What is the notarization and apostille ?
A notarization means that a notary will check all the documents we issue for your company and that he will confirm their authenticity.
An apostille is an internationally recognized certification and legalization of the corporate documents by the Government of the jurisdiction where your company has been incorporated.
We highly recommend to choose this option if you consider opening a bank account or if you need your corporate documents for any legal proceedings (such as concluding a contract, for example).
Why shouldn’t I ask a firm based in the European Union to form my offshore company ?
The tax authorities in the European Union can, within the framework of their tax laws, request to have professional secrecy rescinded. They can also search the premises of any firm located within the European Union in order to uncover the identity of the person(s) who created an offshore company. None of SFM’s office are located in a member country of the European Union.
Why should I use SFM to open my offshore company ?
1) Our professionals have more than 15 years of experience in Offshore consultancy. During this time we have been able to develop a network of offshore service providers that remains unparalleled.
2) Our company is a member of many international tax planning organizations. We provide tailor-made advice to our clients, fully integrating the latest laws.
3) We are one of the most competitive offshore providers.
For further information, please read the "Our Guarantees" section.
What is an offshore company?
Offshore or non-resident companies are described as companies that conduct an insubstantial or zero volume of business within their jurisdiction of incorporation.
More specifically, offshore companies have three characteristics: Firstly, they should be registered as an entity within the jurisdiction of incorporation. Secondly, the 'incorporators' should be domiciled outside of the jurisdiction of incorporation. Finally, the company should transact the major majority of business outside of the jurisdiction of incorporation. However, most associate the term 'offshore company' as a means of increasing tax efficiency.
Which banks do you work with ?
For legal reasons, we cannot disclose the names of the establishments we work with. However, be assured that we only work with first class banks, which are able to offer you all the services you may require (internet banking, anonymous credit and debit cards).
Is it possible to open a private account as well as an account in the name of my company ?
Yes. We can also take care of opening a private account in addition to the account in the name of your company.
What fees apply for maintaining the bank account ?
The banking fees depend on the establishment holding your account. On average the fees for maintaining the account come to around 200 Euros per year. As for us, we do not charge any further fees once the account has been opened
Can I have a bank account in different currencies ?
Once the bank account has been opened, you can choose a multi-currency account. This will allow you to keep several currencies in the same account. When a new currency is used, the bank will automatically open a ‘sub-account’ so that you don’t have to pay any exchange fees.
How can I use the funds from my offshore account ?
Like for any other bank account, the funds of your offshore company bank account will be accessible through credit/debit cards, cheques, internet banking or withdrawal at the bank.
What is the Travel Cash Card ?
The Travel Cash Card is a card issued by Swiss banks only. The main advantage of this debit card is that it is anonymous. You can therefore withdraw cash or buy goods without leaving any trace. An offshore company account can also have a Travel Cash Card.
Do I need to come to the bank in person to open an account ?
No. Our headquarters are located in Switzerland for practical reasons but that does not mean that you will have to travel here to open your offshore company. Everything can be finalized by correspondence.
What does "creation of company stamp/seal" mean ?
Upon selection of this option, we will send you a stamp or seal bearing the company's name and address, as well as its logo, if this option had been selected.
