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Using retirement assets to set up a company: opportunities, risks and requirements

09.07.2026

If you want to set up a company, you need capital. Besides bank loans or investors, one question often comes up: can I use my pension fund or pillar 3a assets as starting capital? In Switzerland, it’s possible under certain conditions. But this step also has direct consequences for your retirement provision and personal coverage. This article sets out when assets may be withdrawn, what you should watch out for and when other forms of financing make more sense.

At a glance

  • You can use retirement assets from your pension fund and pillar 3a to set up a company under certain conditions.
  • The key factor is whether you’re recognized as self-employed by the OASI. The company’s legal form has an impact on this.
  • Withdrawals can generally be made for sole proprietorships or general partnerships, provided that the OASI classes your activity as self-employment.
  • Retirement benefits and coverage in the event of disability or death are lower as a result of withdrawals.
  • Retirement assets are just one of the financing options available and should be part of long-term planning.

PostFinance supports founders by providing guidance on setting up a company, financing and retirement planning so that your business and personal goals remain aligned over the long term.

Check your retirement planning situation

The retirement assets you can use to set up your company

For founders, the focus is essentially on two types of retirement provision: occupational pension provision under the 2nd pillar (pension fund) and the fixed private pension plan under pillar 3a. Both can be used when taking up self-employment under certain conditions.

  • You can make an anticipated withdrawal from a pension fund if you take up self-employment and are no longer required to be affiliated with a pension fund. The decisive factor isn’t just founding the company, but whether you’re considered to be self-employed under OASI law and whether you still need pension fund insurance coverage once your business has been set up.

  • Assets from pillar 3a can also be used when taking up self-employment. The legal requirements for anticipated withdrawal have to be met and you need to be recognized as self-employed by the OASI. But if you withdraw assets from pillar 3a, you’ll reduce the retirement capital you’ve accumulated and, in turn, your financial cushion for when you retire.

The main differences between pension fund and pillar 3a

TopicPension fund (2nd pillar)Pillar 3a
Topic
Form of retirement provision
 Pension fund (2nd pillar)
Occupational pension provision (OPA)
 Pillar 3a
Retirement provision
Topic
Purpose
 Pension fund (2nd pillar)
Retirement provision and coverage in the event of disability and death
 Pillar 3a
Retirement provision
Topic
Conditions for withdrawal
 Pension fund (2nd pillar)
Taking up self-employment, recognition by the OASI and no mandatory affiliation with a pension fund
 Pillar 3a
Taking up self-employment and recognition by the OASI
Topic
Effects on retirement planning situation
 Pension fund (2nd pillar)
Discontinued benefits for old age, DI or death need to be covered by private retirement provision
 Pillar 3a
Lower retirement capital
Topic
Tax liability upon withdrawal
 Pension fund (2nd pillar)
Yes
 Pillar 3a
Yes

The conditions when withdrawal is possible

Before you decide on which form of retirement provision to withdraw from, you need to ask yourself a key question: do you even meet the requirements for withdrawal?

Regardless of whether you want to withdraw retirement assets from your pension fund or pillar 3a, you have to meet the following requirements: you must “take up self-employment” and be recognized as self-employed by the OASI. Whether early withdrawal is possible at all depends solely on this status. However, the specific requirements differ depending on the form of retirement provision.

Conditions for withdrawal from pillar 3a

Withdrawal from pillar 3a is possible if:

  • You take up self-employment as your main job
  • You are recognized as self-employed by the OASI 

Conditions for withdrawal from the pension fund

Additional requirements apply for anticipated withdrawal from the pension fund:

  • You take up self-employment as your main job
  • You are recognized as self-employed by the OASI
  • You are “no longer required to be affiliated to a pension fund”

This means the decisive factors are not only the formation of the company, but also your employment status and the legal form you choose.

Impact of a company’s legal form

The possibility of withdrawing retirement assets is closely related to whether company founders are considered to be self-employed under OASI law or continue to be classed as employees. The company’s legal form influences this classification and, in turn, whether assets can be withdrawn from a pension fund or pillar 3a.

    • Company founders are considered to be self-employed
    • There is generally no mandatory insurance in a pension fund
    • The current pension fund assets are transferred to a vested benefits account or can be withdrawn under certain conditions
    • Under the legal requirements, pillar 3a assets can also be used to take up self-employment
    • Founders are generally classed as employees of their own company
    • They remain affiliated to a pension fund
    • This means it isn’t generally possible to withdraw funds from a pension fund to set up a company
    • For pillar 3a, founding a limited liability company or private limited company also doesn’t generally allow you to withdraw retirement assets

So not every self-employed activity automatically permits the withdrawal of retirement assets. If you remain employed and also take up self-employment, you’ll usually remain affiliated to a pension fund through your employer. This means it isn’t generally possible to withdraw pension fund assets if you begin working for yourself alongside other employment.

