TL;DR
- The company must be aware of which corporate housekeeping measures are required to reflect changes in its organisation.
- Use our free housekeeping generator suite.
- Book a free call with us.
What is it?
Corporate housekeeping refers to the regular actions required to keep a company’s administration in order, whether it is a GmbH/Sàrl or an AG/SA.
Why is it important?
Corporate governance is a key topic for startups. Keeping corporate documents up to date ensures legal compliance and supports business growth. It also simplifies future due diligence and investor onboarding.
An example is the election of board members. According to Swiss Federal Court practice, board mandates are not automatically extended. If no re-election takes place, the mandate ends 6 months after the end of the financial year.
Best practice is to elect board members for a two-year term but re-elect them annually to avoid unintended termination.
What should I do?
You must regularly update corporate documents to reflect reality.
Example: If the company moves its seat from Zurich to Lausanne, a general assembly must be held, the articles of association must be amended, and the commercial register must be updated.
A list of duties of the general meeting can be found here.
- General assembly: At least once per year within 6 months after financial year end
- Board structure: Uneven number of members or tie-breaking mechanism
- Board regulations: Required if more than one board member
- Board meetings: Minutes must be kept and signed
- Board elections: Two-year term with annual re-election
- Auditor: Opt-out or appoint an auditor
- Cap table: Maintain updated shareholder and CLA/SAFE overview
- Share register: Track shareholders and beneficial owners (>25%) and update after transfers
How do I get this done?
Use our free corporate housekeeping generator here.
Book a free call with us.
FAQ
FAQs
What is corporate housekeeping for a Swiss company?
Corporate housekeeping refers to the regular administrative actions needed to keep a company’s documents and registrations current. This applies to both GmbH/Sàrl and AG/SA and ensures legal compliance and supports growth.
How often must a Swiss company hold a general assembly?
At least once per year, within 6 months after the end of the financial year.
Do board mandates in Switzerland renew automatically?
No. Swiss Federal Court practice says mandates are not automatically extended. Without re-election, the mandate ends 6 months after the financial year. Best practice: two-year term with annual re-election.
What corporate documents must a Swiss startup keep updated?
Key documents: articles of association, board regulations (if multiple board members), board meeting minutes, cap table with CLA/SAFE overview, and share register tracking shareholders and beneficial owners above 25%.
