---
title: "The legal pages a Swiss online shop needs"
description: "Swiss online shop legal requirements: a legal notice, privacy policy, and terms written to Swiss law, not EU templates. The MWST threshold is CHF 100,000."
date: 2026-09-21
lastUpdated: 2026-09-21
author: "Lukas Brunner"
url: https://swissecomguides.com/swiss-online-shop-legal-pages/
site: "Swiss Ecom Guides (swissecomguides.com)"
language: en
---

# The legal pages a Swiss online shop needs

![Stapel weisse Papiere mit rotem Klammer, schwarzer Stift, schwarze Box mit weissem Etikett und schwarzer Taschenrechner auf dunklem Tisch.](https://swissecomguides.com/images/swiss-online-shop-legal-pages-cover-1200.webp)

> **The short version:** Swiss law does not force you to copy the EU's legal page set. You need a legal notice with your name, a Swiss postal address, and an email. You also need a privacy policy written to the FADP, not the GDPR, and terms that match your business model. Each page must follow Swiss law, not a German or French template. You can skip the cookie consent banner and the 14-day withdrawal notice. Switzerland has no statutory withdrawal right for online purchases. The FADP requires information and opt-out, not prior consent. But you must get the MWST/TVA display right: prices include VAT, registration becomes compulsory at CHF 100,000 of annual turnover, and the standard rate is 8.1%.

Most Shopify legal guides assume you are inside the EU single market. Switzerland is not in it. That changes which pages you need, what they must say, and which EU-specific items you can leave out entirely. If you are still building, our [Shopify Switzerland: set up your store](https://swissecomguides.com/shopify-switzerland-setup-guide/) guide covers the setup from start to finish.

Heads up: this guide uses Shopify affiliate links. Sign up through one and we are paid a commission, and you pay exactly the same as you would otherwise. If you are new to the platform, [What is Shopify, and does it work in Switzerland?](https://swissecomguides.com/what-is-shopify-switzerland/) covers the basics. [What does Shopify cost in Switzerland?](https://swissecomguides.com/shopify-cost-switzerland/) breaks down the monthly bills. You can start the build at [Shopify's Swiss page](https://www.shopify.com/ch/en).

Shopify plans, pricing and features change; always verify the current details on shopify.com before deciding.

The Swiss approach to e-commerce law is lighter than the EU's. Lighter does not mean absent. You need fewer pages, and each must be written to Swiss law, not copied from an EU template.

## Table of contents

- [The legal notice: shorter than the German Impressum](#legal-notice)
- [Privacy policy: the FADP is not the GDPR](#privacy-policy)
- [Terms and conditions: your only shield, not a legal duty](#terms-and-conditions)
- [The price page: where MWST/TVA shows up](#price-page)
- [The commercial register: when your pages must show your entry](#commercial-register)
- [Swiss vs EU: the page-by-page difference](#swiss-vs-eu)
- [Edge cases: age-restricted goods, EU customers, and data breaches](#edge-cases)
- [Frequently asked questions](#frequently-asked-questions)
- [Sources](#sources)

## The legal notice: shorter than the German Impressum
Swiss law asks for less than Germany's Impressum. You need a legal notice that identifies who you are and how to reach you. The Federal Statute against Unfair Competition (UWG) requires that commercial communication be identifiable, and the Code of Obligations implies that a contracting party can be identified.

That means three things. Your name or company name. A physical postal address in Switzerland. An email address. A phone number is good practice but not a hard statutory minimum.

What you do not need: a VAT identification number unless you are registered for MWST/TVA. A commercial register number unless you are entered in the register. The full list of authorised representatives that a German Impressum demands. If you sell as a sole proprietor below the CHF 100,000 turnover threshold, your notice can be three lines.

Here is our suggested template. Copy it, fill in the brackets, and put it in your shop footer:

> **[Your name or company name]**
> [Street and number, Postal code and city, Switzerland]
> Email: [your email] · Phone: [optional]
> [VAT number if registered · Commercial register number if registered]

That is the whole legal notice for a small unregistered shop. It fits in a footer. If you later register for MWST or in the commercial register, add those numbers to the same block.

