Requirements
- You want to start a business or have done so within the past five years.
- Your residence and/or business location is in the Zurich economic area.
We support entrepreneurs
Stephan Stemminger combines culinary art and entrepreneurship – from the national cooking team to Switzerland’s first vanilla manufactory.
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Free initial consultation for your start-up
Interested in starting your own business? Or have you recently founded a company? Brilliant! We would love to give you a boost by sharing the technical expertise you’ll need to make a success of self-employment. Our Startbox provides valuable information about founding a start-up. In a free initial consultation (up to 90 minutes), our experts will answer your questions, help you with problems and inform you about the next steps.
Analysis and assessment of your business idea
Discussion of your business model, financial planning, and go-to-market strategy
Guidance on legal structure, incorporation, accounting, and insurance.
Tips for starting and expanding your company
Online or in-person consultation
Free initial consultation (up to 90 minutes)
Info-Events
All
50 %
female founders
600+
initial consultations per year
98 %
of customers say the consultations were very useful
Voices
«Taking the step into self-employment in a new country is exciting at first — and also a little intimidating. After my move from London to Zurich, Ahead gave me exactly the guidance I needed: from registering with the SVA to bookkeeping and taxes. Professional, clear, and incredibly human.»
Ivan Rerat
Concept Designer
«After two years of operation, we were able to benefit from Ahead’s support in financial planning matters. The consulting was very personable, competent, and practical, and it gave me a clear overview as well as a good feeling about the future.»
Meret Diener
Restaurant Roter Delfin
“In working with Ahead Startup Consulting, I found a sparring partner who listens, thinks along, and creates clarity.”
Francesco Miraldi
Miraldi Gastro & Concepts GmbH
«Die Beratung hat mir Klarheit gebracht: Jetzt weiss ich sicher, dass mein Bauchgefühl recht hatte – eine Einzelfirma ist momentan der richtige Weg, um meine neue Keramikwerkstatt mit Kursangeboten zu starten.»
Nicoletta Wartmann
Diniform Keramikwerkstatt
«Ahead hat mir in einfachen Worten erklärt, welche Schritte notwendig sind, um eine Unternehmung zu gründen und worauf dabei zu achten ist. Das hat mir geholfen, mich im Dschungel der Informationen zurecht zu finden.»
Andri Silberschmidt
Mitgründer und Verwaltungsratspräsident der kaisin. AG
«Es eilte. Durch das Netzwerk und die Beratung von Ahead Zürich konnte die Firmengründung und Finanzierung in kürzester Zeit umgesetzt werden. Bereits nach zwei Wochen waren wir operativ tätig. Dank dem Coaching könnten wir unser Unternehmen kontinuierlich weiterentwickeln und aufblühen lassen.»
Patrik Schlüssel
Green Pflanzenhandel
“What is a fair hourly rate? The consultation helped me rethink my pricing and gave me concrete suggestions for my offer. In the end, I was able to set a structure that feels right — for my clients and for me.”
Regina Lang
Personal Support & Administrative Assistance
FAQ
Yes. The start-up consultation is especially helpful in the decision-making process: together, we’ll assess whether your idea is viable and whether self-employment fits your current life situation.
Yes, provided you meet the requirements for a free initial consultation. If you’re registered with the RAV and are aiming to become self-employed, you may be eligible to apply for RAV-funded coaching (e.g., administrative coaching). The application is made through your RAV advisor or the Self-Employment Office.
Yes, many of our clients begin their entrepreneurial journey on a part-time basis. In this situation, a consultation can be especially helpful in identifying potential pitfalls early and taking the right steps.
The consultation takes place either on-site at Sihlquai 125 in Zurich (1st floor) or online via Microsoft Teams. A free initial consultation typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes. Additional (paid) sessions can be arranged if needed.
Our consultants bring entrepreneurial experience, business expertise, and broad industry knowledge. They support you with all questions related to building your business, outline the next steps, connect you with relevant organizations, and act as your sparring partner on the path to self-employment.
No, a business plan is not mandatory. However, the more specific your questions and preparations are, the more targeted our support can be.
When registering, describe your specific concerns and upload any documents you have questions about. To prepare, we also recommend the Startbox – our free digital self-service tool that addresses many common questions in advance, such as choosing a legal form or taking the first steps in founding your business.
Startbox
The tool for starting your business! From idea to company formation – and beyond!
Analysis
Concept
Incorporation
Responsibility
Implementation