Impressum: what it must contain to be valid in Switzerland

The Impressum (legal notice) is one of the most important elements of a company website in Switzerland. It is a legal obligation, and for visitors it is also a sign that the business is serious.

Many Swiss SMEs and online shops neglect it or fill it in inadequately. This can lead to legal problems, cease-and-desist letters, fines and even the suspension of some digital services, such as payment systems or advertising platforms.

Here you will find what an Impressum must contain, the most common mistakes and how to set it up correctly so that you are fully compliant.

What an Impressum is and why it is mandatory in Switzerland

An Impressum is a mandatory page that contains all the legal and administrative information about a company operating online. Its purpose is to:

• clearly identify the owner of the website
• make it transparent who is offering the services or products
• allow authorities and customers to contact the person responsible
• comply with the rules on competition and consumer protection

The legal basis is found in the Federal Act against Unfair Competition (UCA) and in the Federal Telecommunications Act.

Who needs an Impressum?

In Switzerland it is mandatory for:

• sole proprietorships
• limited liability companies (Sagl/GmbH) and public limited companies (SA/AG)
• self-employed professionals
• online shops (e-commerce)
• sites that sell digital services
• platforms that collect personal data
• company blogs
• booking portals
• sites that use online payment systems (TWINT, Stripe, PayPal, etc.)

If you operate on the Swiss market, it does not matter where the site is hosted: the Impressum is mandatory.

What must a valid Impressum contain in Switzerland?

Here is the full list of the information required:

Company details

• Registered company name
• Full address (street, number, postcode, town)
• Legal form (e.g. Sagl, SA, sole proprietorship)
• UID business identification number (e.g. CHE-123.456.789)
• Commercial register (if applicable) + register number
• Country of registration (if not Switzerland)

Official contact details

• Company email address
• Telephone number
• Certified email address, if any
• Contact person or role (e.g. “Person responsible for content”)

Tax information (if relevant)

• VAT status (e.g. “The company is registered for Swiss VAT”)
• VAT number, optional (not mandatory)

Editorial and technical responsibility

• Owner of the site’s content
• Technical administrator (optional but recommended)

Common mistakes to avoid

Many Swiss SMEs make mistakes that can cause legal problems. The most frequent ones:

❌ incomplete Impressum
❌ fictitious addresses or PO boxes with no real place of business
❌ missing UID number
❌ information not updated after moving premises
❌ a “hidden” page that is hard to find
❌ no person named as responsible for the content

Remember: the Impressum must always be easy to reach, preferably from the site’s footer.

Basic Impressum template for a Swiss SME

(structure only, to be adapted to each company)

Company SA
Via Esempio 10
6900 Lugano, Switzerland

UID: CHE-123.456.789
Commercial register no.: CH-9876543

Telephone: +41 91 xxx xx xx
Email: info@azienda.ch

Person responsible for content: First name Surname

How easy4you can help

easy4you helps companies with:

• A compliant Impressum
• Complete legal set-up of their websites

Many SMEs lack digital legal expertise, which is why we offer a professional service that ensures security, transparency and compliance.

Contact us for a free consultation and find out how we can help you bring your website into line with the regulations.