A commercial register is a database which lists all companies which are licensed to operate in a country, region or municipality.
The database includes key information about companies such as the company classification, industry sector, address, products and services provided and key employees.
In Switzerland, separate commercial registers are maintained by cantonal governments while the Swiss federal government maintains a national commercial register. Companies register at the commercial registry office of the canton in which they are domiciled.
After their registration has been reviewed and entered into the cantonal commercial registry, the registration is communicated to the Federal Commercial Registry Office (FCRO) which adds the companies to the list of registered companies published in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (SOGC).
The general public can access the SOGC and request information from cantonal commercial registries. Information can also be accessed through the Zefix online portal.
More on this topic:
Business loan comparison
Business account comparison
