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Business account comparison Switzerland: individual company vs. GmbH/AG

When selecting for a Swiss business account there are many important aspects to consider. Besides the Fees should Functions for accounting and about also the IT security be taken into account. 

In this business account comparison Switzerland you will first find a clear table. Then there is a more detailed look to help you choose your company accounts.

Table of contents

Comparison criteria in the business account comparison

  • Suitability to the corporate structure: Sole proprietorship vs. GmbH/AG.
  • Costs: Monthly fees, transaction costs, foreign currency fees etc.
  • Interfaces: Connection to accounting software ( Bexio, Abacus etc.).
  • Functions: Availability of credit and debit cards, credit lines, optional investment deposit, financial advice.
  • Support: Accessibility and quality of customer support.
 

Here is a table summarising some popular providers and their services for sole proprietorships and limited liability companies/AGs:

Provider / NameSuitabilityAccount managementMapsFunctionsInterfaces
Zurich Cantonal Bank (ZKB)Sole proprietorship & GmbH/AGCHF 84 per yearDebit card CHF 40 per year; credit card from CHF 100 per year (free in 1st year)Credit cards; Debit cards; Credit lines; Investment deposit; Professional supportYes (accounting software)
UBS Corporate AccountSole proprietorship & GmbH/AGCHF 80 per yearDebit card CHF 50 per year; credit card from CHF 70 per year (free in 1st year)Credit cards; debit cards; credit lines; extensive servicesYes (accounting software)
Migrosbank Corporate AccountSole proprietorship & GmbH/AGCHF 36 per yearDebit card CHF 0 per year; credit card from CHF 100 per yearCredit cards; debit cards; financial advice; sound servicesYes (accounting software)
Free digital banksSole proprietorshipCHF 0 per yearDebit card without ongoing feeSimple banking functions; cost efficiency; limited support; virtual sub-accounts and savings pots; very attractive interest rates.No (no interfaces)

No guarantee of topicality.

Sole proprietorship vs. GmbH/AG: Which account is right for you?

  • Sole proprietorship: If you run a sole proprietorship, you do not have to keep a separate company account according to the law. As long as you are not subject to VAT (only from CHF 100,000 annual turnover), you can simply use a separate private account for your sole proprietorship. This saves you a lot of fees for a company account that you don't even need. Free digital banks could be exciting and cost-effective options for you. They offer simple banking functions, which are quite sufficient for basic bookkeeping, at a low cost.
 
  • GmbH/AG: If you run a GmbH or AG, you need double-entry bookkeeping and a business account to go with it. Offers from your respective cantonal bank, Migrosbank, Bank Cler or other providers could be exciting for you. When making your choice, you should consider your usage behaviour and then be sure to look at the following details.
 

Choosing the right corporate account depends on your specific requirements and financial needs. Don't forget that it is always advisable to regularly check the Swiss corporate account offers and adjust them if necessary.

Choosing your Swiss corporate account is an important decision that can have a long-term impact on your business finances. Here are some further considerations that may help you in your decision.

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Important aspects when comparing Swiss corporate accounts

Number of transactions

GmbH/AG: How many payments will you make per month on your new business account? Most Swiss business accounts distinguish between domestic and foreign payments.

Some banks even charge Fees for incoming payments (up to 50 centimes per receipt). Especially in a business model with many transactions, these costs can quickly become a downfall.

SEPA credit transfers in euro are free of charge at some banks, at others they cost up to CHF 6 per foreign transfer. Other currencies (non-SEPA) are usually even more expensive than euro transactions. So if you have suppliers abroad, pay close attention to transaction fees.

Sole proprietorship: If you choose a professional company account because you are already subject to VAT, note the points above. If you are just starting out and are starting with a separate private account for your sole proprietorship, you must transfer this to accounts of free digital banks do not take into account.

Functions of the Swiss corporate account

Which functions, conditions and possibilities do you absolutely need? Check which conditions are absolutely necessary. Here are some examples:

  • Foreign currencies: Do you need an account in US dollars, euros or other currencies?
  • Interface: Do you already have an accounting software that needs a compatible interface to the company account?
  • Overdrafts: Do you already know that your account is regularly overdrawn? Check what overdrafts cost.
  • Second cards: Do you need a second card for your Swiss company account? Is this possible at all and if so, at what price?
  • Sub-accounts: It can be very helpful for the success of your business if you have the option of sub-accounts in your business account. This allows you to separate your finances visually and you won't be surprised by a tax bill, for example, because you have built up reserves for this from the outset. Some banks offer free sub-accounts. For sole proprietorships, this can be done free of charge with the sub-accounts/savings pots at some banks. Digital banks map.
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Fees for foreign currencies

If you have suppliers or even customers abroad, you should check with the Foreign currency fees look closely. Foreign currency fees manifest themselves in the fairness of exchange rates.

