Signing documents online can make company incorporations and commercial register changes much simpler. This article shows how it works in practice: who signs what and when, how identification and signature fit together, and how fiduciaries, law firms, notaries and business advisers organise the process efficiently.
Whether an electronic signature is legally valid and which form a document requires is explained in detail in our article Is an electronic signature legally valid in Switzerland?.
The essentials in brief
If the written form is required for a document, you need a handwritten signature or a qualified electronic signature (QES) combined with a qualified electronic time stamp. If the law requires a public deed, the signature does not replace it. For documents without formal requirements, a simpler electronic signature may be sufficient.
Where signatures are needed for incorporations and commercial register changes
For company incorporations and commercial register changes, various documents are drawn up, checked and signed, such as articles of association, resolutions, declarations and the application to the commercial register. Which signature can be used depends on the document and the process.
This is exactly where a structured digital workflow offers practical benefits for fiduciaries, law firms, notaries and business advisers: instead of sending documents by email, collecting signatures one by one and coordinating different versions, all steps come together in one place.
How signing online works with Hoop
- Enter the details: the company, the people involved and the desired change are entered once.
- Create the documents: Hoop creates the necessary documents based on these details.
- Identify the people: the signatories identify themselves digitally.
- Sign electronically: everyone involved signs with DeepSign from wherever they are, with a qualified electronic signature where required.
- Process further: the signed documents are forwarded digitally, to the partner notary for the public deed where needed, and then to the competent commercial register office.
What professionals should keep in mind
- Clarify in advance which form each document requires: “digital” does not automatically mean “formally valid”.
- Decide early who needs to sign and inform everyone involved in good time, especially if they are abroad.
- Only have the final version signed and do not send parallel versions by email.
- Plan any required public deed from the start; with Hoop, it is handled by the partner notary without physical presence.
This means fewer media breaks and less coordination. Clients complete their steps from anywhere, and professionals gain time for the actual advice.
Next steps with Hoop
Handle incorporations and commercial register changes digitally with Hoop – from identification and electronic signature to filing.
Company incorporation online with Hoop · Company changes online with Hoop
This blog article does not constitute legal advice. It is provided “as is” and makes no claim to completeness or accuracy. Hoop provides no warranty and accepts no liability in relation to its content; to the extent permitted by law, any such warranty and liability are excluded. Use is at your own risk and legal advice should be sought where necessary.