## Privacy policy: the FADP is not the GDPR
Switzerland has its own data protection law. The revised Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP/DSG) has recently come into force. It is not the GDPR. The two share principles — transparency, purpose limitation, security — but the FADP is narrower in scope and lighter on process.

For most Swiss shops, the practical difference is concrete. You do not need a cookie consent banner. Swiss law requires that you inform users about data collection and give them an opt-out, not that you obtain prior consent for non-essential cookies. The EU's ePrivacy Directive, by contrast, requires prior consent. If your only customers are in Switzerland, an opt-out notice in your privacy policy is enough.

You do need a privacy policy. It must explain what data you collect — name, email, shipping address, payment details — and why you collect it. It must also explain how long you keep it and what rights the customer has. If you use Shopify, the platform processes payment data on your behalf; your policy should mention this.

One duty the FADP shares with the GDPR: breach notification. If a data breach occurs, you must notify the [Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC)](https://www.edoeb.admin.ch/en/guidelines-data-breach) as soon as possible. The FDPIC publishes guidelines on what counts as a breach and how to report it. This applies even to a one-person shop.

If you target EU customers, the GDPR may apply to that processing. Our [Selling into the EU from a Swiss Shopify store](https://swissecomguides.com/selling-to-eu-from-switzerland/) guide covers that border question in detail.

## Terms and conditions: your only shield, not a legal duty
Swiss law does not require you to publish terms and conditions (AGB). You can run a shop without them. But without T&Cs, the default rules of the Code of Obligations apply to every sale, and you cannot shape them.

T&Cs let you define when a contract is formed — at order confirmation, not at checkout. They let you set payment terms, delivery times, and return rules. They are your only tool to set expectations that differ from the statutory default.

The biggest gap from EU law: Switzerland has no statutory 14-day right of withdrawal for online purchases. A Swiss buyer cannot legally return a product simply because they changed their mind. You can offer voluntary returns, and many shops do, but you set the rules.

The [Code of Ethics of HANDELSVERBAND.SWISS](https://www.kmu.admin.ch/en/statutory-obligations-swiss-and-european-e-commerce-laws) provides a 14-day right of return for its members, according to SECO. If you join, you commit to that standard. Buyers also have two years to file a warranty action for defective products under Swiss law, SECO notes. Your T&Cs cannot shorten this statutory warranty. They can define how a customer reports a defect and what you offer as a first response.

## The price page: where MWST/TVA shows up
Price disclosure is where Swiss and EU law converge. Prices shown to Swiss consumers must include VAT and any mandatory surcharges. Shipping costs can be shown separately, as long as they are clearly labelled before the customer commits.

If your annual turnover from taxable supplies reaches CHF 100,000, you must register for MWST/TVA with the [Federal Tax Administration (ESTV/AFC)](https://www.estv.admin.ch/en/vat-tax-liability) and charge VAT on your sales. Below that threshold, registration is voluntary. The [standard rate is 8.1%](https://www.estv.admin.ch/en/vat-rates-switzerland). The reduced rate is 2.6% according to the Federal Tax Administration (FTA), 2026. A special 3.8% rate applies to accommodation services, all per the FTA.

For digital products — software downloads, e-books, streaming — the place of supply rule matters. If you sell to Swiss customers, you charge Swiss VAT. If you sell to EU customers, the EU's VAT rules for digital services may apply. Our [How to charge MWST on your Shopify store](https://swissecomguides.com/charge-mwst-on-shopify/) guide covers the Shopify settings for this.

If you are dropshipping from abroad into Switzerland, note that [mail-order companies generating at least CHF 100,000 turnover from small consignments](https://www.estv.admin.ch/en/vat-mail-order-trade-and-platform-taxation) from abroad are taxable in Switzerland. This is per the FTA. Small consignments with an import tax amount of CHF 5 or less are exempt from import tax.

## The commercial register: when your pages must show your entry
Your legal form determines whether you must register in the commercial register. That registration changes what your legal notice must contain.