How many francs do you have to pay for the supplier's invoice in euros from Germany? How many francs end up in your account when your customer from France pays you an invoice?

Depending on the volume and size, you can talk to the bank of your choice and negotiate special conditions.

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Interest rates for savings and optional investment deposits

If you have high account balances in your company, you will certainly want to keep them safe and attractively interest-bearing.

Sole proprietorship: In individual companies you can Private accounts with attractive interest rates fall back on.

GmbH/AG: Accounts for legal companies usually pay less attractive interest. A comparison is worthwhile, as is negotiating with your banker. If neither of these leads to the desired result, a possible way out in this case would be to invest in short-term federal bonds via the company account. In this case, high cash holdings are protected in the bank's special assets (remember the deposit guarantee up to CHF 100,000) and are not affected in the event of the bank's insolvency. Furthermore, this allows you to earn more attractive interest rates. In this case, however, be sure to seek advice from your bank and consider the tax consequences of the interest as well as the investment risks. In this case, an investment offer for the business account would be necessary.

Costs of the capital contribution

New formation of a GmbH or AG: If the account is also to serve as an incorporation account and you therefore need an account for the capital contribution of the share capital of your GmbH or AG, pay attention to the fees for this service.

Depending on the business account, the costs for a capital deposit range from CHF 0 to around CHF 250 throughout Switzerland. However, since these costs are only incurred once, you should not be blinded by a teaser offer. Other costs will be due forever later, so these are much more relevant for your company account comparison in the long term.

Sole proprietorship: No share capital required, therefore not relevant.

Future-proof

More and more international digital banks are launching their offerings on the market for Swiss corporate clients. Ideally you should Think long-term when comparing your personal Swiss company accounts and ask yourself whether this bank is the best choice for you in the long term.

Is the bank particularly cheap or does it have special offers? Don't be dazzled by this, but ask yourself how Financially stable it is and how it has handled crises in the past. After all, you want to make sure that your money is in good hands.

If your requirements for your Swiss company account change or if you have concerns about a bank, you can always change your company account later. A change can involve additional work (especially in accounting) and costs. Therefore, it makes sense, A long-term Swiss corporate account comparison right from the start to make.

Local presence, reputation and network

Is it important to you to have a bank with local branches (possibly also with your clients abroad)? Or perhaps a bank with a good local network that could serve you in business? Then pay attention to the possibilities that a bank can offer you in this case.

Because every customer and every supplier sees which bank you are with every payment, The choice of your Swiss business account gives you a certain reputation.. Conversely, a Lithuanian IBAN of a Revolut account is also only conditionally a serious bank account for a Swiss company.

The choice of the best Swiss corporate account for a start-up in the sustainability industry is more likely to lead to a matching bank. A real estate company, on the other hand, would probably rather go for a big bank with a prestigious name and a matching network. So the choice is always very personal and specific.

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Conclusion on the business account comparison Switzerland

There is no one best business account in our Swiss business account comparison. Rather, you should Pay attention to the most important aspects for you and your company and, based on this, make a sensible choice in the company account.

As Business account for Swiss sole proprietorships can also be a attractive private account be chosen. Ideally, you should choose a separate banking relationship and pay particular attention to the costs and interest rates.

With legal companies, many factors come into play and the choice of account should be made with a long-term perspective. A good bank supports the company in good times as well as in difficult times. and is as interested in your long-term success as you are.

What is your choice? Feel free to share your choice in the comments, including your reasons and which type of company you have!

6 responses

  1. Thanks for the compilation. How do you do this with a neobank (e.g. Yuh) if you issue an invoice as a sole proprietorship? Does the invoice always have to be in my personal name (on the payment slip)? Or how do you put the name of the sole proprietorship on it?

    1. In Switzerland, a sole proprietorship always includes the name of the owner. For example: "Finanzblogfirma Max Muster". Therefore, as far as I know (please correct me otherwise), you can list the company name and your name together on the invoice. This should also avoid any confusion regarding the account holder of the company account.

  2. Hello and thank you very much for the great summary! Is there still no free digital bank that can be integrated into Bexio? That would be so helpful!

    1. Hello Selina
      unfortunately not yet as far as I know. But I also hope that this will change soon!
      Hopefully including attractive interest rates, which are unfortunately also lacking on Swiss business accounts ...

  3. Great overview - thank you very much! I am currently looking for a suitable solution for me and have one more question. The accounting software usually allows you to import the bank statement file (camt.053). Of course, this must first be exported to the bank account. Does this bank statement file exist with neon and zak?

    1. Hello Tina,
      Neon and Zak do not offer this, unfortunately these are normal private accounts. The most you can export here is an XLSX or PDF.

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