Fractional CFO services in Switzerland

Innosuisse innovation cheques and projects

Innosuisse is the Swiss innovation promotion agency. Provides innovation cheques (CHF 15k for first contact with a research partner), innovation project grants (up to ~CHF 1M with a research partner co-financing), and the Swiss Startup Coaching programme. Non-dilutive and a credibility marker for later VC.

Cantonal R&D and tax incentives

Switzerland's R&D tax incentives are administered at canton level - there is no single federal R&D credit equivalent to the UK or French regimes. Most cantons (Zurich, Vaud, Zug, Basel-Stadt) offer some combination of patent box, super-deduction on R&D expenditure, and reduced rates for qualifying IP-derived income. Worth modelling specifically against the company's canton of registration.

Swiss VC ecosystem

Swiss VC and growth capital is anchored by Lakestar, Index Ventures Geneva, Forestay, Redalpine, Verve Ventures and Privilège Ventures. Strong cross-border participation from US and European funds, particularly in deeptech (quantum, AI) and life sciences. Most active Swiss rounds combine local and international investors.

Founder Fund Switzerland and angel networks

Switzerland has a deep angel investor scene driven by ex-McKinsey, Logitech and Roche operators. SICTIC (Swiss ICT Investor Club), Business Angels Switzerland and the BAS-CH network are the most active angel syndicators. Tickets typically CHF 25k–CHF 500k per investor, often syndicated across 10-20 angels in a single round.

Venture debt

Less developed than the UK or US market but growing. HSBC Innovation Banking, Kreos Capital and Claret Capital Partners are the main private venture debt providers active in Switzerland. UBS and Credit Suisse legacy operations cover larger growth-stage financing.

Bank lending against collateral

Swiss commercial banks (UBS, ZKB, Raiffeisen, cantonal banks) provide working capital and project lending against tangible collateral. Less common for early-stage tech with no assets; more relevant at growth stage or for hardware-heavy businesses with inventory and equipment collateral.

Stock options (real)

Real stock options in Swiss startups are typically taxed at vesting or exercise on the spread as employment income, with subsequent gains taxed at the capital-gains rate (0% for private individuals on Swiss-listed shares; varies for unlisted). Cantonal practice differs materially - worth a pre-grant ruling from the cantonal tax authority on material plans.

Restricted shares

Direct grants of shares with vesting are common in Swiss startups, particularly for founders and early employees. Taxed as employment income on the share value at grant (with possible discounts for restrictions); subsequent gains as capital gains. Cleaner than options in many Swiss contexts.

Phantom shares and SARs

Cash-settled equity-like instruments are common in Swiss startups, particularly for cross-cantonal teams or where the cantonal tax treatment of real options is unfavourable. Taxed as employment income at payout at the exit event.

Direct equity grants

Direct share grants without vesting are taxed as employment income on the grant value. Used selectively for senior hires; subject to social security contributions on the share value, which can be a material cost depending on the canton and the grant size.

Cantonal pre-rulings

Swiss tax administration is canton-led. Most material equity plans for Swiss startups are submitted to the cantonal tax authority for a pre-ruling on the tax treatment of grants, vesting and exits. The pre-ruling locks in treatment and avoids surprises at the founder's first liquidity event.

Reporting and payroll integration

Equity events flow through Swiss payroll for AHV (social security) and source tax withholdings where applicable. Reporting differs by canton and by employee residency status - worth aligning between cap-table tool, Swiss payroll provider and cantonal tax advisor at each material event.

Accounting

• •Bexio - the Swiss startup default; integrates with payroll and banking.
• •Run my Accounts - alternative outsourced bookkeeping option, common for small SMEs.
• •NetSuite - for late-stage companies needing multi-entity consolidation.

Payroll

• •Bexio Payroll or Swissdec-certified payroll modules - the standard for Swiss SMEs.
• •Abacus - established mid-market alternative.
• •Deel or Remote - for hiring contractors and staff outside Switzerland.

Business banking

• •UBS, ZKB or cantonal banks - for treasury, FX and traditional debt facilities.
• •Raiffeisen - alternative with strong domestic coverage.
• •PostFinance - for early-stage simplicity and low-fee transactional accounts.
• •Mercury - for founders with a US C-corp alongside the Swiss entity.

Cap table & equity admin

• •Ledgy - Swiss-founded; the default for Swiss venture-backed startups.
• •Carta - for Swiss companies with US investors or a US parent.
• •Pulley - modern alternative at later stage.

Expenses & corporate cards

• •Pleo - European default; clean Bexio integration.
• •Spendesk - strong approval workflows for larger teams.
• •Corporate cards via UBS or Cornèrcard - for companies preferring traditional Swiss issuers.