A [sole proprietorship must register only if annual revenue exceeds CHF 100,000](https://www.kmu.admin.ch/en/legal-form-sole-proprietorships), according to SECO. Registration costs CHF 120. Below that threshold, registration is optional, and your legal notice does not need a register number.

A [limited liability company (GmbH/SARL) requires a minimum share capital of CHF 20,000](https://www.kmu.admin.ch/en/llc-responsibility-share-capital-establishment), SECO states. A [corporation (AG/SA) requires a minimum share capital of CHF 100,000, with at least CHF 50,000 paid up](https://www.kmu.admin.ch/en/limited-company-one-of-the-most-common-legal-forms). Both forms must register in the commercial register from the start, and your legal notice must show that number.

Bookkeeping obligations also depend on your form and turnover. [Sole proprietorships and partnerships with turnover above CHF 500,000 must keep full accounts](https://www.kmu.admin.ch/en/compulsory-accounting), SECO notes. [Accounting documents must be retained for at least ten years](https://www.kmu.admin.ch/en/compulsory-accounting).

If you are still choosing a plan, our [Shopify Preise: what a Swiss shop really pays](https://swissecomguides.com/shopify-plans-switzerland/) guide breaks down the monthly costs in francs.

## Swiss vs EU: the page-by-page difference
Here is the comparison in one table. The "What you can skip" column is where the Swiss advantage shows up.

| Page | Swiss requirement | EU requirement | What you can skip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal notice | Name, address, email | Full Impressum with VAT ID, register number, representatives | Impressum extras unless registered |
| Privacy policy | FADP: inform, opt-out for cookies | GDPR: consent for non-essential cookies, DPO in some cases | Cookie consent banner |
| Terms and conditions | Optional but recommended | Optional but recommended | 14-day withdrawal notice |
| Price display | VAT included, shipping separate | VAT included, shipping separate | Nothing — this one is similar |
| Cookie notice | Information and opt-out | Prior consent under ePrivacy | Consent management platform |

What your Swiss shop actually needs, in order:

1. **Legal notice** — name, address, email in your footer. Add VAT and register numbers only if registered.
2. **Privacy policy** — FADP-compliant, covering what you collect, why, and how to opt out of cookies.
3. **Terms and conditions** — optional but your only shield. Cover contract formation, payment, delivery, returns, warranty.
4. **Price display** — VAT included in the displayed price, shipping shown separately before checkout.
5. **Cookie notice** — a sentence in your privacy policy, not a consent banner, unless you target EU customers.

> **Our take:** The Swiss legal page set is genuinely smaller, and that is not a loophole — it is a different legal system. Skip the cookie banner and the withdrawal notice if you sell only to Swiss customers. However, do not skip the legal notice, the privacy policy, or properly displayed VAT. Shops run into trouble when they copy German templates wholesale and overlook the specific MWST details required by the ESTV.

## Edge cases: age-restricted goods, EU customers, and data breaches
Three situations push you past the basic page set.

Age-restricted goods — alcohol, tobacco, cannabis within legal limits — require age verification at the point of sale. Swiss cantonal law sets the minimum age, which varies depending on the canton and product. Your T&Cs should state the age check, and your checkout should enforce it. Shopify's age-verification apps can handle the gate, but the legal responsibility is yours.

EU customers bring the GDPR back into the frame. If you actively market to EU buyers — German-language ads, euro pricing, shipping to Germany — you are likely processing their data. This triggers the GDPR. Your privacy policy needs a GDPR-compliant version for those visitors, and you may need a cookie consent banner for EU traffic. This is not a Swiss obligation; it is an EU obligation that follows your customers home.

Data breaches require speed. Under the FADP, you must notify the [FDPIC](https://www.edoeb.admin.ch/en/guidelines-data-breach) as soon as you become aware of a breach that could lead to a high risk to data subjects. If payment card data is involved, PCI DSS may require you to notify your payment processor and the card networks. The FDPIC's guidelines set out what to include: what happened, what data was affected, how many people, and what you are doing about it.

