Zefix Switzerland: How to Search the Company Register

Zefix is the single most useful starting point for anyone researching a Swiss company. Short for Zentraler Firmenindex (Central Business Name Index), it is the federal government’s free search portal covering every entity registered in any of Switzerland’s 26 cantonal commercial registers. Whether you are verifying a business partner, running due diligence, or simply checking whether a company name is already taken, Zefix is where you begin.

This guide explains exactly what Zefix offers, how to search it effectively, what its limitations are, and when you need to go further.

What Is Zefix?

Zefix (zefix.ch) is a free online search tool operated by the Federal Commercial Registry Office (Eidgenössisches Amt für das Handelsregister, EHRA). It aggregates basic company data from all 26 cantonal commercial registers into a single, searchable index.

The portal was created because Switzerland does not have a single national company register. Each canton maintains its own Handelsregisteramt, which means that without Zefix you would need to search up to 26 separate cantonal websites to locate a company when you do not know where it is registered. Zefix eliminates that problem.

The interface is available in four languages: German, French, Italian, and English. No account or login is required. The service is free, with no limit on the number of searches you can perform.

Zefix covers all entity types: AG (corporations), GmbH (limited liability companies), sole proprietorships, general and limited partnerships, cooperatives, associations, foundations, and branch offices of foreign companies. As of 2026, the database contains over 800,000 entries, including both active and historically deleted entities.

What Can You Find on Zefix?

A Zefix search result displays a concise summary for each matching entity. The data fields are:

• Company name — the current registered name, including the legal form designation (AG, GmbH, etc.)
• Legal form — Aktiengesellschaft, Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung, Einzelunternehmen, and so on
• Registered office (Sitz) — the canton and municipality where the company is registered
• UID number — the unique enterprise identification number in CHE-xxx.xxx.xxx format
• Status — active (aktiv), in liquidation (in Liquidation), or deleted (gelöscht)
• Date of registration — when the company was first entered in the commercial register
• Date of deletion — if the company has been struck off
• SOGC publication references — links to the relevant entries in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (SHAB)
• Cantonal register link — a direct link to the full company record in the cantonal register

This is enough information to confirm a company’s existence, verify its legal form, identify which canton holds the full file, and check whether the entity is still active.

What Does Zefix Not Show?

Zefix is an index, not the full register. Several important data points are only available through the cantonal commercial register or by ordering a register extract:

• Directors and board members — names, roles, and whether they hold sole or joint signing authority
• Signing authority details — who can legally bind the company
• Purpose clause — the full description of the company’s business activities (Zefix shows only a truncated version, if any)
• Share capital — the nominal capital and share structure
• GmbH quota holders — the names and capital contributions of each owner (publicly available in the cantonal register)
• AG shareholders — never publicly available in any Swiss register
• Articles of association — not accessible through Zefix
• Financial statements — not part of the commercial register system at all
• Beneficial owners — not recorded in the commercial register
• Historical amendment details — the full chronology of changes (director changes, capital increases, address moves)

For any of these, you need to click through to the cantonal register or order a certified extract. The good news is that every Zefix result includes a direct link to the cantonal entry, so the transition is seamless.

How Do You Search Zefix Step by Step?

Step 1: Go to Zefix.ch

Open zefix.ch in your browser. The homepage presents a single search field. You can switch the interface language using the buttons in the top-right corner (DE / FR / IT / EN).

Step 2: Enter Your Search Term

You have three options for what to type into the search field:

• Company name (full or partial) — e.g., “Novartis”, “Zurich Insurance”, or even just “Muster”
• UID number — enter the full CHE number in CHE-xxx.xxx.xxx format
• Keyword — a term that might appear in the company name, such as “consulting” or “pharma”

Type your search term and press Enter or click the search button.

Step 3: Apply Filters

If your search returns many results, use the filter options to narrow them down:

• Canton — select one or more cantons from the dropdown to restrict results geographically
• Legal form — filter by AG, GmbH, sole proprietorship, or other entity types
• Status — choose between active companies, companies in liquidation, or deleted entries
• Search mode — toggle between “contains” (partial match) and “exact” (full name match)

These filters are particularly useful for common names. A search for “Müller” without filters returns thousands of results. Filtering to “GmbH” in “ZH” (Zurich) reduces that to a manageable list.

Step 4: Read the Results

Each result row shows the company name, legal form, registered office (canton), UID, and status. Scan the list to find the entity you are looking for.

