrepreneurial step easier.

What’s in the Swiss commercial register

The commercial register is public. It creates transparency and legal certainty for business transactions.

This information is publicly visible

Depending on the legal form, the entry in the commercial register details, among other things:

  • the name and legal form of the company
  • the company’s headquarters and address
  • the purpose of the company
  • the name of the owners or governing bodies
  • information on the capital (in the case of corporations)
  • auditors (if required)

What information is particularly important for company founders

For company founders, the entry in the commercial register is primarily relevant from a practical perspective. It clarifies key questions that frequently arise in everyday business:

  • Existence and legal form: the entry officially confirms that your company is legally established, including the chosen legal form
  • Authorized representatives: it clearly shows who can legally represent the company and who is authorized to sign
  • Liability and responsibility: depending on the legal form, it is clear who is personally liable and which bodies bear responsibility
  • Outward credibility: business partners, customers and banks use the commercial register to check companies and establish trust

This transparency is one of the most important reasons why the entry in the commercial register plays a key role in business transactions.

How to find entries online

Entries in the Swiss commercial register are publicly and digitally accessible. You can view, check and download entries online free of charge, both for your own company and for other companies.

The legal requirements for the commercial register and the information provided by the relevant commercial registries form the basis.

The most important official platforms are:

These enable you to maintain an overview at all times and to ensure that your company data is entered correctly and up to date.

How much does entry in the Swiss commercial register cost?

The costs for the entry in the commercial register vary depending on the canton, the legal form, the scope of the articles of association and the individual situation. They are generally one-off. Additional fees are only incurred if changes have to be reported later.

Cost framework:

Legal formCommercial registerNotary and attestationTotal (typical)
Legal form
Sole proprietorship
 Commercial register
Approx. CHF 80–120
 Notary and attestation
In most cases none
 Total (typical)
Approx. CHF 80–300
Legal form
Limited liability company
 Commercial register
Approx. CHF 420
 Notary and attestation
CHF 700–2,000+
 Total (typical)
Approx. CHF 1,200–3,000+
Legal form
Private limited company
 Commercial register
Approx. CHF 420
 Notary and attestation
CHF 1,000–3,000+
 Total (typical)
Approx. CHF 1,500–4,000+

Note: the costs mentioned take account of the registration fee, notary costs and typical certifications. They may be higher or lower depending on the canton and the effort required.

What are the benefits of an entry in the commercial register?

The entry in the commercial register is not just an obligation. It brings tangible benefits for your business:

  • Greater trust and credibility
  • Protection of the company name in Switzerland
  • Better starting position for financing and partnerships
  • Clear legal relationships

What obligations arise from the entry in the commercial register?

The entry in the commercial register comes with obligations that make business transactions more transparent and reliable. They primarily concern financial responsibility, the legal classification of the company and the currency of the information entered. It is important for company founders to be familiar with these obligations early on in order to avoid surprises later on.

Debt collection in the event of bankruptcy means that, rather than simply pursuing individual claims, formal bankruptcy proceedings are initiated.

For day-to-day business, this means that:

  • the company’s overall financial situation is reviewed
  • contracts, current obligations and assets are processed in a legally regulated manner

This regulation creates legal certainty for business partners, but requires that company founders undertake careful financial planning.

All information entered in the commercial register must be up to date and correct. If relevant information changes, companies are obliged to report it to the relevant commercial registry.

Among other things, the following must be reported:

  • Changes to company name or purpose
  • Changes to address or headquarters
  • Changes to authorized signatories or governing bodies
  • Changes to the legal form or capital (for corporations)

Failure to report changes or reporting them late risks legal consequences and unnecessary additional costs.

Checklist: entry in the commercial register – step by step

Commercial register registration follows clearly defined steps. A compact checklist will help you keep track and ensure you don’t forget anything. It shows you how to prepare and submit your entry in the commercial register.

Download checklist The link will open in a new window

You want to continue working on setting up your company afterwards or are about to take further administrative steps? PostFinance will support you with the necessary information and services for setting up a company – from planning to implementation.

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The most frequently asked questions about entry in the Swiss commercial register

  • Whether the entry in the commercial register is mandatory depends on the legal form of your company. It is always required for corporations such as limited liability companies and private limited companies. For sole proprietorships, registration is mandatory from an annual revenue of 100,000 francs.

  • Yes, as soon as the annual revenue reaches or exceeds 100,000 francs. If the revenue is lower, entry in the commercial register is voluntary, but may be useful from a business perspective.

  • The costs vary depending on the canton and legal form. For sole proprietorships, they are usually in the range of a few hundred francs. For limited liability companies and private limited companies, additional notary costs are incurred, which increases the overall costs.

  • Voluntary entry can be useful if you want to convey a professional image, work with banks or larger business partners or protect your company name.

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