COUNTRIES & BUSINESS ROUTES

The right country.
For the business you want to build.

Company formation, crypto, fiat payments or a new operating base. Understand what a jurisdiction could solve, what it requires and how to take the next step through PAYMESE.

COMPANY SETUP

A software or service business abroad.

Compare Estonia, the UK and Cyprus around management, reinvestment and operating costs.

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CRYPTO & FIAT

A crypto business that also needs payments.

See how a Canadian MSB and EU crypto routes differ, and assess the fiat side separately.

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PAYMENT SERVICES

A new payment product in the right market.

Compare customer markets, payment permissions and partner dependencies before committing.

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Explore your options.

Choose a topic, read the country guides and compare up to three jurisdictions.

12 guides
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A country guide explains possible routes. It does not mean a company or provider is currently available in that market.

Compare the operating picture.

Add another country to compare the routes side by side.

Comparison of Switzerland
What mattersSwitzerland
Why consider itFINMA’s activity-based guidance helps distinguish service models before choosing a structure. This is useful when comparing custody, exchange, payment-related services and technology provision.
Crypto servicesThe regulatory position depends on the activity. SRO membership is an AML-supervision route and must not be presented as equivalent to every FINMA authorisation.
PSP & fiat servicesTaking deposits, holding assets, processing payments and issuing instruments can lead to different requirements. Map the customer money flow and the role of each regulated party.
Company & operationsAssess the entity, local management and contractual responsibilities alongside the regulatory model. Existing permissions and provider arrangements need review in an acquisition.
Tax & total costCompare federal, cantonal and municipal treatment with the actual location of operations and the owners’ position. A national headline figure does not describe every Swiss structure.
Banking fitCheck whether the proposed provider accepts the asset types, custody design, customer markets and monitoring arrangements.
Next stepAssess this route
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Start with the problem you need to solve.

You do not need to know the country or licence name before you speak to us.

CHOOSING THE COMPANY OR PROVIDER

Compare what makes the offer work.

The country is one decision. The company, permissions, people and commercial terms are the next.

01What you actually receive
Company shares or assets, an application service, a partner contract or software. Ask for inclusions, exclusions and the party responsible for delivery.
02Permissions and operating history
For a regulated company or provider, confirm the current registry entry, exact services, restrictions, liabilities and any change-of-control conditions.
03The full cost to operate
Compare price, capital, local staff, compliance, accounting, software, banking fees and any reserves. Include the conditions and timing of any claimed tax benefit.
04Banking and technology continuity
Confirm account and partner acceptance, settlement terms, code and data ownership, service support and what must be re-approved after a transaction.

Questions that change the decision.

Should I choose a country just for a lower tax rate?

Compare the full outcome: company and owner tax residence, where decisions and work happen, dividends or reinvestment, accounting, staffing and any relief conditions. A company formed abroad may still create tax obligations where it is managed or operated. Ask for a written comparison of your current structure and the proposed one.

Compare tax and operating considerations
Can one company handle crypto, fiat payments and technology?

Sometimes a structure can combine them, but each activity needs to be mapped. Identify who holds assets, moves customer money, issues stored value and supplies software. The answer may involve several permissions or separate licensed partners. A software platform alone does not provide the right to perform regulated services.

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Should I buy an existing company, start a new one or use a partner?

Compare the same target product across all three routes. An acquisition may bring an existing operation but also liabilities and ownership approvals. A new application lets you define the model but needs preparation and resources. A partner route depends on the partner’s actual permissions, commercial terms and acceptance of your business.

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What if banks consider my business higher risk?

Prepare a clear explanation of customers, ownership, source of funds, transaction corridors, asset types, volumes and controls. Compare providers by their stated acceptance criteria and ability to assess that evidence. No jurisdiction or licence guarantees banking; the provider makes its own onboarding decision.

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What if the marketplace has no matching offer yet?

Submit a buying or service request with the capabilities, market and timing you need. PAYMESE can review the brief and potential matches. Your company and contact details remain private until the agreed introduction process is complete.

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