Colour coding helps: active companies are displayed normally, while deleted entities are visually distinguished. Pay attention to the status column. A company “in Liquidation” still legally exists but is winding down. A “deleted” company has been struck from the register and no longer exists as a legal entity.

Step 5: Click Through to the Cantonal Register

Once you find the right company, click its name or the cantonal register link to open the full entry. This takes you to the relevant cantonal commercial register website, where you can see:

• Full purpose clause
• Directors, board members, and their signing authority
• Capital structure and share details
• Complete history of all registered changes
• Option to order a certified register extract

This click-through is the most important step. Zefix gives you the overview; the cantonal register gives you the detail.

What Search Tips Give Better Results?

Use partial names

Zefix supports partial matching by default. Entering “Credit” returns Credit Suisse entities, Crédit Agricole branches, and dozens of other matches. This is useful when you know part of a company name but not the exact registered form.

Search by UID for precision

If you have a CHE number, always search by UID. It returns exactly one result — the matching entity. This avoids ambiguity when multiple companies share similar names. Enter the full format: CHE-123.456.789.

Filter by canton when you know the location

If you know a company is based in Zug, selecting the ZG canton filter eliminates results from other cantons and speeds up your search considerably.

Check deleted entries for historical research

Zefix retains records of companies that have been dissolved and deleted from the register. Set the status filter to “deleted” if you are researching a company that may no longer exist. This is valuable for historical due diligence, tracing corporate predecessors, or verifying claims about past business relationships.

Try different name variations

Swiss companies often have names in multiple languages. A company might be registered as “Schweizerische Bundesbahnen” but commonly known as “SBB” or “CFF” or “FFS”. If your first search does not return results, try alternative forms, abbreviations, or translations.

Use the English interface

If you are not comfortable in German, French, or Italian, switch to the English interface. The search functionality is identical across all four language versions — only the interface labels change.

How Does Zefix Compare to Other Tools?

Zefix is not the only way to research Swiss companies. Here is how it compares to the main alternatives:

For a straightforward company lookup — confirming that a company exists, finding its UID, or checking which canton it is registered in — Zefix is the best tool. It is official, free, covers all 26 cantons, and does not require an account.

For deeper research — finding out who runs the company, what its stated purpose is, or how its capital is structured — you need the cantonal register. Zefix gets you there with one click.

For commercial intelligence — credit scores, financial statements, or corporate network analysis — you need a private data provider such as Moneyhouse or Dun & Bradstreet. These go well beyond what any official register offers.

Does Zefix Have an API?

For developers and businesses that need to query Swiss company data programmatically, the EHRA provides a public REST API.

Key features of the Zefix API:

• Search by company name, UID, or registered office
• Filter by canton, legal form, and status
• Returns structured JSON responses
• Free to use for reasonable query volumes
• No API key required for basic access

The API is used by banks and financial institutions for KYC (Know Your Customer) verification, by law firms for automated due diligence, by compliance platforms that need to verify counterparties against Swiss register data, and by software providers building Swiss business data into their products.

API documentation is available on the EHRA website. The endpoint follows standard REST conventions, and most modern programming languages can integrate with it in a few lines of code.

For high-volume or commercial use cases, it is advisable to contact the EHRA directly to confirm acceptable usage limits.

When Should You Use Zefix vs Order a Register Extract?

Zefix and a certified register extract serve fundamentally different purposes.

Use Zefix when you need to:

• Confirm whether a company exists and is active
• Find a company’s UID number
• Determine which canton a company is registered in
• Check whether a company name is available before forming a new entity
• Get a quick overview of a company’s legal form and status
• Find the link to the cantonal register for further research

Order a register extract when you need to:

• Present official evidence of a company’s existence to a bank, court, notary, or foreign authority
• Verify the current directors and their signing authority for a contract or transaction
• Confirm the exact share capital and ownership structure (GmbH) for investment due diligence
• Obtain a legally valid document that can be apostilled for use abroad
• Submit proof of registration for a regulatory licence, public tender, or government application

A Zefix search takes seconds and costs nothing. A certified extract costs CHF 17-40 and takes one to three business days, depending on the canton. For everyday research, Zefix is sufficient. For legal, banking, or regulatory purposes, you need the extract. Our commercial register guide explains the extract ordering process in detail.

If you are unsure which level of information you need for a particular situation, speak to a specialist who can advise on the appropriate approach for your use case.

