So you want to start a business in Switzerland
The Swiss Biz Builder Sessions – episode #1
08 January 2026
Listen now!
What makes Switzerland such an attractive place to start a business—and what do expats often underestimate before they begin?
In this opening episode of the Omnia Mea Compass – Swiss Biz Builder Sessions, we launch an eight-part mini-series created for expats in Switzerland who feel drawn to self-employment, entrepreneurship, or building a business alongside an existing career.
Host Susan Platt is joined by Libby O’Loghlin—author, content strategist, and co-founder of a Swiss climate-tech startup—for an honest, grounded conversation about what it really takes to start a business in Switzerland as an expat.
Together, they explore why Switzerland continues to attract founders from around the world, where newcomers are often caught off guard, and why long-term success depends less on speed—and more on patience, precision, and trust.
What you’ll learn in this episode
✅ Why Switzerland remains one of the most stable and attractive countries for starting a business
✅ Which sectors are currently seeing the strongest growth
✅ The most common challenges expats face—legal, financial, cultural, and emotional
✅ How residency status and permits affect your business options
✅ Why mindset, patience, and trust-building matter more than speed
✅ What to remind yourself when overwhelm hits and everything feels like “too much”
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the mini-series for expats in Switzerland
04:07 Why Switzerland is attractive for business
08:05 Challenges faced by expats
12:37 Financial considerations
15:40 The right mindset for starting a business
16:59 Navigating legal and bureaucratic hurdles
18:08 Consistency, trust, and reputation
21:15 Overcoming overwhelm
24:24 Networking in Switzerland
26:14 Values and long-term thinking
27:55 Conclusion and next steps
Key Takeaways
- Switzerland offers political stability, a strong economy, high purchasing power, and world-class infrastructure. With record numbers of new businesses formed in recent years, it continues to be an appealing place to build—especially for those willing to play the long game.
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Starting a business anywhere is complex. Doing so in a foreign country adds extra layers: Residency and work permit requirements / Different rules for EU/EFTA vs. non-EU founders / High living and operating costs / Cantonal differences in bureaucracy and taxation / Language and cultural expectations around precision, punctuality, and trust
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Switzerland rewards consistency, clarity, and reliability—not shortcuts. Susan shares why successful expat founders tend to adopt the mindset of a curious learner and quietly courageous trailblazer: someone willing to learn the system, take steady steps, and build trust over time. You’ll also hear practical guidance on how to deal with overwhelm, self-doubt, and the pressure to “have it all figured out” before you begin
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You don’t need to “be ready”—you already have more skills and resources than you think
Quotes
“Overwhelm is often a sign of mental overload—not personal inadequacy.”
“You don’t need the whole path. You just need the next step.”
“Courage here isn’t loud or flashy. It’s the quiet decision to keep showing up.”
Resource mentioned in this episode
Swiss Biz
Builder Sessions
- EP 1 So you want to start a business in Switzerland
- EP 2 Swiss business structures explained
- EP 3 Swiss insurance for founders
- EP 4 Legal essentials: contract, websites & digital signatures
- EP 5 Banking & finance
- EP 6 Digital tools & tech
- EP 7 Identity shift: from trailing spouse or employee to entrepreneur
- EP 8 Networking & building your client base in Switzerland
Air date: 8 January 2026
- Why Switzerland is attractive
- Challenges expats face (language, regulations, cultural norms)
- Mindset & success
Air date: 15 January 2026
- Sole proprietorship vs LLC (GmbH) vs stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft AG)
- Costs, liability, and tax implications
- Which structure suits best?
Air date: 22 January 2026
- Insurances & the three pillars – the Swiss social security system made simple
- Pillar 2, pillar 3 & staying safe – without losing sleep
- Business insurances – your safety net for the company
Air date: 29 January 2026
- Business contracts & terms
- Website and tech basics (data protection, impressum, privacy & cookies)
- Signing contacts digitally (Swiss and EU law)
Air date: 5 February 2026
- Opening a bank account for your business
- VAT registration and thresholds, digital stores with international cross border sales (who charges and pays VAT Etsy etc)
- Budgeting your runway and keeping an eye on your cashflow
Air date: 12 February 2026
- Accounting & invoicing
- Payment & and finance solutions that calculate your VAT (Twint, digistore24)
- Website hosting and data centers
- Project & productivity
Air date: 19 February 2026
- Why identity matters in entrepreneurship
- Rebuilding a professional identity in a new country from scratch
- Practical steps to reinvent yourself with the “obstacle is the way” approach
Air date: 26 February 2026
- Are expat networks enough or should you go local?
- Startup hubs and networking platforms
- Swiss business culture, trust and reliability
Susan
Omnia Mea Founder
Swiss-based multilingual entrepreneur, educator, writer, and business executive.
Has never walked the beaten path or fit into a box.
Superpower:
Overwhelm destroyer
Breaks down complex challenges into simple manageable tasks.
Libby
The Content Coach
Swiss-Australian narrative media strategist, climate-tech startup co-founder, author and trained coach.
Forever in awe of the power of words.
Superpower:
Story mechanic
Asks clarifying questions to get to the heart of the story
Let’s connect