Accountants and corporate service providers in Zurich

A foreign founder who looks for a Swiss accountant in Zurich is choosing among 91 firms, and the choice is mostly about language, company type and the kind of owner you are. Of these firms, 80 are accounting or fiduciary firms, 10 are corporate service providers and 1 is a law firm. Sizes range from small practices to larger networks: 63 are small, 19 medium and 9 are large networks.

Ordinary services are well covered: tax compliance (90 firms), accounting (77), company formation (67), payroll (66) and VAT (64). A second group of services is offered less widely: 37 firms provide corporate secretarial support, 33 offer a virtual office, 31 carry out audits and 19 help with residency. Only 9 say they help with opening a bank account, which is fewer than in Geneva, so ask early if you need that.

Firms in Zurich

detof

Accounting firm · Boutique firm

Zurich

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

Languages: English

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Findea AG

Accounting firm · Medium-sized firm

Zurich

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +4 more

Languages: German · English · French · Italian

View profile of Findea AG

FIZENTRA AG

Accounting firm · Boutique firm

Zurich

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +4 more

Languages: German · English · Russian · Greek …

View profile of FIZENTRA AG

67 more firms in Zurich

What the Zurich firms show about local clients

More firms here name private individuals as clients, 31, than any other group, followed by small and medium companies with 19 and start-ups with 10. 54 of the 91 firms say they focus on foreign clients. The industries that come up are start-ups, real estate and family offices, with crypto, funds and fintech each named by a few firms. A founder with a technology start-up or a property holding will find firms that name the same work, while a manufacturer or a retailer will need to ask for a reference.

The company types follow Swiss practice: 26 firms each handle the GmbH and the AG, 21 handle sole proprietorships and 9 handle holding companies. Associations and foundations are handled by 7 and 6 firms. The SECO SME Portal gives a GmbH a minimum share capital of CHF 20,000, fully paid in, and requires one representative living in Switzerland. For a non-resident, that residency rule is often the first practical question to put to a Zurich firm.

Languages in Zurich

German is the working language of 82 firms, with English at 64, French at 19, Italian of 8 and Russian of 7, with Spanish at 6. Mandarin, Japanese and Portuguese appear in small numbers. The eight Italian-speaking firms are gathered on the page for Italian-speaking accountants in Switzerland. Official forms, tax notices and notarial documents will reach you in German, so ask which firm translates them and answers in English.

Choosing a firm

Because the cantons keep the commercial register, a Zurich company is entered with the register of its own canton, as the SECO SME Portal describes. The firm you pick should know that office and its notaries. Five firms mention membership of the Swiss fiduciary association Treuhand Suisse and two mention EXPERTsuisse. Treat such a membership as a point to ask about, not a guarantee, and request the written scope, the fee basis and the named contact.

For the legal steps, read the guide to setting up a company in Switzerland, and for what a provider should cover, see company formation in Switzerland. Founders who want a canton known for holding structures can look at Zug, and those who prefer a French-speaking office can compare Geneva. One free quote request puts your brief in front of suitable firms.

Frequently asked questions

Which languages do accountants in Zurich work in?

In Zurich, 82 firms offer German and 64 offer English. French is offered by 19, Italian by 8 and Russian by 7. Official letters usually arrive in German, so ask who translates them for you.

Can a Zurich firm set up a GmbH or AG for a non-resident?

67 firms offer company formation, and 26 firms each handle the GmbH and the AG. Swiss law requires a representative who lives in Switzerland, so ask whether the firm can supply one or help you find one.

Do Zurich firms help with VAT?

64 of the firms deal with VAT. Registration is required above CHF 100,000 of turnover from goods and services in Switzerland and abroad, according to the Federal Tax Administration. Ask who submits the returns.

Are there Zurich firms that focus on foreign clients?

54 of the 91 firms say they focus on foreign clients, and 5 name expatriates among their client groups. Ask for a reference from a founder in your situation, such as a non-resident owner or a start-up.

Is Zurich the right city if my company needs help with a bank account?

Only 9 Zurich firms mention help with a bank account, compared with 18 in Geneva. Banks decide whether to accept a company. A firm can prepare the file but cannot promise the result.

Where do I read the legal steps for a Swiss company?

The country guide covers capital, notarisation and register entry. This page covers the Zurich firms only. Send one free quote request to compare scopes from several 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.