How We Verified This Guide

All Zefix features, search capabilities, and data fields described in this guide were verified through direct testing on zefix.ch, the portal operated by the Federal Commercial Registry Office (EHRA). API endpoints were tested against the EHRA’s public REST interface. Cantonal register links from Zefix results were cross-checked against official cantonal Handelsregisteramt portals. The comparison with uid.admin.ch, SHAB, and Moneyhouse reflects current functionality as of April 2026. This guide is reviewed by Florian Rosenberg, who uses Zefix daily as part of his fiduciary and company formation practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Zefix free to use?

Yes. Zefix is entirely free, with no registration or account required. The portal is operated by the Federal Commercial Registry Office (EHRA) as a public service. You can run unlimited searches by company name, UID number, or keyword across all 26 cantons without paying a fee. The only cost associated with company data arises if you need a certified register extract from a cantonal register office, which is a separate service priced between CHF 17 and CHF 40.

Can I find the directors or shareholders of a Swiss company on Zefix?

No. Zefix displays only summary data: company name, legal form, registered office, UID number, and status. It does not show directors, board members, signing authority, or shareholder details. To find that information, click the link on any Zefix result to open the full entry in the relevant cantonal commercial register. For a GmbH, the cantonal register also lists quota holders (owners). For an AG, shareholder names are never public.

How often is the data on Zefix updated?

Zefix data is synchronised with the 26 cantonal commercial registers on a daily basis. When a cantonal register processes a new entry or amendment and the EHRA approves it for publication in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (SOGC), the change typically appears on Zefix within one to two business days. For time-critical due diligence where you need absolute certainty that the data is current, it is advisable to check the cantonal register directly or order a certified extract.

What is the difference between Zefix and the UID register?

Zefix and the UID register (uid.admin.ch) both allow you to look up Swiss companies, but they serve different purposes. Zefix draws its data from the 26 cantonal commercial registers and is designed for company research: it shows the legal form, registered office, status, and links to full cantonal entries. The UID register, operated by the Federal Statistical Office, covers all enterprises that hold a UID number, including those not in the commercial register (for example, sole proprietorships below the CHF 100,000 revenue threshold that registered voluntarily for VAT). Use Zefix for company research and the UID register for UID verification.

Does Zefix have an API for automated company searches?

Yes. The EHRA provides a public REST API that allows developers to query the Zefix database programmatically. The API supports searches by company name, UID number, and other parameters, and returns results in structured JSON format. It is free to use for reasonable query volumes and does not require an API key. Documentation is available on the EHRA website. Businesses that need to verify Swiss company data in bulk, such as banks running KYC checks or compliance platforms, commonly integrate the Zefix API into their workflows.

Can I search Zefix by the name of a director or board member?

No. Zefix does not support person-name searches. It only allows searches by company name, UID number, or keyword within company names. To find companies linked to a specific individual, you need to use cantonal register portals that support person-name search (larger cantons such as Zurich and Bern offer this), or a commercial aggregator such as Moneyhouse, which cross-references directorships across cantons.

Does Zefix show whether a company is registered for VAT?

No. Zefix does not display VAT registration status. For VAT verification, use the UID register at uid.admin.ch, operated by the Federal Statistical Office. The UID register lists the administrative units associated with each enterprise, including whether it is registered with the Federal Tax Administration for VAT purposes. You can cross-reference the company's UID from Zefix with the UID register to check VAT status.

How do I check whether a company name is already taken in Switzerland?

Search the proposed name on Zefix (zefix.ch). If the name already appears in the results for an active company in the same legal form, the cantonal register office is unlikely to approve the same or a confusingly similar name. Under OR Art. 944, a company name must be distinctive and not mislead the public. Merely changing the legal form suffix (e.g. using AG instead of GmbH) is not sufficient to create distinctiveness. Searching Zefix gives a reliable indication but does not replace the cantonal register's formal name check.

What does a 'deleted' status on Zefix mean?

A deleted (gelöscht) status means the company has been formally struck from the commercial register and no longer exists as a legal entity. Deletion follows the completion of a liquidation procedure, a merger in which the company was absorbed, a legal form conversion, or an ex-officio deletion for a company that has ceased activity. Zefix retains records of deleted entities permanently, so you can still find historical information about dissolved companies. You cannot enter into new legal relationships with a deleted company.

Can I download or export data from Zefix in bulk?

Not directly through the Zefix web interface, which is designed for individual searches. However, the EHRA provides a public REST API that allows programmatic access to the Zefix database, including bulk queries by company name, UID, canton, and legal form. The API returns structured JSON responses. For very large-scale data exports — for example, the complete database of active companies in a specific canton — commercial data providers or direct arrangements with the EHRA may be more appropriate than repeated API calls.