Employer duties are the same for everyone
An employer of staff working in Switzerland registers with a cantonal compensation office for old-age, disability and unemployment insurance, affiliates to an occupational pension fund once the salary exceeds the entry threshold, and insures staff against accidents. Contributions are shared between employer and employee and deducted from salary each month.
Without a Swiss entity
A foreign company with no Swiss establishment can still be an employer in Switzerland. In practice it must register with a compensation office as a foreign employer, or agree with the employee that the employee pays the contributions. Payroll, deductions at source and correspondence with authorities are then handled from abroad, in a system built for Swiss employers.
Permits
EU/EFTA nationals obtain a residence permit on presentation of a Swiss employment contract. Non-EU nationals require a work permit granted by the canton and approved federally, within annual quotas, on proof that no suitable candidate was found in Switzerland or the EU/EFTA. Our sister desk Swiss Work Permit Partners carries this procedure.
When to open the entity
From the second employee, or the first management position, a Swiss Sàrl is usually simpler: Swiss payroll, Swiss contracts, a local signatory, and a structure banks and landlords recognise. The Swiss Employer Setup product covers the registrations from the first salary.
- AVS/AI/APG and unemployment: compensation office
- Occupational pension: from the entry threshold
- Accident insurance: mandatory
- Non-EU hires: quotas and labour market test
Authorities decide; we prepare and carry the file. No timeline or outcome is guaranteed.