SBBS Ep 8 : Networking & building your client base in Switzerland
The Swiss Biz Builder Sessions – episode #8
26 February 2026
Listen now!
How do you build trust in a culture where trust is everything — and built slowly??
In the final episode of the Swiss Biz Builder Sessions, Susan Platt and Libby O’Loghlin turn to one of the most decisive — and often misunderstood — aspects of building a business in Switzerland: relationships.
Because you can have the legal structure.
You can have the bank account.
You can have the strategy.
But without trust, growth in Switzerland remains limited.
In this closing conversation, Susan and Libby explore where networking really happens, why expat networks are both helpful and insufficient, and how reputation quietly becomes your most powerful marketing tool.
What you’ll learn in this episode
✅ Whether expat networks are enough — and when they are not
✅ Where networking actually happens in Switzerland
✅ Why repetition builds more trust than performance
✅ Why introductions matter more than cold outreach
✅ The three non-negotiables of Swiss business credibility
✅ How digital behaviour shapes your reputation
✅ Simple, practical steps to take this week
Chapters
Key Takeaways
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Expat networks are a valuable starting point — but not a long-term strategy if your audience is Swiss or your business depends on local trust.
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Networking in Switzerland is participation, not promotion. Showing up consistently matters more than making one strong first impression.
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Trust is built through repetition. Familiarity over time creates credibility.
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Introductions carry significantly more weight than cold outreach. Personal referrals are earned through reliability and discretion.
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Swiss business culture values reliability over speed, precision over persuasion, and consistency over intensity.
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Silence is not rejection. It often means you are being observed.
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Digital behaviour is part of your reputation. Clear emails, punctual responses, and precise communication signal professionalism.
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In Switzerland, your reputation is your marketing. Trust compounds quietly — but powerfully.
Website and organisations 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, VAT & getting your financial ducks in a row in Switzerland
- 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
Quotes
“You’re not trying to be visible everywhere. You’re trying to be reliable somewhere.”
“Networking should serve your business — not your comfort zone.”
“In Switzerland, your reputation is your marketing.”
“Trust is not built in one impressive meeting. It is built in repeated, steady presence.”
“Start where you are. Do what you say you’ll do. Choose the long game.”