Form or buy?
Form a new company or buy a ready-made one?
Both routes give you a Swiss GmbH or AG with the same rights. The difference is time, steps and price. Here is the comparison, with our prices for both.
Side by side
| New formation | Ready-made company | |
|---|---|---|
| Our price (all-in, standard case) | GmbH CHF 1,290 · AG CHF 1,690 | GmbH CHF 5,900 · AG CHF 9,900 |
| Capital | You pay it into a capital deposit account | Already paid in; you acquire it with the company |
| Capital deposit account | Needed; many banks open it only for existing clients | Not needed |
| Typical duration | About 3–6 weeks (GmbH), 3–4 weeks (AG), per comparison sites | Transfer as soon as identification and signing are done; register entry of the changes |
| Incorporation date | New | Recent (shelf) or older (vintage) |
| Legal checks | Standard formation | Signed accounts showing capital intact (Art. 684a/787a CO) |
Our recommendation
If you have a few weeks and a bank ready to open the capital account, a formation is cheaper. If you need the company now, or the capital account is the obstacle, a ready-made company saves time. Many clients ask us for both quotes: send one request and we answer with both.
Total cost calculator
Know your all-in cost before you call.
Paid-in capital is not a cost: it stays in the company as its equity. Ready-made companies and GmbH/AG formations are priced all-in (notary and commercial register included for the standard case); for other services official fees are passed on at cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper?
Formation: from CHF 1,290 (GmbH) and CHF 1,690 (AG) all-in. A ready-made company costs more (CHF 5,900 / CHF 9,900) because it saves time and the capital-account step.
Is the capital lost when I buy?
No. You pay the capital to the seller, but it remains in the company as its equity, exactly as in a formation.
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Tell us what you need
A specialist replies within 2 business hours (Mon–Fri) with matching companies or a written all-in quote.
contact@swissshelf.ch
Geneva · Switzerland