Doing business in Switzerland
Expats doing business in Switzerland will find themselves amidst, arguably, one of the last bastions of a work culture built on 
merit. The Swiss have a knack for constructing well-oiled machines, and the business world operates in a similar manner; placing high priority on order and efficiency.
In terms of "Ease of Doing Business", the World Bank ranks this European heartland as 27th (out of 183 economies polled), a position that asserts that starting a business in Switzerland is not difficult, but also not as easy as in places like the UK and in Scandinavian countries.
Furthermore, the nation hosts an impressive assortment of European headquarters and houses over 1000 multinational organisations. Switzerland is often perceived as one of the world's most globalised destinations, and expats should not anticipate encountering any bias in the business world.
Business culture in Switzerland is unswervingly formal. A no-nonsense approach is attached to all processes and negotiations, with little room for humour or upreparedness. While the Swiss are generally considered less pedantic than the Germans and French, they still place a high emphasis on punctuality and appearance.
Respect is garnered through competence and performance, and hardly hinges on personal relationships. In fact, in the Swiss working world the personal remains entirely private; so much so, that first names are rarely used - both to reinforce formality and the separateness of work and play.
Though Swiss business culture is stringently heirarchical, with great respect being granted to those in senior positions, decision-making is nonetheless a somewhat egalitarian process in most firms. If assuming a management position, it's understood you'll be a role model and an authority source, but will avoid pretension and will afford your colleagues mutual respect.
Though Switzerland is a unique blend of numerous regional influences, business customs and etiquette are largely homogeneous; the exception being the nuances surrounding language.
Swiss law does not require business owners be granted government approval nor certification, nor does it distinguish between a Swiss-owned or foreign-owned business.
It follows that it's relatively easy to start a business in Switzerland; a process that requires six procedures and takes an estimated 20 days.
In a nation mostly made up of medium-sized and boutique business, expats looking to set up shop will find themselves amongst a fair number of peers.
Business Language: English is widely spoken and is often declared the corporate language of multinationals; that said, regional languages (German, French, Italian) are often used in their respective areas
Hours of Business Monday to Fridays, 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm
Dress: Formal and conservative; dark suits are normally reserved for the more austere banking institutions, otherwise; a sport jacket, shirt and tie will suffice for men, while trousers and corporate wear are acceptable for women
Gifts: Not a normal part of culture, but expected if invited into a colleague's home - flowers or Swiss chocolate will suffice
Gender equality: Equal, more and more women staring to take over senior positions
merit. The Swiss have a knack for constructing well-oiled machines, and the business world operates in a similar manner; placing high priority on order and efficiency.In terms of "Ease of Doing Business", the World Bank ranks this European heartland as 27th (out of 183 economies polled), a position that asserts that starting a business in Switzerland is not difficult, but also not as easy as in places like the UK and in Scandinavian countries.
Furthermore, the nation hosts an impressive assortment of European headquarters and houses over 1000 multinational organisations. Switzerland is often perceived as one of the world's most globalised destinations, and expats should not anticipate encountering any bias in the business world.
Business culture in Switzerland
Business culture in Switzerland is unswervingly formal. A no-nonsense approach is attached to all processes and negotiations, with little room for humour or upreparedness. While the Swiss are generally considered less pedantic than the Germans and French, they still place a high emphasis on punctuality and appearance.
Respect is garnered through competence and performance, and hardly hinges on personal relationships. In fact, in the Swiss working world the personal remains entirely private; so much so, that first names are rarely used - both to reinforce formality and the separateness of work and play.Though Swiss business culture is stringently heirarchical, with great respect being granted to those in senior positions, decision-making is nonetheless a somewhat egalitarian process in most firms. If assuming a management position, it's understood you'll be a role model and an authority source, but will avoid pretension and will afford your colleagues mutual respect.
Though Switzerland is a unique blend of numerous regional influences, business customs and etiquette are largely homogeneous; the exception being the nuances surrounding language.
Staring a business in Switzerland
Swiss law does not require business owners be granted government approval nor certification, nor does it distinguish between a Swiss-owned or foreign-owned business.
It follows that it's relatively easy to start a business in Switzerland; a process that requires six procedures and takes an estimated 20 days.
In a nation mostly made up of medium-sized and boutique business, expats looking to set up shop will find themselves amongst a fair number of peers.
Steps to starting a business in Switzerland
- Draft the articles of association in the presence of a notary public, who notarises the personal and corporate signatures on the application form and authenticate the articles of association and the public deed of incorporation.
- Place the paid-up capital in an escrow account with a bank
- File the deed certifying the articles of association to the local commercial register to obtain a legal entity
- Pay stamp tax at post office or bank after receiving an assessment by mail
- Register for VAT
- Enrol employees in the social insurance system (federal and cantonal authorities)
Business etiquette in Switzerland: Fast facts
Business Language: English is widely spoken and is often declared the corporate language of multinationals; that said, regional languages (German, French, Italian) are often used in their respective areas
Hours of Business Monday to Fridays, 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm
Dress: Formal and conservative; dark suits are normally reserved for the more austere banking institutions, otherwise; a sport jacket, shirt and tie will suffice for men, while trousers and corporate wear are acceptable for women
Gifts: Not a normal part of culture, but expected if invited into a colleague's home - flowers or Swiss chocolate will suffice
Gender equality: Equal, more and more women staring to take over senior positions
Do's and don'ts of business in Switzerland
- Do - avoid theatrics and loudness, the Swiss pride themselves on their reserved and unpretentious nature
- Do - come well-prepared to meetings; this means bringing supplementary materials for all parties involved
- Don't - be late. Punctuality, if you haven't noticed the Swiss watch-making stereotype, is paramount.
- Don't - try and integrate humour into the business environment.
- Do - make an effort to maintain good eye-contact and professional posture (crossing leg over knee, not extending legs or crossing at the ankle)
