Things to know about using c/o addresses as company addresses in Switzerland
What does a c/o address mean in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, a c/o address, also known as a “care of” address, is used to send mail to a person or company that is temporarily staying in another location or has the mail forwarded to another recipient. This type of address is often used to ensure that mail reaches the right recipient, even if they can't be reached at their own address.
How do you write the address with c/o?
To correctly spell an address with c/o, you start with the recipient's name, followed by the c/o information and the name of the person or company that forwards the mail. This is followed by the full address of the forwarder. An example could look as follows:
Max Mustermann
c/o Company example AG
Musterstraße 1
8000 Zurich
Switzerland
A c/o address with us, is written accordingly as follows:
{{Your Company}}
c/o Office Group Zug GmbH
Untere Roostmatt 8
6300 Zug
Switzerland
How do c/o addresses work?
c/o addresses work by forwarding mail to a third party, which then assumes responsibility for delivering the mail to the actual recipient. This is particularly useful when the recipient frequently changes locations, as is often the case with entrepreneurs doing international business today. The c/o address serves as a stopover to ensure that the mail is not lost.
Are companies in Switzerland allowed to use c/o addresses as their headquarters?
In Switzerland, it is generally possible to use a c/o address as a company headquarters, but there are certain legal and tax requirements that must be met. The company headquarters must generally have a physical presence that can be used as an official business address. A pure c/o address may not be sufficient to meet these requirements in some cases, particularly when it comes to tax or legal matters.
More information on the domicile address requirements of companies in the canton of Zug can be found in this article. In general, it is advisable to seek legal advice before using a c/o address as a company headquarters to ensure that all legal requirements are met.
History of c/o addresses
The use of c/o addresses in Switzerland has a long history and is a proven way of sending mail to people or companies that do not have a permanent place of residence or their own offices. The abbreviation “c/o” comes from English and means “care of”, which means “under the care of.” This form of address is often used to ensure that mail reaches the right recipient, even if the recipient is temporarily in another location or the mail is being forwarded to someone else.
The exact origin of c/o addresses is difficult to date, but they are closely linked to the development of the postal system. In Switzerland, the postal system was standardized in the 19th century, which laid the basis for modern delivery methods. c/o addressing has become an important tool to enable mail to be delivered to people without a fixed place of residence, such as lodgers or residents of care facilities.
Reputation and use of c/o addresses
The reputation of c/o addresses is mixed. On the one hand, they offer a flexible way to deliver mail, but on the other hand, they are sometimes seen as unreliable, particularly in business or legal contexts. Many institutions, such as banks, only accept c/o addresses for private individuals in exceptional cases, as they cannot replace the actual home address of the account holder. This is because banks and other institutions are required by law to accurately verify the identity of their customers.
Practical application and legal aspects
In practice, c/o addresses are often used by companies that have no need for their own office space. This may be the case if the company is still very young and costs and benefits are not yet in the right balance. Furthermore, companies often do not need their own office space at the company headquarters, even if the employees are geographically distributed and the management makes many business trips.
From a legal point of view, c/o addresses in Switzerland can be used as company headquarters, but certain conditions must be met, such as the physical presence of the company at the specified address.
Since Switzerland has a federal system, there may be cantonal differences in the handling of c/o addresses. It may be helpful to visit the websites of the cantonal commercial register offices to obtain specific information.
They are also useful in the private sector, for example for people who live in residential communities or move frequently.
Conclusion
c/o addresses offer a flexible solution for delivering mail, but are not always suitable as a substitute for a fixed address. When used as a company headquarters or in legal matters, it should always be checked whether all legal requirements have been met. By using c/o addresses correctly, mail delivery can be made efficient and reliable.