PRICING
Swiss foundation pricing: indicative cost ranges
Establishing and running a Swiss foundation involves several distinct cost components. The figures on this page are indicative ranges drawn from current market practice. They are provided to help you plan and form realistic expectations, not as a quote or a fixed price. Every foundation is different, and your actual costs will depend on factors explained below.
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No statutory minimum capital
Swiss law sets no minimum. CHF 50,000 is the supervisory authority's practical expectation for a charitable foundation, not a legal requirement.
Two cost categories
A one-off amount to establish the foundation, and recurring annual costs to operate and supervise it.
Complexity drives cost
A simple charitable grant-making foundation sits at the lower end of every range. Foreign founders, complex assets, or operating activities sit well above it.
Cost breakdown
Indicative cost table
All figures are in Swiss francs (CHF). Ranges reflect current market practice as of 2026 and are indicative only, confirmed in a formal quote.
| Component | Frequency | Indicative range (CHF) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital endowment | One-off | CHF 50,000 (supervisory practice threshold) | No statutory minimum; proportionality to purpose is the legal test. Capital may be cash, real estate, or transferable assets. |
| Notarisation | One-off | CHF 1,000–3,000 | Set by cantonal tariff; not negotiable. Varies by canton and document complexity. |
| Legal and advisory fees | One-off | CHF 5,000–15,000 | Lower end: straightforward charitable foundation. Higher end: complex cross-border structures, family foundations, tax-exemption work. |
| Commercial-register entry | One-off | CHF 500–1,000 | Required for most foundations to acquire legal personality. Family foundations under ZGB Art. 335 are not entered. |
| Supervisory-authority establishment fee (ESA) | One-off | CHF 2,500–5,000 | Applies to federally supervised foundations. Cantonal foundations pay their authority's schedule instead. |
| Typical all-in setup total | One-off | ≈ CHF 10,000–20,000 | Excluding capital endowment. Simple structure at lower end; complex or cross-border at higher end. |
| Annual supervisory-authority fee (ESA) | Annual | ≈ CHF 750–2,000 | Varies by foundation size and complexity. Cantonal foundations on different schedule. |
| Audit (limited or ordinary, where required) | Annual | CHF 3,000–8,000 | Small foundations with balance-sheet total below CHF 200,000 for two consecutive years may qualify for audit exemption. |
| Annual administration | Annual | CHF 5,000–25,000+ | Depends heavily on activity level, number of transactions, and whether the board is active or requires full administrative support. |
| Typical annual running total | Annual | ≈ CHF 10,000–30,000+ | Lower end: small, simple structure. Higher end: larger or more complex foundation with full administration. |
Indicative figures only. Not an offer. Confirmed costs are set out in a formal engagement letter.
Price drivers
What affects the price
Foundation type
A charitable foundation seeking tax exemption requires an application to the cantonal, and often federal, tax authority, adding advisory time. A family foundation has a different profile: no commercial-register entry, no state supervision, but restricted purposes.
Foreign founders and cross-border complexity
If you are based outside Switzerland, additional requirements apply: Swiss domiciliation, potential bank-account-opening complexity, and cross-border compliance such as CRS, FATCA (for US persons), or UK HMRC implications. Foreign-founder instructions generally fall in the upper part of the advisory-fee range.
Canton
Notary tariffs, supervisory-authority fees, and cantonal registration costs vary by canton. Zug, Zurich, and Geneva each have different fee schedules. We will advise on the most appropriate canton for your structure during the consultation.
Complexity of assets
A foundation holding a single cash endowment is straightforward to administer. One holding real estate, a portfolio of securities, or shares in operating companies requires more specialist accounting and audit attention, and annual costs will reflect this.
Our scope
What's included in our fees
- Initial consultation, assessing objectives, advising on structure type and canton, outlining realistic costs and timeline
- Drafting, foundation charter, regulations, board appointment documents
- Process management, notary coordination, supervisory-authority submission, commercial-register filing
- Ongoing administration (where instructed), annual accounts, supervisory reports, audit coordination, board support
Third-party costs billed separately:
Notary fees, register fees, supervisory-authority charges, and external audit are billed at cost.
Important notes
What is not included and why figures are indicative
We do not provide tax advice on your personal jurisdiction, for example, UK, US, or German tax implications of holding a Swiss foundation. We recommend engaging a tax adviser in your country of residence alongside our Swiss foundation advisory. Tax outcomes depend on your personal circumstances and cannot be guaranteed.
The figures on this page are indicative only and do not constitute a formal offer, quotation, or contract. Costs are confirmed in writing in an engagement letter. Cantonal fee schedules change; notary tariffs vary by canton and document complexity; and individual circumstances materially affect advisory time.
Initial consultations carry no obligation to proceed.
Get a tailored estimate
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Once we understand your specific situation, type of foundation, canton, founders' residence, assets, and objectives, we can provide a clear, itemised estimate. No obligation to proceed.
For further reading: Foundation setup timeline · Foundation types and cost profiles · Board duties and ongoing obligations
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