How to Choose a Corporate Finance Company (2026)

• Business financing strategy — helping you decide how to fund growth, operations, or acquisitions
• Capital raising — preparing documents and connecting you with the right funding sources
• Debt and equity financing — structuring loans, shareholder agreements, or investor deals
• Company valuation — calculating what your business is worth using recognised methods
• M&A advisory — supporting mergers, acquisitions, and business sales
• Financial restructuring — reorganising finances when a business is under pressure
• Cash flow planning — forecasting and managing liquidity
• Due diligence support — reviewing financial data before a deal closes

1. Check Their Experience With Swiss SMEs

• Have you worked with companies of our size?
• Do you understand our canton and sector?
• Can you support both financing and financial planning?

2. Review Their Corporate Finance Services

• Financing strategy
• Bank loan preparation
• Investor deck support
• Business valuation
• Cash flow forecasting
• Financial modelling
• M&A advisory
• Due diligence preparation
• Restructuring support

3. Verify Their Regulatory and Compliance Knowledge

• Financial intermediation
• Investment advice
• Fundraising from investors
• Anti-money laundering (AML) checks
• Investor communication
• Cross-border financial activity

• Are your services regulated?
• Are you affiliated with a recognised self-regulatory organisation if required?
• How do you handle AML and client due diligence?
• Do you work with legal and tax specialists when needed?

4. Look at Their Valuation and Financial Modelling Skills

• Asset-based valuation — based on the net value of assets
• Earnings-based valuation — based on profit multiples
• Discounted cash flow (DCF) — based on projected future cash flows
• Comparable company analysis — based on similar businesses in the market

• Can you explain your valuation method in simple terms?
• What assumptions will you use?
• Do you include scenario analysis?
• Can you prepare a lender-ready or investor-ready financial model?

5. Ask How They Build a Financing Strategy

• Bank loans — best for stable revenue and proven repayment capacity
• Shareholder loans — flexible but require clear legal documentation
• Equity investment — suitable for high-growth businesses with limited collateral
• Mezzanine finance — a hybrid between debt and equity, useful for growth or buyouts
• Leasing — ideal for asset-heavy businesses that want to preserve cash
• Factoring — useful for businesses with cash flow gaps from unpaid invoices
• Crowdfunding — growing in Switzerland, especially for consumer-facing businesses
• Public support — available for innovation, export, or regional development projects

6. Compare Their Network of Banks, Investors, and Local Partners

• Swiss banks (cantonal banks, private banks, and commercial lenders)
• Private lenders and alternative finance providers
• Investors (angels, family offices, and institutional)
• Lawyers and notaries
• Tax specialists
• Auditors
• Local business support organisations

7. Review Their Fee Structure Before You Sign

• Fixed project fee — a set price for a defined scope of work
• Hourly fee — charged by the hour, useful for smaller or undefined projects
• Monthly advisory fee — a retainer for ongoing support
• Success fee — a percentage of the deal value, paid only on completion
• Mixed fee — a combination of fixed and success-based elements

• What is included in the scope?
• What is excluded?
• Who will manage the project day to day?
• What documents will you receive?
• How are success fees calculated?
• Are third-party costs (legal, audit, translation) separate?
• What are the cancellation terms?

8. Check Their Communication Style and Reporting Process

• Regular progress updates
• Clear document lists
• Transparent assumptions in all models and reports
• Simple, readable reports
• Decision summaries that help you act, not just inform

• How often will we receive updates?
• Who is our main contact throughout the project?
• Can you explain financing options in plain language?
• Will you help us prepare for bank or investor meetings?

1. They promise guaranteed financing. No legitimate advisor can guarantee a loan or investment. This is a serious warning sign.
2. They avoid explaining fees. Vague pricing usually means hidden costs or misaligned incentives.
3. They push one financing option without reviewing alternatives. A good advisor compares options. A poor one sells a product.
4. They lack Swiss market experience. Generic advice does not work in a market with specific banking norms, legal structures, and cantonal differences.
5. They cannot explain valuation assumptions. If they cannot explain it simply, they may not understand it themselves.
6. They ignore tax, legal, or compliance risks. Corporate finance decisions have tax and legal consequences. A good advisor flags these early.
7. They do not provide a written scope of work. No written agreement means no accountability.
8. They use complex language without clear recommendations. Jargon without clarity is not expertise.
9. They do not ask for detailed financial documents. A credible advisor needs your numbers before giving advice. If they skip this step, the advice will be shallow.

• Local expertise in Vaud and Switzerland — deep knowledge of cantonal business practices, Swiss banking norms, and SME realities
• Business finance support — help with financial planning, loan preparation, and financing strategy
• Accounting and fiduciary knowledge — integrated support across accounting and tax support and corporate finance
• Support for registering a company — guidance on incorporating a company in Switzerland for foreign founders and new businesses, such as setting up a Public Limited Company (PLC)
• Clear guidance for SMEs and entrepreneurs — no jargon, no unnecessary complexity
• French and English support — bilingual communication for local and international clients