Leadr

From France to Switzerland

Switzerland is not just another French region.

26 cantons, four national languages, demanding buyers who choose slowly and stay loyal for a long time. Leadr is your antenna in the Swiss market: the codes, the rules and the right doors.

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The codes of the market

What surprises French companies.

Decisions take time

A Swiss buyer tests, compares and checks before committing. Once convinced, they commit for the long term.

The canton matters

Taxation, permits, business networks: much is decided at cantonal level, not only at federal level.

Speaking French is not enough

In French speaking Switzerland, sharing the language does not make you a local player. The customs are Swiss.

Quality is a prerequisite

Price, lead times, after sales service: your offer will be compared with Swiss suppliers already in place.

The rules are not always the same

Technical standards, safety regulations, cantonal requirements: a product that complies in France does not necessarily comply in Switzerland. Better to know before you sell.

Our role

From the first question to the first client.

  1. 1

    Choose where to start

    The cantons and sectors where your offer stands the best chance, rather than the whole of Switzerland at once.

  2. 2

    Check the rules of the game

    We research the standards and texts that apply to your product, and help you adapt your offer upfront.

  3. 3

    Validate before investing

    Conversations with real buyers to measure genuine interest in your offer.

  4. 4

    Make introductions

    A direct approach to the right decision makers, identified through analysis of the market and its companies.

  5. 5

    Structure at the right time

    When the business justifies it: Swiss company, bank, compliance, with our network of specialists.

Examples of assignments

Two frequent questions from French companies.

“Does my product comply with Swiss market rules?”

Industrial equipment · From France to Switzerland

The situation
A French industrial equipment manufacturer wanted to sell in Switzerland. Before approaching anyone, it needed to know exactly which standards, safety regulations and cantonal requirements applied to its products.
What we did
Research of the applicable texts and regulations at the source, identification of the changes needed to the product and the offer, focus on four priority cantons before approaching industrial buyers.
The result
An offer adapted upfront, compliant from the very first meeting, and an approach plan canton by canton.

“Do we really need to set up a company in Switzerland?”

Construction works · From France to Switzerland

The situation
A French company was already working regularly on Swiss construction sites. Caught between the limit on working days allowed for foreign service providers and the cost of a local entity, it had been hesitating for a long time.
What we did
Clarification of the rules for foreign service providers, comparison of the possible options (improve current operations, partner with a local company or set up an entity), then a reasoned recommendation.
The result
A decision based on facts, at the right time, without setting up an entity before the business justifies it.

Start by winning clients, the structure will follow.

Luc Rohmer, CEO of Leadr

Frequently asked questions

Selling and setting up in Switzerland: your questions.

How can a French company prospect in Switzerland?

By first targeting one language region and a few cantons, then approaching the identified decision-makers directly, ideally with a recommendation. Mass prospecting works poorly in Switzerland: buyers choose slowly, on the basis of trust and concrete references. Our prospecting is therefore targeted: a few of the right people, approached one by one.

Do I need to set up a company in Switzerland to sell there?

Not at first. A French company can sell its products from France and provide services in Switzerland for up to 90 days a year, after prior notification. Above 100,000 francs of worldwide turnover with taxable activity in Switzerland, registering for Swiss VAT with a tax representative becomes mandatory. A Swiss company makes sense once the business is established.

Which region of Switzerland should I start with?

It depends on your sector and your target clients. French-speaking Switzerland is more accessible for a French company, but German-speaking Switzerland accounts for most of the country's economy. We often recommend a first test market, followed by a considered expansion across the Röstigraben.

Do my products need to be adapted to Swiss standards?

Often, yes. Switzerland adopts a large share of European standards, but federal or cantonal requirements apply on top in some areas, such as construction or safety. We research the applicable texts at the source before you start selling.

How long does it take to see results in Switzerland?

The first qualified meetings come during the activation phase, but a lasting commercial presence is generally built over 18 to 24 months. Swiss buyers take their time to decide, and then stay loyal.

Guides 2026

Our guides to go further.

To go further: our detailed guides (in French).

Setting up in Switzerland (FR)

Options, legal structures, mistakes to avoid and criteria for choosing the right partner.

Read the guide (FR)

Outsourced prospecting (FR)

When to choose it, what it costs, and how to choose the right provider.

Read the guide (FR)

Outsourced marketing (FR)

Adapting your brand, website and message to the Swiss market, rather than just translating.

Read the guide (FR)

Does your offer have a place in Switzerland?

A first meeting will tell you, frankly.

Book a meeting

Introductory call, no commitment. You choose your slot.