Home›Blog›Starting a business
Starting a business

Commercial Register Entry for Sole Proprietorships: Obligation, Process and Costs

When is commercial register entry mandatory for sole proprietorships? Process, costs, advantages and disadvantages, amendments and deletion -- all information at a glance.

e
einzly Redaktion
Tax & Finance Editorial
6 min read
2 Mar 2026

01When Is the Commercial Register Entry Mandatory?

The rule is clear and set out in OR Art. 934 Para. 1: Sole proprietorships that achieve an annual turnover of at least CHF 100'000 must register in the commercial register. This turnover threshold refers to gross turnover (gross revenue) -- not profit.

The turnover is assessed on the basis of the last completed financial year. If you reach the CHF 100'000 threshold for the first time in the current year, you are obliged to register within a reasonable period. The law does not specify a fixed reporting deadline, but the cantonal commercial register offices expect registration within a few months.

The obligation applies automaticallyThe registration obligation arises automatically upon reaching the turnover threshold -- you do not need to wait for someone to request it. Anyone who ignores the obligation can be registered ex officio by the commercial register office (OR Art. 934 Para. 2) and must expect fees and regulatory fines.
Annual TurnoverCommercial Register ObligationBookkeeping Obligation
Under CHF 100'000No (voluntary)Simplified (income-expense statement)
CHF 100'000 -- 499'999Yes (mandatory)Simplified (income-expense statement)
From CHF 500'000Yes (mandatory)Ordinary (double-entry bookkeeping)

02Voluntary Entry: Advantages and Disadvantages

Even if your turnover is below CHF 100'000, you can voluntarily register in the commercial register. If you are still in the formation phase, you will find all the steps in our article on setting up a sole proprietorship. The voluntary entry has definite advantages -- but also a few disadvantages you should be aware of.

AdvantagesDisadvantages
Company name protection in the canton: Nobody may use a confusingly similar nameCosts: CHF 120--400 depending on the canton (one-time fee)
Professional appearance: Commercial register entry signals credibilityPublic visibility: Name, address and purpose are accessible to anyone (zefix.ch)
Prerequisite for a business account with some banksDebt enforcement office has direct access to commercial register data
Public sector clients often require a commercial register entryChanges (e.g. change of address) must be reported -- fees apply
UID number is assigned automaticallyDeletion upon cessation of business must be applied for
Our recommendationIf you intend to remain self-employed long-term, voluntary registration is almost always worthwhile. The company name protection alone is worth the money. Moreover, you will need the registration at the latest when you reach the CHF 100'000 threshold.

03Registration Process: Step by Step

Registering with the commercial register is not a bureaucratic monster. Depending on the canton, you can handle most of it online. Here is the process:

1
Check company name:

Check on zefix.ch (Central Business Name Index) whether your desired company name is already taken or confusingly similar. The name must contain your surname (e.g. 'Mueller IT Services'). Fantasy names without a surname are not permitted for sole proprietorships.

2
Complete the registration form:

Most cantons offer online registration forms (easygov.swiss or cantonal portals). You need: Firm (name), purpose (business activity), domicile (business address), details of the owner (surname, first name, date of birth, place of origin, address), type of signing authority.

3
Certified signature:

You must submit a certified signature. You can obtain this from the municipality (certification by the municipal clerk) or from a notary. Costs: approx. CHF 20--50.

4
Submit registration:

Submit the form with the certified signature to the cantonal commercial register office -- online, by post or in person. The office reviews the details and the company name.

5
Publication in the SHAB:

After review, the entry is published in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (SHAB). From this moment, your firm is officially registered in the commercial register and publicly accessible.

6
Receive UID number:

With the commercial register entry, you automatically receive a Business Identification Number (UID). The format: CHE-123.456.789. You need the UID for VAT, OASI and other dealings with authorities.

Duration: approx. 1--3 weeksProcessing takes 1 to 3 weeks depending on the canton and workload of the register office. In urgent cases, some cantons offer express processing for an additional fee.

04Required Details and Costs

When registering, you must provide certain mandatory details that are published in the commercial register. The Commercial Register Ordinance (HRegV) regulates the details.

DetailMandatoryExample
Firm (name)YesMeier Webdesign
Domicile (municipality)YesZurich
Business addressYesMusterstrasse 12, 8001 Zurich
Legal formYesSole proprietorship
Purpose (business activity)YesCreation of websites and web applications
Owner (surname, first name, place of origin)YesMeier, Anna, of Bern
Signing authorityYesOwner with sole signing authority
Date of birth of the ownerYes01.01.1990

The costs vary by canton:

Cost ItemAmount
Commercial register entry feeCHF 120--400 (varies by canton)
SHAB publicationIncluded in the entry fee or approx. CHF 30--50
Signature certificationCHF 20--50 (municipality) or CHF 50--100 (notary)
Total costs typicallyCHF 170--500
Register via easygov.swissVia the federal portal easygov.swiss, you can complete the commercial register application online for many cantons. This saves a trip to the office and is often cheaper than individual registration.

