Preparation as a senior entrepreneur
We will show you how to optimally prepare for setting up a company and for everyday life as a seniorpreneur. Preparation as a seniorpreneur. Simple. Online.
Checklist – Prepare properly!
Formulating a business idea
A good business idea forms the basis of your company. Ideally, this should be innovative, have a unique selling point and, as a youngpreneur, be compatible with your interests, hobbies or profession so that you can combine various activities.
Self-analysis
Ask yourself, your friends and family where your strengths and weaknesses lie. What are you already good at? What do you still need to learn? Where do you need external support?
Market segmentation
Think about who your customer should be. Divide society into smaller homogeneous groups and decide on a few segments that you would like to address with your product or service.
Create a business plan
Create a business plan that contains the most important information about your company in order to have a complete overview. This way, you can bring structure to the uncertain future and deal with problems at an early stage.
Acquire know-how
During the self-analysis, you got to know yourself better. Now take a look at the topics in which you would like to further educate yourself. For example, you can attend our free seminar “Cleverly found a company”.
Trust the experts
When it comes to the points where you need support, you should trust the experts. Seek advice from professionals and hand in your accounting and tax returns. We recommend Startups.ch.
Choose legal form
The next step is to decide on the legal form of your company. Below, we present the three most popular forms in more detail: sole proprietorship, limited liability company, and joint-stock company.
Determine the people involved
Je nach gewählter Rechtsform musst Du entscheiden, welche weiteren Personen - wie Gesellschafter, Aktionäre und Verwaltungsräte - an Deiner Firma beteilit sein sollen.
Hold minimum capital
When choosing a limited liability company or a joint-stock company, a minimum capital of CHF 20,000 or CHF 100,000 is required.
Find the right business idea for the over-50s
When you start a business, it is very important that you have a unique, well-thought-out and suitable business idea that you, as a seniorpreneur, stand behind and are enthusiastic about. Below, we will show you how you can find such a business idea.
First, think about your entrepreneurial identity and motivation in order to determine an initial direction for your business idea. Fundamentally, entrepreneurs can be divided into three groups. However, many entrepreneurs cannot be clearly assigned to one of these groups, but have overlapping motivations.
Darwinist
The Darwinian is driven by economic self-interest. He wants his company to grow and make a profit. That is why he acts competitively and has financial goals.
Possible business ideas:
- Affiliate marketing
- Car rental
- Software companies
Communitarian
The communitarian has a group- or community-oriented motivation. He wants to create value within a community and usually starts with a problem he experiences.
Possible business ideas:
- Music/cooking/skiing school
- Café or bar
- Campsite
Missionary
The so-called missionary wants to improve the world to a certain extent. He uses his company to promote his social or ecological concerns.
Possible business ideas:
- Energy advice
- Sustainable fashion
- Fair trade shop
Choose the appropriate legal form
Choose the appropriate legal form for your seniorpreneur business. In principle, you should choose the legal form that is individually tailored to your business. We recommend these three types of companies for those starting out in self-employment: sole proprietorship, limited liability company or joint-stock company.
The sole proprietorship simply explained
Do you want to work independently in a commercial capacity and pursue your idea without restrictions? Then the most popular legal form for founders in Switzerland is the right choice for you. Setting up a sole proprietorship is straightforward, requires no minimum capital and does not have its own legal personality. Many seniorpreneurs who start a business choose this legal form to begin with.
Minimum capital
No minimum capital is required to set up a sole proprietorship.
Intended use
A sole proprietorship is suitable for businesses run by one person.
Number of people
There can only be one owner.
Company name
If you set up a sole proprietorship, the only requirement for the name is that it must include your family name. You are free to use your first name or other imaginative or factual designations.
Advantages of a sole proprietorship
- A sole proprietorship allows for uncomplicated and informal business activities.
- There is no need to comply with corporate law provisions.
- No minimum capital is required.
- There is no double taxation of income and assets, as there is largely no distinction between business and private assets.
Disadvantages of a sole proprietorship
- As the owner, you have unlimited liability with your personal assets.
- You cannot bring in partners to share in the company.
- There is no unemployment benefit.
- Depending on the canton, you may not receive child or education allowances.
The limited liability company simply explained
A limited liability company is a legal entity in which you can join together with other persons to form a company. The respective liability of the shareholders is limited to the amount of their registered share capital.
Minimum capital
The minimum capital of a GmbH is CHF 20,000.
Utilization purpose
The LLC is suitable for small and medium-sized companies.
Number of people
At least one shareholder and one managing director are required, although you can hold both positions at the same time. A managing director with signatory authority must be resident in Switzerland..
Company name
You are free to choose the name of your company. The only requirement is that you must add the suffix GmbH to the company name.
Advantages of a LLC
- At CHF 20,000, the minimum capital is comparatively low.
- You are only liable with the business assets and not with your private assets.
- It is possible for other shareholders to participate.
Disadvantages of a LLC
- There is an obligation to publish the distribution of the capital shares. The shareholders are therefore not anonymous.
- You have more regulations with this legal form than with the sole proprietorship, because you have to comply with the corporate law provisions.
- You will be taxed twice, at the level of the LLC and as a shareholder.
A simple explanation of the public limited company
The public limited company enjoys a good reputation among the general public. It can be used to exclude personal liability, since only the company's assets can be held liable for its debts. The joint-stock company has a legal personality.
Minimum capital
The minimum capital for a joint-stock company is CHF 100,000, of which at least CHF 50,000 must be paid up in cash.
Utilization purpose
The joint-stock company is suitable for all profit-oriented companies.
Number of people
There must be at least one shareholder and one member of the board of directors, whereby one person can hold both positions simultaneously. One member of the board of directors must be resident in Switzerland and be authorized to sign.
Company name
When setting up a stock corporation, you can define a freely chosen company name with the addition AG.
Advantages of a public limited company
- The anonymity of investors and shareholders can be guaranteed.
- You and all other shareholders are liable only for the business assets and thus for the portion of the share capital.
- Transferring shares is easy.
Disadvantages of a public limited company
- The formation of a joint-stock company is associated with high costs and complex formalities.
- The minimum capital available to you is comparatively high at CHF 100,000.
- You have a double tax burden on income and assets.