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Directory · French-speaking Switzerland

Commercial registers in French-speaking Switzerland

Find the relevant office for the canton where your business has its registered office. This directory links to practical pages for Geneva, Vaud, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Jura, Valais and French-speaking Bern.

Each cantonal page brings together contact details, opening hours and official links to search for a business, obtain an extract or complete a procedure.

Finding your way

Find the right office in 3 steps

1

Identify the canton of the registered officeThe director’s private home address is not the determining factor.
2

Open the cantonal pageYou will find contact details and local procedures there.
3

Use the official serviceSearches, extracts and filings remain the responsibility of the cantonal authority.

Important: Entreprendre.ch is not an official register. This page is an independent directory of offices in French-speaking Switzerland. Links labelled “official” lead to the authorities’ websites.

Identifying the relevant authority

Which register should you contact?

As a rule, registrations and changes are handled by the register of the canton where the business has its legal registered office.

The canton of the registered office

A Geneva company falls under the Geneva commercial register, even if its shareholders or directors live in another canton.

The specific case of Valais

The canton has several registry districts. Sion covers Central Valais and Saint-Maurice covers Bas-Valais.

Moutier since 2026

Since 1 January 2026, businesses with their registered office in Moutier fall under the Jura commercial register.

Office directory

Choose your commercial register

Select the canton or registry district that corresponds to your business’s registered office.

About Upper Valais: the Brig registry district mainly serves the German-speaking part of the canton. For a nationwide search or a business outside this selection, use Zefix.

Contact details verified with the cantonal authorities on 4 September 2026.

What would you like to do?

The right starting point depends on your procedure.

Official federal service

Search for a business

View published information on Swiss businesses free of charge in the central Zefix index.

Open Zefix

Official cantonal service

Obtain a certified extract

First choose the relevant office. Ordering methods and conditions vary by canton.

Choose the canton

Support from Entreprendre.ch

Start a business

Set up an LLC (Sàrl), a limited company (SA) or a sole proprietorship with support tailored to your project.

LLC formation from CHF 490 excluding VAT, including notary fees.

Start my business

Support from Entreprendre.ch

Update a company

Registered office, address, company name, business purpose, managing director, board member or signing authority.

From CHF 490 excluding VAT, depending on the service.

Update my company

How Switzerland is organised

Why are there several cantonal registers?

Commercial register law is primarily federal, but the registers are maintained by the cantons. The office in the canton of the registered office receives applications for registration, changes and removal from the register.

Zefix brings together the information published by the cantons in a national index. For a straightforward search, Zefix is therefore the most direct starting point. For a certified extract or an administrative procedure, you then need to contact the relevant cantonal office.

This directory helps you

  • identify the relevant office in French-speaking Switzerland;
  • quickly find its contact details;
  • access the detailed cantonal page;
  • reach the official portal for your procedure.
Romain Prieur, Swiss certified public accountant
Independent support

Starting or updating a company, with clear roles

Entreprendre.ch is a private platform led by Romain Prieur, a Swiss certified public accountant. We support entrepreneurs in preparing company formations and changes. Business searches, extracts and official decisions remain the responsibility of the cantonal authorities.

Frequently asked questions about registers in French-speaking Switzerland

Which commercial register should I contact?

Contact the register of the canton where the business has its legal registered office. Use the directory above to find the relevant cantonal page.

Can I search for all Swiss businesses in one place?

Yes. Zefix is the official central index that lets you search free of charge for businesses registered throughout Switzerland.

Where can I order a certified commercial register extract?

A certified extract must be ordered from the relevant cantonal register. Ordering methods and fees may vary. Each cantonal page contains the appropriate official link.

Which register covers a business in Moutier?

Since 1 January 2026, businesses with their registered office in Moutier fall under the Jura commercial register.

Why does Valais have several commercial registers?

Valais is divided into registry districts. The Sion register covers the districts of Sierre, Sion, Hérens and Conthey. The Saint-Maurice register covers Martigny, Entremont, Saint-Maurice and Monthey. Upper Valais falls under the Brig office.

Who must register with the commercial register?

LLCs (Sàrl) and limited companies (SA) must be registered. For a sole proprietorship, registration becomes mandatory, in particular, when annual turnover reaches CHF 100,000 for a business operated on a commercial basis.

Is Entreprendre.ch an official commercial register?

No. Entreprendre.ch is a private platform. We can help with starting a business or updating a company, but official registrations and extracts are handled by the cantonal authorities.