How is self-employed status recognized by the OASI?

Recognition is granted via the OASI compensation office in your canton of residence or business.

What you need to do:

  1. Registration with the OASI compensation office: You register your self-employed activity with the relevant compensation office. You can usually do this via a form (online or in writing).

  2. Submission of documents: The OASI checks your situation based on various supporting documents. The decisive factors are whether you work on your own account and at your own risk, have several clients and are organizationally independent.

  3. OASI decision: The compensation office classes you as “self-employed” or “employed”.

Important: You can only withdraw retirement assets if you’re officially considered self-employed. The OASI decision is binding for the withdrawal of pension fund and pillar 3a assets.

When it makes more sense to withdraw assets from a pension fund or pillar 3a

If the conditions are met, the next question is: which retirement assets should I use? There’s no one-size-fits-all recommendation. The key factor is always your individual retirement planning and financing situation. In practice, however, there are some typical differences:

  • Pillar 3a is often used first as withdrawal is easier and has less of an impact on existing pension structures 
  • Withdrawal from a pension fund usually has a greater impact as benefits in the event of disability or death can also be affected besides retirement capital
  • The amount of capital can vary as the pension fund often accounts for a larger proportion of retirement assets

Important: Always consider both options in the overall context, ideally as part of holistic retirement planning and financial planning.

Which documents and deadlines are important when withdrawing retirement assets

To ensure that retirement assets can be paid out, various supporting documents must be submitted. Exactly which documents are required depends on the individual employee benefits institution or foundation.

  • The following documents are frequently requested:

    • Confirmation from the OASI compensation office
    • Application form
    • Commercial register entry (if available)
    • Other documents on business activities
    • Spouse’s consent

  • Depending on the foundation, you may need to provide:

    • Proof of self-employment
    • Confirmation from the OASI compensation office
    • Application form from the retirement savings foundation

Deadlines also differ depending on the form of retirement provision:

  • Pension fund (2nd pillar): You generally have to apply for a withdrawal within 12 months of taking up self-employment.
  • Pillar 3a: There is no uniform legal deadline. Conditions may vary depending on the provider.

Important: Clarify the exact requirements and deadlines with your employee benefits institution in good time.

Practical tips: common sticking points

In practice, admin requirements are frequently where problems arise. Supporting documents, such as confirmation from the OASI compensation office, are often missing. This delays the payout of retirement assets. Deadlines are also underestimated: vested benefits assets can only be withdrawn within one year of starting self-employment.
Jan Ingold, Head of Retirement Planning at PostFinance

How a withdrawal affects your retirement planning

Withdrawing retirement assets creates additional financial opportunities when setting up a company. However, it also reduces the funds that were originally earmarked for personal retirement planning.

How much of an impact a withdrawal can have depends on various factors, such as the amount of capital withdrawn, the insured person’s age and their individual retirement planning situation.

Impact on retirement provision

Both with your pension fund and pillar 3a, anticipated withdrawal reduces the capital available for retirement.

With your pension fund, this can lead to lower retirement benefits. The earlier in your working life you withdraw capital, the greater the long-term effects may be, since less retirement capital is accumulated and earns interest in the years that follow.

With pillar 3a, the available retirement capital also decreases. On top of that, potential returns generated on the saved assets by the time you retire are lost.

Impact on disability and death

Anticipated withdrawal can also have an impact on financial security in the event of disability or death. With the pension fund, the benefits for surviving dependants or in the event of disability may be lower.

And with pillar 3a, there’s less capital available for beneficiaries when the benefit is paid out.

Retirement assets or other forms of financing?

Retirement assets are just one way of financing a company startup. Depending on the business model, capital requirements and personal situation, other forms of financing may also be possible.

It’s worth comparing them before using your existing retirement capital:

FinancingTypical advantagesPotential disadvantages
Financing
Retirement assets
 Typical advantages
Equity without borrowing
 Potential disadvantages
Reduction of pension benefits
Financing
Bank loan
 Typical advantages
Protection in old age, in the event of disability and death remains in place
 Potential disadvantages
Interest and repayment obligation
Financing
Investors
 Typical advantages
Access to additional (growth) capital and expertise, retirement provision remains intact
 Potential disadvantages
Participation in the company, in decision-making
Financing
Family and acquaintances
 Typical advantages
Flexible structure possible, retirement provision remains intact
 Potential disadvantages
Personal dependencies and potential for conflict

When withdrawal of retirement assets can make sense

Using retirement assets can be a sensible source of financing if the business model has already been sufficiently developed and the financing is based on realistic planning.