For payment, Swiss shoppers expect TWINT, PostFinance, and cards. Our [TWINT at a Shopify checkout: what is verified](https://swissecomguides.com/twint-shopify-checkout/) guide covers the current state of that integration.

## Frequently asked questions
### What are the fines for not having a legal notice on my Swiss online shop?

Swiss law does not set a fixed fine for a missing legal notice. The UWG allows competitors or consumer protection bodies to take legal action, and a court can order you to remove the offending content and pay legal costs. The FDPIC can also act if the missing notice means customers cannot exercise their data protection rights.

### Do I need a cookie banner for my Swiss online shop?

If you sell only to Swiss customers, no. The FADP requires information and an opt-out, not prior consent. A sentence in your privacy policy stating that you use analytics cookies and how to disable them is sufficient. If you sell to EU customers, the ePrivacy Directive requires a consent banner for that EU traffic specifically.

### Can I sell alcohol online in Switzerland?

Yes, but age verification is mandatory and the minimum age varies by canton depending on the type of alcoholic beverage. Your shop must verify age before completing the sale. Check your canton's specific rules before listing products, as some cantons require an additional cantonal licence for alcohol mail-order.

### How do I handle returns for EU customers when selling from Switzerland?

Swiss law gives buyers no statutory withdrawal right, but EU consumer law may require you to offer a 14-day withdrawal period to EU consumers. You should offer EU customers that 14-day window and state it in your T&Cs. Under EU rules, the buyer pays return shipping unless you agree otherwise, which differs from any voluntary Swiss return policy you set.

### Do I need to charge VAT on digital products like e-books in Switzerland?

Yes, if your customer is in Switzerland and your turnover exceeds CHF 100,000. E-books and software downloads are taxed at the reduced rate of 2.6%, according to the Federal Tax Administration (FTA), 2026. If you sell to EU customers, the EU's VAT on digital services rules apply. You may need to register via the [EU one-stop-shop scheme](https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/tax/vat/vat-online-sales/index_en.htm) for sales above EUR 10,000 across the bloc, according to [European Union (Your Europe)](https://europa.eu/youreurope/index_en.htm).

### How do I handle a data breach involving payment card data under Swiss law?

Notify the FDPIC as soon as possible with a description of the breach, the data affected, and the number of individuals involved. If payment card data is compromised, you must also notify your payment processor and follow PCI DSS incident response requirements. Document everything — the FDPIC may request a written report with timelines and remediation steps.

## Sources
1. Federal Tax Administration (FTA), "Tax liability VAT". https://www.estv.admin.ch/en/vat-tax-liability — checked on 27 August 2026
2. Federal Tax Administration (FTA), "Swiss VAT rates". https://www.estv.admin.ch/en/vat-rates-switzerland — checked on 27 August 2026
3. Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC), "Guidelines on data breaches". https://www.edoeb.admin.ch/en/guidelines-data-breach — checked on 27 August 2026
4. State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), "Statutory obligations: Swiss and European e-commerce laws". https://www.kmu.admin.ch/en/statutory-obligations-swiss-and-european-e-commerce-laws — checked on 27 August 2026
5. State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), "LLC: Responsibility, share capital, establishment". https://www.kmu.admin.ch/en/llc-responsibility-share-capital-establishment — checked on 27 August 2026
6. State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), "Limited company: One of the most common legal forms". https://www.kmu.admin.ch/en/limited-company-one-of-the-most-common-legal-forms — checked on 27 August 2026
7. State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), "Legal form: Sole Proprietorships". https://www.kmu.admin.ch/en/legal-form-sole-proprietorships — checked on 27 August 2026
8. State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), "Compulsory accounting". https://www.kmu.admin.ch/en/compulsory-accounting — checked on 27 August 2026
9. Federal Tax Administration (FTA), "Mail-order trade and platform taxation". https://www.estv.admin.ch/en/vat-mail-order-trade-and-platform-taxation — checked on 27 August 2026
10. European Union (Your Europe), "EU VAT One Stop Shop (OSS) - Your Europe". https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/taxation/vat/one-stop-shop/index_en.htm — 2026-08-27.