To launch your own coffee brand in Zurich, secure compliance, production, and sales foundations first. Choose a legal form (Einzelunternehmen or GmbH), register in the Handelsregisteramt Zürich when applicable, and register MWST with the ESTV once annual turnover exceeds CHF 100,000. Notify the Kantonales Labor Zürich (Lebensmittelkontrolle) and implement a written HACCP/self-control plan covering roasting, storage, water, allergens (for flavored coffees), and full traceability. If roasting in-town, obtain premises zoning approval, robust ventilation, and—on larger roasters—afterburning to meet OPair emission limits; otherwise start lean with a Zurich contract roaster while validating demand. Importing green beans requires a Swiss UID, a ZAZ customs account, supplier traceability, and BLV-compliant residue documentation; the federal coffee tax is abolished, but customs/VAT still apply. Labels must be in German and show product name, net weight, best-before/lot, origin, and ingredients for blends/aromatics; display base price per 100 g under the Preisbekanntgabeverordnung. Protect your name with an IPI Swiss trademark and secure a .ch domain. Go to market via D2C subscriptions (TWINT + cards on Shopify), Swiss Post A-Post parcels, and B2B to offices/cafés with 30–40% margin. Differentiate with roast curves for Zurich water, seasonal microlots from Swiss importers (e.g., Blaser Trading), and capsule or espresso formats.
