Accountants and corporate service providers in Lugano

Lugano is the Italian-speaking city of Switzerland where a founder can run the whole conversation about a Swiss company in Italian. Accountanty has 33 firms here, and 30 of them work in Italian, as many as work in English. That makes the city different from Zurich and Geneva, where the local language is rarely Italian, and it is the reason many Italian entrepreneurs look at Ticino first.

The firm types are more mixed than in the larger cities: 20 accounting firms, 10 corporate service providers and 3 law firms. Sizes are 22 small, 8 medium and 3 large networks. 32 firms handle tax compliance and 30 offer accounting, 25 offer company formation, 25 run payroll and 25 deal with VAT. Corporate secretarial support is offered by 20 firms, residency help by 19, a virtual office by 12 and a bank account by 10. Nine audit. Residency help is more common here than in Zug or Zurich, which suits people planning to move.

Firms in Lugano

Altiqa

Corporate services provider · Boutique firm

Lugano

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +6 more

Languages: English · Italian · French

View profile of Altiqa

WMM Group

Corporate services provider · Medium-sized firm

Lugano

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +5 more

Languages: Italian · English

View profile of WMM Group

Arent SA

Accounting firm · Boutique firm

Lugano

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +6 more

Languages: Italian · French · German · English …

View profile of Arent SA

BBFID SA

Accounting firm · Boutique firm

Lugano

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +5 more

Languages: English · Italian

View profile of BBFID SA

Consval SA

Accounting firm · Boutique firm

Lugano

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +3 more

Languages: English · Italian · German

View profile of Consval SA

9 more firms in Lugano

Work the Lugano firms describe

Real estate is the industry named by the most firms, 13, ahead of banking and start-ups with 3 each and fintech with 2. Trusts are the entity type named most often, by 6 firms in the singular and 4 in the plural, together with foundations, companies and associations. Entrepreneurs are the client group named most, by 6 firms, followed by private clients and small and medium companies with 4 each, and families with 3. Foreign clients are a stated focus for 20 of them.

Several firms state credentials that are specific to Ticino or to financial supervision, such as registration in the Ticino fiduciary register, a trustee licence from the financial market supervisor FINMA and a licence as an audit expert. Each of these is stated by a single firm. If a firm’s offer depends on one, ask for the licence and which activity it covers.

Languages

Italian and English are each offered by 30 firms. German is offered by 16, French by 14 and Russian by 4. Because Lugano is the main city for Italian-speaking service in Switzerland, the page for Italian-speaking accountants in Switzerland is a useful second view of the same market.

Residence and admission

Founders from outside the EU and EFTA face limits. The State Secretariat for Migration says admission of non-EU and non-EFTA nationals is limited, while the SECO SME Portal says EU and EFTA nationals may be self-employed. A firm can explain the steps, but only the authorities decide. Ask each firm what it does itself and what it hands to a lawyer or notary. Request the scope in writing, including the fee for each step, before any signature or payment.

To compare, put the same brief to several firms: the legal form, the registered address, the accounting scope and the languages. You can also look at nearby pages for Chiasso and Mendrisio, both in southern Ticino, and the guide to setting up a company in Switzerland. A free quote request puts the same brief in front of suitable firms.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work with a Lugano accountant entirely in Italian?

Yes. 30 of the 33 firms work in Italian, and 30 also work in English. German is offered by 16 and French by 14. Check that the firm can issue its reports in the language you read.

Do Lugano firms help with company formation for foreigners?

25 firms offer company formation and 20 say they focus on foreign clients. Ask whether the firm arranges the notary, the bank account for the capital and the register entry, or only the application.

Is Lugano a good choice for a trust or foundation?

Trusts are named by 6 firms and foundations by 3. These structures involve financial supervision and legal advice beyond accounting, so ask the firm which licence it holds and what it will not handle.

Do Lugano firms help with moving to Switzerland?

19 firms mention help with residency or visas. Admission for non-EU and non-EFTA nationals is limited, so confirm the position with the authority before you rely on any firm's advice.

How many Lugano firms offer a registered address?

12 firms offer a virtual office and 20 offer corporate secretarial support. Confirm that the address can be used as the company's domicile and who receives official mail.

Which nearby cities can I compare with Lugano?

Chiasso and Mendrisio are in the same part of Ticino, with 3 firms each. Zurich and Geneva have more firms in German and French. Use one free quote request to reach suitable firms.

Other cities in Switzerland

Services in Switzerland

Setting up a company in Switzerland: the guide and every firm

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and fees change: check them with the official sources linked on this page or with a qualified adviser before you act.