Opening a business in the Canton of Basel-City: trade register and costs (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• The legal form to open a business in the Canton of Basel-City is subject to several options.
• Registration in the trade register requires a specific minimum capital.
• Enrollment fees and insurance obligations must be met.

Key facts

• What: opening a business in the Canton of Basel-City
• When: not specified
• Where: Canton of Basel-City
• Who: entrepreneurs
• Amount: not specified

The Canton of Basel-City requires entrepreneurs to carefully choose a legal form to start their business on Swiss territory. The legal form selected directly influences the minimum capital required for incorporation and the related cantonal registration fees.

The most common legal forms in the Canton of Basel-City, in line with the Swiss Bond Code, include the limited liability company (SAR or Sagl) and the sole proprietorship, which has unlimited liability of the holder. For a Sagl, the federal law requires a minimum share capital of CHF 20,000 fully paid up, while the sole proprietorship does not provide for a minimum captive capital but exposes the founder's personal assets. By way of comparison with a neighbouring canton, Basel Campagna applies similar fees for registration procedures.

Registration in the commercial register of the Canton of Basel-City, located in Spiegelgasse, is a mandatory step for

Operational details

Choosing the legal form to open a business in the Canton of Basel-City is an important step. The legal form chosen affects the minimum capital required and the registration fees. The Srl (Limited Liability Company) requires a minimum capital of CHF 10,000, while the Srl (Individualized Limited Liability Company) has no specific minimum capital.

Registration in the commercial register is a mandatory step to open a business in the Canton of Basel-City. The trade register is responsible for registering information relating to companies active in the Canton. According to the cantonal law of 15 October 2015, entrepreneurs must submit an application for registration in the trade register within 30 days of opening the business.

Registration fees vary depending on the legal form chosen. The SRL requires a registration fee of CHF 2,000, while the Srl does not have a specific registration fee. In addition, entrepreneurs must pay an annual fee of CHF 500 for registration in the trade register.

Insurance obligations are another important aspect to consider when opening a business in the Canton of Basel-City. Entrepreneurs are obliged to take out accident and liability insurance. According to the federal law of March 20, 1981, entrepreneurs must have insurance against accidents and civil liability

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Key points

To open a business in the Canton of Basel-City, you need to follow the steps below:

1. Choose a specific legal form. 📊

• Limited liability company (SRL): it is the most common legal form for companies in Switzerland.
• Joint-stock company (SA): it is a more complex legal form, suitable for larger companies.
• Cooperative: it is a legal form suitable for cooperative enterprises.

2. Check the minimum capital required.

• According to Swiss law, the minimum capital for an SRL is CHF 20,000.
• For an SA, the minimum capital is CHF 100,000.

3. Pay the registration fees.

• According to the law of the Canton of Basel-City, the registration fees for an SRL are CHF 1,000.
• For an SA, the tuition fees are CHF 5,000.

4. Take out accident and liability insurance.

• Accident and liability insurance is mandatory for all companies in the Canton of Basel-City.

For more information, consult the commercial register of the Canton of Basel-City or a qualified professional.

Concrete example:

Suppose we want to open a small consulting company in the Canton of Basel-City. We choose to create a SRL with a capital of CHF 50,000. We will pay the registration fees of CHF 1'000 and take out accident and liability insurance for CHF 5'000 per year.

Cantonal references

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