Vintage · AGIncorporated 1994
Energy AG, founded October 1994
- Canton
- Appenzell Ausserrhoden
- Capital
- CHF 150,000
- Paid in
- –
- Status
- Available
- Bank account
- –
- UID
- –
Premium CHF 16,800
Reserve →
Shelf companies
Swiss shelf company: a registered GmbH or AG, ready to take over
A shelf company is formed in advance, entered in the commercial register and kept inactive with its capital intact. You take over a company that already exists, instead of waiting for a new formation.
Current inventory
Vintage · AGIncorporated 2011
Wine trade AG, founded December 2011
- Canton
- Zurich
- Capital
- CHF 100,000
- Paid in
- –
- Status
- Available
- Bank account
- –
- UID
- –
Premium CHF 13,800
Reserve →
Vintage · AGIncorporated 2000
HR consulting AG, founded December 2000
- Canton
- St. Gallen
- Capital
- CHF 100,000
- Paid in
- –
- Status
- Available
- Bank account
- –
- UID
- –
Premium CHF 14,800
Reserve →
Vintage · AGIncorporated 2006
Administration & HR AG, founded April 2006
- Canton
- Ticino
- Capital
- CHF 100,000
- Paid in
- –
- Status
- Available
- Bank account
- –
- UID
- –
Premium CHF 14,800
Reserve →
Vintage · AGIncorporated 1984
Property management AG, founded June 1984
- Canton
- Ticino
- Capital
- CHF 100,000
- Paid in
- –
- Status
- Available
- Bank account
- –
- UID
- –
Premium CHF 19,800
Reserve →
Vintage · AGIncorporated 2009
Brokerage & management AG, founded December 2009
- Canton
- Appenzell Ausserrhoden
- Capital
- CHF 863,115
- Paid in
- –
- Status
- Available
- Bank account
- –
- UID
- –
Premium CHF 40,800
Reserve →
Vintage · AGIncorporated 1954
Aviation engineering AG, founded October 1954
- Canton
- Zug
- Capital
- CHF 200,000
- Paid in
- –
- Status
- Available
- Bank account
- –
- UID
- –
Premium CHF 23,800
Reserve →
No company matches this filter right now. Send your criteria below and we will source one.
What exactly is a shelf company?
In Switzerland a shelf company (German Vorratsgesellschaft) is a GmbH or AG formed by a provider, registered, and then kept "on the shelf" without business activity. Its only asset is its paid-in capital. When you buy it, you take over the quotas or shares, appoint your managers or board, and adapt the articles of association: name, purpose, seat and sometimes capital.
It is not the same as buying an old, emptied company. A shelf company never traded, so it has no history of contracts, staff or debts. That is also why it falls outside the Swiss ban on trading empty shells: the ban covers companies that have no activity, no realisable assets and are over-indebted (Art. 684a and 787a CO, in force since 1 January 2025). A shelf company whose capital is intact is not over-indebted.
Why buy instead of form?
- The company already exists. Formation with online providers typically takes 3–6 weeks for a GmbH and 3–4 weeks for an AG. With a shelf company, only the transfer and the register entry of the changes remain.
- Capital already paid in. You do not need to open a capital deposit account, which many banks reserve for existing clients.
- One fixed, public price: from CHF 5,900 for a GmbH and CHF 9,900 for an AG, all-in for the standard case.
What a shelf company is not
It is not anonymous, not a tax shortcut and not a way to inherit someone else's track record. Every buyer and beneficial owner is identified, the change is published in the commercial register (GmbH members are public), and the company's beneficial owners must be reported to the federal transparency register in force since 1 October 2026. If you need an older incorporation date, see aged (vintage) companies.
How the transfer works
From request to registered owner
- 01 · Same day
Ask or reserve
Send the form. Within 2 business hours you get matching companies or a formation plan with a written all-in quote.
- 02 · 1–3 days
Identity & compliance
Identification of every buyer or founder and of the beneficial owner, origin of funds: the checks Swiss anti-money-laundering rules require.
- 03 · Signing
Documents
Share or quota transfer, new board or managers, changes to name, purpose or seat before a notary where needed. Remote signing can often be arranged.
- 04 · Register
Filing & follow-up
We file with the commercial register, follow up until publication and help with the transparency register and bank introductions.
Frequently asked questions
How fast can I own a shelf company?
You receive matching companies within 2 business hours. Signing can follow once identification is complete, often within days. The register entry of the changes then depends on the canton's processing time; we follow up until publication.
Do I need to come to Switzerland?
Often not. Many documents can be signed by power of attorney or with certified signatures abroad (with apostille). Where a notarial deed is needed, we tell you in advance how it can be arranged.
Do I need a Swiss resident director?
Swiss law requires that a GmbH or AG can be represented by at least one person resident in Switzerland (Art. 814 para. 3 and Art. 718 para. 4 CO). If you have none, we explain the options; resident director services are provided by specialised, AML-supervised partners.
What about the capital?
It stays in the company as equity: CHF 20,000 for a GmbH, at least CHF 50,000 paid in on CHF 100,000 for an AG. You pay it to the seller together with the price, because you acquire it with the company.
Reply within 2 business hours
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