Establish a sole proprietorship in the canton of Basel-Stadt
Establish a sole proprietorship in Canton Basel City: the path to your own business.
Establish a sole proprietorship in the Canton of Basel City
Basel-City is renowned for its strong pharmaceutical and chemical industries, offering significant advantages for setting up companies in these sectors. Starting a sole proprietorship in this city is particularly attractive for those in international trade or research. Basel's central location at the crossroads of three countries facilitates access to markets in Germany and France. The Basel-City Trade Registry ensures quick and easy business registration. The University of Basel and several specialized schools offer important opportunities for collaboration. In addition, Basel's vibrant cultural scene increases the city's attractiveness for entrepreneurs.
Set up a sole proprietorship in Basel City Canton: here's how to do it!
Calculate a non-binding offer
Enter your start-up project conveniently online and benefit from cost sharing from our partners. In just a few steps you can compose your customized start-up package.
Enter the data of the sole proprietorship
After calculating the non-binding offer, enter your company details. At this point you can order the incorporation of the company.
Get in touch
Our attorneys will contact you within the specified time (often less than 24 hours). You will receive all incorporation documents, discuss any uncertainties, and schedule a personal consultation.
Check the documents
You can consult, print and sign all the constituent documents at your convenience at home.
Authenticate signature
At this point you must obtain official certification of the signature (e.g., from the local authority). This confirms that the signature is indeed yours.
Entry in the commercial register
We submit all incorporation documents to the commercial register and ensure that your company is successfully registered in the commercial register. In the case of corporations, the paid-up capital is transferred to a business account after publication and is available to your company.
Celebrate
Congratulations on the successful founding of your company. Your company is now active and can operate.
Definition of a sole proprietorship in Switzerland
We believe that personalized advice is the key to best understanding our clients' individual needs and challenges and offering tailored solutions.
Setting up a sole proprietorship: Advantages
- No minimum capital required — start immediately
- Tri-national location (CH/DE/FR) — direct access to European markets
- Global pharma and life sciences hub: Novartis, Roche, and hundreds of SMEs
- University of Basel and multiple research institutes offer talent and collaboration
- Strong international business culture and multilingual workforce
- Excellent infrastructure including EuroAirport and international rail connections
Setting up a sole proprietorship: Disadvantages
- Unlimited personal liability — private assets at risk
- High office rents — among Switzerland's most expensive outside Zurich and Geneva
- Pharma and chemical sectors dominated by global corporations — hard to compete directly
- Business income taxed as personal income
- High cost of living for employees and owners
- Moderate cantonal tax rates — not as competitive as Zug or Schwyz
What should I consider if I want to set up a sole proprietorship in the Canton of Basel City?
The family name must appear in the company name: for example, Müller Malerbetrieb or Keller Montagen, but the company name must not be misleading or descriptive. Company names such as Rudolf Stahlhandel AG are therefore not allowed if the company does not trade in steel.
Business registration is generally optional up to a turnover of 100,000 Swiss francs. However, entry in the commercial register is recommended in any case. The excerpt from the commercial register is always very useful: for example, for opening a bank account, for opening a P.O. box or a safe deposit box, in international trade, for one's telephone connection, and much more.
The following points must be observed when collecting retirement benefits: You must be able to credibly prove to the relevant compensation office that you will be self-employed. To do this, you must fill out the attached AVS form and attach appropriate evidence, such as three offers to potential clients, three invoices already issued to clients and a business plan for your project.
To apply to the pension fund, a neat file with all forms and documents should be prepared. If possible, it is advisable to make an appointment with the relevant authority and bring the file in person or appear in person at the compensation fund. Experience shows that in this way the authorities have more confidence in your project and your application has a better chance of success.
What you need to know about sole proprietorship!
Key Facts: Sole Proprietorship in Basel-City
- No minimum capital required.
- Owner must be a Swiss resident.
- Commercial Registry entry mandatory above CHF 100,000 annual turnover.
- Business name must include the owner's surname.
- Unlimited personal liability — private assets are at risk.
- Simplified bookkeeping allowed; income and expense records required.
- Business income taxed as personal income (Basel-City cantonal + federal rates).
- Mandatory AHV/IV/EO registration as self-employed from day one.
- VAT registration required once revenue exceeds CHF 100,000/year.
- Basel-City suits service and research businesses targeting the pharma/biotech ecosystem.