2025-11-03 • 13 min
Registering a Company in Lausanne, Canton Vaud
Lausanne is Switzerland's innovation capital — home to EPFL, the Olympic headquarters, and a fast-growing tech ecosystem. Corporate tax rate is 13.79%.
Lausanne is Switzerland's innovation capital — home to EPFL, the Olympic headquarters, and a fast-growing tech ecosystem. Corporate tax rate is 13.79%. This guide covers everything you need to know about establishing a legal entity in Vaud (VD) — from choosing the right company type to post-registration compliance requirements.
"The Lausanne-Geneva corridor is Switzerland's Silicon Valley equivalent. EPFL alone has spun out over 350 startups since 2000. We've helped many of these teams with their first incorporation — the challenge is usually speed: founders want to move quickly, so we've streamlined the process to complete registrations in under 3 weeks. Markus Pritzker, SwissFirma"
Why Lausanne is Switzerland's innovation hub
Lausanne occupies a unique position in the Swiss business landscape: it combines the technical excellence of EPFL (ranked 14th globally) with the quality of life of a lakeside city and the international connectivity of the Geneva–Zurich corridor. The city hosts the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and several major tech companies including Logitech (founded in Lausanne), and Nespresso's global headquarters.
Innovation Ecosystem
EPFL + 350+ spinouts
Competitive Tax Rate
13.79% combined
Olympic Capital
IOC and 50+ sports federations
Tech Talent Pool
EPFL + UNIL graduates
Lake Geneva Location
Border with Geneva (25 min)
Corporate tax rates in Vaud (VD)
Effective combined corporate tax rate: 13.79%
Breakdown: 7.83% federal + 3.33% cantonal + 2.63% municipal (Lausanne)
Canton Vaud's corporate tax rate of 13.79% (for Lausanne city) consists of: 7.83% federal, 3.33% cantonal, and 2.63% municipal (Lausanne). Vaud adopted the TRAF reform measures in 2020, introducing an IP Box with an effective rate of approximately 8.8% on qualifying IP income and an R&D super-deduction of 50% of qualifying expenditure. The canton also offers a five-year tax holiday for qualifying new businesses that create employment in certain sectors. Vaud's flat cantonal rate ensures predictable tax planning for growing companies.
Minimum share capital requirements
- GmbH (Société à responsabilité limitée / Sà GL): CHF 20,000 — fully paid up at registration
- AG (Société anonyme / SA): CHF 100,000 — at least 50% paid up at registration
Key industries and sectors in Lausanne
Understanding the dominant industries in Lausanne helps you assess the local business ecosystem, available talent, and supplier networks.
Technology & Software
The Lausanne tech scene is among the most active in Europe. Companies like Kelvin.ai, Bestmile (autonomous transport), and MindMaze (neurotechnology) were founded here. The Innovaare and EPFL Innovation Park provide incubation space for deep-tech companies.
Medtech & Digital Health
The intersection of EPFL's bioengineering faculty and the proximity to major hospitals (CHUV — ranked among Europe's top 10) has created a strong medtech cluster. Companies in diagnostics, surgical robotics, and digital therapeutics regularly establish Vaud-based legal entities.
Sports & Olympic Economy
The IOC, FIFA (before its move to Zurich), and 50+ international sports federations are headquartered in the region. This has created demand for sports marketing agencies, sports technology companies, and legal services firms with sports arbitration expertise.
Food & Consumer Goods
Nestlé's global headquarters is in Vevey (Canton Vaud), and the region hosts a cluster of food science companies. The canton's tradition in food processing, combined with EPFL's food technology research, supports a growing food innovation sector.
Company formation in Lausanne: step-by-step process
The registration process follows standard Swiss federal law with canton-specific document requirements.
Choose between GmbH and AG
Startups and SMEs typically choose GmbH for lower capital requirements and flexibility. Scale-ups expecting external investment often prefer AG, which allows a simpler share structure for investors. Both are available in Vaud.
Prepare French-language incorporation documents
Vaud's official language is French. Articles of Association, director declarations, and the capital subscription list must be in French. SwissFirma provides all Vaud documents with English translations for non-French-speaking clients.
Deposit capital in a Vaud or Geneva bank
Blocked capital accounts can be opened at Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (BCV), UBS Lausanne, or Credit Suisse (now UBS). BCV is particularly helpful for new business clients and often processes accounts faster for Vaud registrations.
