To start your coffee brand in Zurich, lock down compliance, production, and distribution in this order so you can launch in 90 days. Choose a sole proprietorship (fastest; Handelsregister required once revenue > CHF 100k) or GmbH (CHF 20,000 capital, limited liability), then notify SVA Zürich for AHV and assess MWST registration as you approach CHF 100,000 turnover. Secure a food-business notification with the Cantonal Food Authority (Kanton Zürich), implement an HACCP plan, and meet Swiss food labeling rules: German-language label, ingredients, allergens, net weight, best-before/roast date, origin, importer, batch. For roasting, pick light-industrial zoning, confirm chimney and afterburner requirements with Umwelt- und Gesundheitsschutz Zürich, and plan 3‑phase power, make‑up air, and noise limits. Import green coffee under tariff 0901 via a customs broker; compare storage at a Swiss free warehouse versus local inventory to optimize duty and cash flow. Launch via a lean model: rent shared roasting time, pre-sell subscriber bags, and place wholesale with bakeries and offices in Kreis 1–5; take TWINT and card. For retail, obtain a Standplatzbewilligung for markets/pop‑ups and Sunday trading exemptions. File a Swiss trademark with IGE, buy a .ch domain, add an Impressum, and ship nationally via Swiss Post within 24–48 hours reliably.
