Sagl
SMEs and start-ups
- Easy to manage
- Lower set-up costs
- Partners visible to the public
- Ideal for new ventures
Services · Company formation
Starting a company or a startup in Switzerland, from idea to launch.
From choosing between Sagl and SA to the corporate bank account, from the notarial deed to the Commercial Register filing: we follow you from the first idea to an active, well-managed company. Since 1982, with a main office in Mendrisio and offices in Lugano.
Service
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Fidav SA · dal 1982
The point
A decision that shapes years to come.
Setting up a company in Switzerland is a decision that affects taxation, credibility and operations for years. Fidav follows you from the first idea to a fully active, well-managed company.
We work with two profiles arriving with different needs but the same underlying question — "set me up properly": the local entrepreneur or professional giving shape to their own business, and those coming from Italy or abroad, drawn by the Swiss market and its stability.
- 01 Entrepreneurs in the Ticino region
- 02 Professionals structuring their business
- 03 Italian entrepreneurs moving to Switzerland
- 04 Foreign structures with a Swiss vocation
Sagl or SA
Choosing the right form.
The legal form is not a formality: it determines capital, liability, governance and how you are perceived by clients and banks. We do not start from off-the-shelf templates.
SA
Larger structures
- Greater confidentiality of shareholders
- Open to bringing in capital
- Strong image with clients and banks
- Suited to international groups
In which canton
Ticino, Zug or elsewhere.
The canton in which you incorporate the company affects taxation, image and operations. Ticino is the natural choice for those living on the border and working between Italy and Switzerland; other cantons, such as Zug, are often considered for holdings and structures with an international vocation.
Thanks to our network across Switzerland we can help you incorporate in the canton most suited to your project, not just where we have an office. It is a choice we make together, based on your real objectives.
Set me up properly. That is the underlying question of anyone opening a company.
The journey
Five steps, one operating company.
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01 Initial phase
Advisory
Project analysis, legal form and canton
We analyse the project and assess the legal form and canton that are most strategic from a tax and operational point of view. Partners, available capital, objectives, target market: nothing is taken for granted.
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02 Documentation
Preparation
Articles of association and shareholders' agreement
We draft and review the articles of association and any shareholders' agreement, tailored to the real project of the business and the governance dynamics expected.
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03 Bank
Capital & account
Opening the account and depositing the capital
We support you in opening the corporate account and depositing the share capital, coordinating with the Swiss banks we have worked with for decades.
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04 Notary · Register
Incorporation
Notarial deed and Commercial Register filing
We handle the notarial deed and the Commercial Register filing, following all corporate formalities. You sign: coordinating notary, bank and register is on us.
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05 Company life
Going live
The company is ready to operate
The company is registered and operating. We stay alongside you for accounting, payroll, tax and compliance: a single point of contact for the entire life cycle of the business.
Beyond incorporation
A company followed over time.
Setting up the company is only the beginning. From that moment you need tidy accounting, properly managed payroll, tax deadlines met and, for those not resident in Switzerland, a compliant domiciliation and representation.
You have a single point of contact — Fidav — for the entire life cycle of the business.
1982
Since 1982
0+
Active clients
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01
On the border since 1982
Main office in Mendrisio, offices in Lugano: a location that makes us a reference for those moving between Italy and Switzerland.
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02
Network across Switzerland
We can incorporate the company in the canton best suited to your project, not only where we have an office. Ticino, Zug and other cantons.
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03
Fiduciary director
For those not resident in Switzerland we offer a fiduciary director and domiciliation services, in full compliance.
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04
One single contact
Incorporation, accounting, payroll, tax, deadlines. Fidav stays by your side throughout the entire life cycle of the business.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions we hear most often.
Have a specific case you do not see here? Message us on WhatsApp: we reply within the day.
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Is a Sagl or an SA better for a service SME in Switzerland?
The choice depends on the capital you want to invest, the number of partners, the image you wish to project towards clients and banks, and the level of confidentiality you need. The Sagl (LLC) is often preferred by SMEs and start-ups for its simplicity; the SA (Ltd) suits larger structures or those open to bringing in additional capital. We analyse your case and recommend the most suitable form before moving forward.
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How much does it cost to set up a company in Switzerland, including notary, capital and fiduciary fees?
The cost depends on the legal form chosen and is made up of several items: the share capital to be paid in, the notarial deed, registration in the Commercial Register and the fiduciary fees. We prepare a clear and complete quotation based on your situation, with no hidden costs, so you know in advance the investment required.
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Do I need a director resident in Switzerland? Can the fiduciary act as director?
Swiss law requires that the company be represented by at least one person domiciled in Switzerland. If you do not reside in the country, we can support you with a fiduciary director and with our domiciliation services, so the company meets the requirements without you having to relocate. It is a very common solution for foreign entrepreneurs.
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Which canton is best for incorporation: Ticino, Zug or another?
The canton affects taxation, image and operations. Ticino is the natural choice for those working between Italy and Switzerland, while cantons such as Zug are often selected for holdings and international structures. There is no one-size-fits-all answer: we assess together where it truly makes sense, also thanks to our network across the whole of Switzerland.
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How long does it take to set up a Sagl in Switzerland if I am coming from Italy?
Timelines depend on the preparation of the documents, the opening of the account for the capital deposit and the Commercial Register filing. With the documentation in order the procedure is relatively quick. We follow you step by step, also remotely from Italy, coordinating notary, bank and register to avoid delays.
Let's talk
Want to open a company in Switzerland?
Message us on WhatsApp at +41 79 741 02 89 or call +41 91 640 40 20 for an initial assessment. Thirty minutes are enough to work out where to start.
- Reply within 24 working hours
- First exploratory call free of charge
- We also support foreign entrepreneurs remotely
Quick request