You have already decided to start as a sole proprietorship. Now the only question is: Do I need to register in the Commercial Register, and how do I actually do it? This article therefore focuses exclusively on the registration itself, not on AHV, VAT, or whether you need a business at all. <\/p>\n\n
As a general rule, registration in the Commercial Register is mandatory for sole proprietorships if you operate a business run in a commercial manner and your annual turnover exceeds CHF 100,000. Otherwise, registration is voluntary. <\/p>\n\n
For many Thai nationals and expats, the practical benefit is more important than the theory: having a Commercial Register entry often makes your business appear more \u201cofficial\u201d to landlords, banks, suppliers, and larger clients. In addition, the business name is protected within the legal framework once registration becomes mandatory, meaning from CHF 100,000 annual turnover onward. <\/p>\n\n
Important: in the case of a sole proprietorship, the business does not only come into existence through registration, unlike, for example, a GmbH or an AG. For a sole proprietorship, registration is therefore more of a formal recording. In some cases, it is compulsory, in others voluntary. <\/p>\n\n
It is therefore entirely possible to start without registration at first, especially since many businesses do not reach a turnover of CHF 100,000 right from the beginning.<\/p>\n\n
The Canton of Zurich explains the initial registration process on the Commercial Register website quite clearly. For the first-time registration of a sole proprietorship, you essentially need three things: the registration form, proof of identity, and a notarised signature sample. <\/p>\n\n