This involves various things, such as calculating expected investments, ongoing costs and liquidity requirements transparently. Realistic revenue and earnings forecasts are just as important as sufficient financial reserves for the company’s start-up phase.

Personal retirement planning situations should also be taken into account when making decisions. If you’re withdrawing retirement assets, you need to consider early on how to structure retirement provision and financial protection in future in the event of disability or death.

In many cases, partial withdrawal may make more sense than using all your retirement assets. It means part of your retirement provision will remain untouched, while additional equity will be available to set up your company.

When external financing can be a better solution

Not every startup needs to be financed with retirement assets. Depending on the situation, bank loans, investors or money lent by family or friends may be a suitable alternative.

This is particularly true if the business model hasn’t yet been sufficiently validated, if you’re planning large investments or there’s little financial leeway. In such cases, it may be best to avoid exposing your retirement capital to entrepreneurial risk.

Another advantage is that your existing retirement provision remains intact. The capital saved for your retirement and any benefits in the event of disability or death won’t be reduced.

If you’re looking to bring in external investors, you should address the opportunities and challenges of finding investors early on.

What taxes will I incur when withdrawing retirement assets?

Capital benefit tax is levied when withdrawing assets from the pension fund and pillar 3a. This is charged separately from other income at a reduced rate. For larger amounts, the tax burden can be significant. The amount actually paid out is lower than the retirement capital originally withdrawn.

The exact amount can be calculated using the relevant tax calculators of the cantons or the Federal Tax Administration. It means this amount isn’t available as effective starting capital.

It’s essential, then, that you take tax implications into account when planning your financing early on and factor in sufficient liquidity reserves for taxes and ongoing business costs.

How company founders can boost their retirement planning after setting up a company

Withdrawing retirement assets doesn’t bring retirement provision to an end – in fact, self-employed people bear even more responsibility for their own retirement provision and financial security in the event of disability or death.

Depending on your situation, you can consider various measures, such as:

  • Voluntary affiliation to a pension fund and repaying into your company pension
  • Increasing your pillar 3a assets
  • Private retirement planning via pillar 3b
  • Additional coverage in the event of disability or death

The earlier you pay into your pension plan and deal with your long-term coverage as a company founder, the easier it will be to reduce potential pension gaps.

Personal retirement planning advice for company founders

If you want to use your retirement assets to set up a company, you need to consider the impact on retirement provision, disability and death early on. PostFinance can help you holistically assess your retirement planning situation.

Request retirement planning advice

FAQs on anticipated withdrawal of retirement assets to set up a company in Switzerland

  • Yes, anticipated withdrawal from your pension fund (OPA) is possible if you are recognized as self-employed by the OASI compensation office, the self-employed activity is your main occupation and your application is submitted within 12 months of taking up self-employment.

  • Yes, taking up self-employment is one of the legally permitted grounds for withdrawal. Whether a withdrawal is possible depends on the legal requirements – in particular, whether you’re considered to be self-employed under OASI law.

  • If the conditions for withdrawal from the pension fund and pillar 3a are met, assets from both schemes can generally be used to take up self-employment.

  • As a rule, no. To withdraw assets from your pillar 3a to set up a company, you have to be recognized as self-employed by the OASI. However, if you set up a limited liability company or private limited company, you’re usually considered to be an employee of your own company (with a salary and social security contributions). In this case, you don’t meet these requirements so you can’t usually make a withdrawal.

    Exception: if you’re actually considered self-employed, such as with parallel self-employment, a withdrawal can be assessed under certain circumstances.

  • Generally, partial withdrawal of assets from your pension fund may be possible, provided the relevant employee benefits institution permits this. With pillar 3a, it isn’t possible to partially withdraw funds from an individual account. But if you have several pillar 3a accounts, you can decide which accounts your assets should be fully withdrawn from.

  • A vested benefits account is an account for retirement assets. Pension fund assets are transferred to this account if you end your previous employment and are no longer a member of a pension fund.

    If you take up self-employment and are no longer compulsorily insured in a pension fund, you generally transfer your previous retirement assets to a vested benefits account. From there, you can request an anticipated withdrawal for starting self-employment under certain conditions.

  • When withdrawing from a pension fund or pillar 3a, capital benefit tax is levied. This is taxed separately from other income at a reduced rate. The amount of tax depends on various factors, such as the canton of residence and the amount withdrawn. However, it can amount to several thousand francs.

    It means some of the capital withdrawn isn’t available as starting capital, but is required for tax payment.

  • If you withdraw retirement assets for self-employment, you’ll use capital that was originally earmarked for your retirement plans. If your business doesn’t go as planned, this can have a long-term impact on your retirement provision.

    So it’s a good idea to check your pension situation regularly after setting up your company and to close any pension gaps as early as you can.

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