File with the Office du Registre du Commerce Vaudois
Submit the complete dossier (articles, capital confirmation, director declarations) to the Vaud Commercial Register in Lausanne. Processing takes 5 to 10 working days for complete applications.
Notify the tax authority
Register with the Service cantonal des impôts (SCI) for cantonal and communal taxes. VAT registration with the ESTV is mandatory if annual turnover exceeds CHF 100,000 — startups often need this from day one if they have international clients.
Ready to register your company in Lausanne?
Our lawyers handle everything from articles of association to commercial register filing. Most registrations complete in 2–4 weeks.
No commitment required. We respond within 24 hours.
Legal requirements and compliance in Vaud (VD)
All Swiss companies — regardless of canton — must comply with the Swiss Code of Obligations (CO) and the relevant federal and cantonal tax laws. The following requirements apply in Vaud (VD):
Key compliance checklist
- Registered address: A physical or virtual address in Vaud (VD) is required
- Swiss-domiciled director: At least one director or authorised signatory must be domiciled in Switzerland
- Annual financial statements: Prepared under Swiss GAAP (OR accounting) or IFRS for listed companies
- Statutory audit: Required for large companies (revenue > CHF 40M, total assets > CHF 20M, or > 250 employees); optional audit available for smaller entities
- Commercial Register: Maintain current director and shareholder records; report changes within 30 days
- Tax returns: Annual cantonal and federal tax returns due within statutory deadlines
- VAT registration: Mandatory if annual turnover exceeds CHF 100,000; voluntary registration possible below this threshold
- AHV/social insurance: All employed directors and staff must be registered with the relevant AHV compensation office
Commercial Register address in Vaud (VD)
All company registration documents and annual updates are filed with:
Office du Registre du Commerce Vaudois, Avenue de Longemalle 1, 1020 Renens
Online search and filing: https://www.vd.ch/registre-du-commerce
Notable companies registered in Lausanne
Nestlé (Vevey), Logitech, Philip Morris International (Lausanne HQ), Medtronic (EMEA HQ), Nespresso
See also: register a GmbH in Switzerland Swiss AG formation guide Swiss company formation for related Swiss business guides.
Frequently asked questions about company registration in Lausanne
Can a startup receive venture capital investment if registered as a GmbH in Vaud?
Yes, but with some limitations. A GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung / société à responsabilité limitée) does not issue freely transferable shares, which can complicate venture capital structures. Many VC-backed startups convert from GmbH to AG (Aktiengesellschaft) before a Series A round. SwissFirma can handle this conversion efficiently.
Does EPFL have a preferred company registration process for spinouts?
EPFL's Technology Transfer Office (TTO) manages spinout formation in partnership with SwissFirma and similar service providers. EPFL spinouts typically receive guidance on IP assignment, option pools, and employment agreements as part of the TTO process. We are experienced with EPFL spinout structures.
What is the corporate tax rate in Lausanne compared to Zug?
Lausanne's effective corporate tax rate is 13.79%, compared to Zug's approximately 11.85%. The difference is approximately 2 percentage points. For a company with CHF 1 million in taxable profit, this represents approximately CHF 20,000 per year. Many companies accept this difference in exchange for Lausanne's proximity to EPFL talent and the innovation ecosystem.
How long does company registration in Vaud take?
Typically 3 to 5 weeks from engagement to completed registration, including document preparation, notarisation, capital deposit, and Commercial Register filing. Expedited service is possible if all documents are prepared in advance.
Can I register a company in Vaud if I live in another canton?
Yes. The canton of registration does not need to match your personal residence. Many entrepreneurs register companies in Vaud for business reasons while living in Zurich, Geneva, or abroad. The company must have a registered address in Vaud, which SwissFirma can provide.
Ready to register your company in Lausanne?
Our lawyers handle everything from articles of association to commercial register filing. Most registrations complete in 2–4 weeks.
No commitment required. We respond within 24 hours.
About the author
Markus Pritzker
Corporate Lawyer & Off-Counsel at SwissFirma
Markus has guided over 300 companies through Swiss incorporation across all cantons. He specialises in cross-border structures, Swiss holding companies, and canton-specific tax optimisation. Learn more about SwissFirma.