Switzerland seduces e-commerce

We make reference to the article "Switzerland seduces e-commerce" appeared in Il Sole 24 Ore on May 12th 2014 to point out some points of interest.

Italian entrepreneurs relocate headquarters of online shopping sites from Brianza to Canton Ticino, from Veneto to Slovenia. This phenomenon, for now, is at the beginning.

E-commerce market today in Italy is worth more than 10 billion Euros, involving 14 million consumers and growing at a rate of 18% per year.

The Swiss tax is 21% (Ticino) and if goods bought by Italian customers does not exceed the value of 150 Euros is exempt from import duties. Considering that the average of receipts online purchases is around 100 Euros, this allows to Italian e-commerce entrepreneurs Italian to pay no extra shipping fee.

Italian companies that are looking with interest to move abroad and also in Switzerland, in order to internationalize their own business are mainly those who trade in clothing, footwear, cosmetics, perfumery, stationery and wines.

Who should internationalize its business?

Companies which generate a turnover not too small, at least one million euro, given that internationalization involves the cost of implementation of a warehouse and recruitment of the staff.

It is more advantageous to do so since the beginning of the company; to be entitled to benefit from the tax advantages of another Country (even if in the EU), the Italian entrepreneur must establish and operate a real business activity abroad, otherwise you risk falling in “esterovestizione”.

There are other favorite destinations for Italian entrepreneurs but Switzerland and in particular Ticino, seems to be one of the best, considering its good infrastructures, proximity to Italy and Italian as first spoken language.