05Reporting Changes and Applying for Deletion

Once registered, you must report changes to the registered details to the commercial register office. This applies to:

  • Change of company name (e.g. upon name change through marriage)
  • Change of business address or domicile
  • Change of business purpose
  • Change of signing authority

A fee is charged for each change (typically CHF 50--200). The change is also published in the SHAB.

Upon cessation of business activity, you must apply for deletion (OR Art. 934 Para. 1). The deletion is published in the SHAB and the firm is then no longer registered. If you forget to apply for deletion, the commercial register office can delete you ex officio after a certain period of inactivity.

Do not forget the reporting obligationAnyone who fails to report changes risks a regulatory fine and fees for ex officio registration. Report changes promptly -- including a move within the same canton.

06SHAB, Zefix and UID Number Explained

There are three important terms and systems relating to the commercial register that you should know as a sole proprietorship owner:

  • SHAB (Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce): The official publication organ of the Confederation for commercial register notifications. Every entry, amendment and deletion is published in the SHAB. Since 2023, the SHAB only appears electronically at shab.ch.
  • Zefix (Central Business Name Index): The public search engine for all firms registered in the Swiss commercial register. At zefix.ch, you can search for company names, retrieve commercial register extracts and check whether a name is already taken. Zefix is free of charge.
  • UID (Business Identification Number): A unique identification number in the format CHE-123.456.789, assigned to every company registered in the commercial register. The UID replaces the old commercial register number and is also used for VAT purposes (VAT number = UID + 'MWST'). The UID register is accessible at uid.admin.ch.
SystemURLPurpose
SHABshab.chPublication of commercial register entries and changes
Zefixzefix.chSearch for registered firms
UID Registeruid.admin.chSearch for UID numbers
EasyGoveasygov.swissOnline commercial register application
UID number even without commercial register entryEven if you are not registered in the commercial register, you receive a UID number as soon as you register for VAT or with OASI as a self-employed person. The UID is the central identifier for all dealings with authorities.

07Bookkeeping and Commercial Register Entry with einzly

The commercial register entry is a milestone for your sole proprietorship -- it shows that your business is growing. At the latest now, you need proper bookkeeping that cleanly documents your turnover. You can find an overview of all legal forms in our legal form comparison.

einzly supports you with this:

  • Turnover overview in real time: See at any time where you stand in relation to the CHF 100'000 threshold -- einzly shows you the cumulative annual turnover on the dashboard
  • Store UID and VAT number: Enter your UID and it automatically appears on all invoices -- legally compliant and professional
  • Invoices with all mandatory details: Company name, address, UID, VAT number -- einzly ensures nothing is missing
  • Income-expense statement or double-entry bookkeeping: Under CHF 500'000 turnover, the simple income-expense statement suffices. einzly generates it automatically
  • Archive documents digitally: You fulfil the 10-year retention obligation (OR Art. 958f) with einzly's audit-proof document archive
Start before you have toSet up your bookkeeping with einzly before you reach the CHF 100'000 turnover threshold. This way, you already have everything cleanly documented when the mandatory commercial register entry is due and can provide the turnover proof at the push of a button. Try free for 30 days.

08Frequently Asked Questions about Commercial Register Entry

The commercial register office can register you ex officio (OR Art. 934 Para. 2). You then bear the costs plus any regulatory fines. In addition, the tax authority or the OASI compensation office can inform the commercial register office if they notice that you have exceeded the threshold.
The total gross turnover from business activity counts -- regardless of whether the turnover is generated in Switzerland or abroad. The decisive factor is the gross revenue per OR Art. 934 Para. 1.
Yes. A name change must be reported to the commercial register office and is published in the SHAB. Fees apply (approx. CHF 80--200). The new name must still contain your surname and must not be confusingly similar to already registered firms.
No. The commercial register entry is a registration of your company. A trade licence (e.g. for hospitality, healthcare professions or financial service providers) is an official authorisation for specific industries. Depending on the canton and industry, you may need both or only one.
Via the Central Business Name Index (zefix.ch). Enter your desired name and check whether identical or confusingly similar names are already registered. The search is free of charge. Note: Company name protection primarily applies within the canton -- nationwide for identical names.
Share