Wealth Management Business Plan Template Switzerland

This wealth management business plan template is for independent Swiss wealth managers. It is short and practical. Also, it avoids private-bank assumptions. Therefore, you can brief partners, open banking lines, and launch with confidence.

• Who this wealth management business plan template is for
• This is not a Private Banking plan
• Quick start: 90 days
• Wealth management business plan template structure
• Costs & capital (CHF)
• Compliance inside the plan
• Market plan
• Tech stack
• Risks & mitigants
• FAQs
• Download the free template

For quick reference, see FINMA. In addition, check the page for portfolio manager licence. If you need global AML standards, use the FATF. For data protection, see EDÖB. For your own site, visit vapa.ch, Services, and Contact.

Who this wealth management business plan template is for

This guide suits founders of boutiques, spin-outs, and solo advisers in Switzerland. Because banks and supervisors expect clarity, your plan must be brief and complete. As a result, this wealth management business plan template gives you a one-page summary plus a lean appendix. In short, it is small enough to use and strong enough to pass review.

This is not a Private Banking business plan

Private banks rely on large platforms and in-house products. However, independent firms must show speed, neutrality, and control. So your plan should stress three points:

• Team: two Relationship Managers and one all-rounder for operations and compliance.
• Multi-bank setup: work with at least two custody banks. This lowers risk and improves service.
• Clear pricing: advisory bps, flat retainers, or a mix. Also, disclose any retrocessions.

Quick start: 90-day launch with this wealth management business plan template

1. Incorporate & govern: choose AG or GmbH, appoint the board, and open accounts. Then write down roles and approvals.
2. Licence pack: prepare the FINMA file, AML/KYC, and simple policies. Next, map reports and owners.
3. Banking rails: shortlist two to three custody banks, test data feeds, and confirm fees. After that, sign service terms.
4. Build the stack: PMS/CRM, secure storage, email archive, client portal, and e-signature. Also set backups and access rules.
5. Go live: website, disclosures, client agreements, and a monthly content plan. Finally, start measured outreach.

In the first quarter you will work long hours. Even so, this simple order keeps momentum and reduces rework.

Wealth management business plan template structure

1) Executive summary

• Who you serve: entrepreneurs, families, and senior executives.
• Why you win: independent oversight, open architecture, and clear reports across banks.
• Money view: start-up costs, runway, AUM targets, and break-even month.

2) Market & positioning

• Client jobs: protect wealth, cut complexity, and plan succession.
• Proof: experience, references, simple fees, and clean governance.
• For example, explain why clients move from private banking to you.

3) Operating model

• Team model: two RMs plus one all-rounder for operations, compliance, and admin.
• Vendors: PMS/CRM, AML checks, document vault, and e-signature.
• Custody banks: selection rules, review cycle, and an exit plan for each bank.

4) Governance & compliance

• Policies: AML/KYC, suitability, best execution, conflicts, outsourcing, and complaints.
• Controls: four-eyes checks, trade reviews, and file sampling. Therefore, errors drop fast.
• Reporting: a simple calendar, board packs, registers, and training records.

As a result, you build trust with clients and banks. If you need the official starting point, use FINMA.

5) Commercial plan

• Pricing: advisory bps with breakpoints; flat retainers for consolidated oversight; project fees for one-off work.
• Pipeline: a 12-month target list, an introducer programme, and small events.
• KPIs: meetings, conversion, AUM added, fee yield, and time-to-onboard. Above all, track activity each week.

6) Financials

• Run-rate fixed costs with a cash buffer. Also keep a rolling 12-month forecast.
• AUM build and revenue by bps and mandate mix. For example, test a −25% market case.
• Break-even month and simple back-up plans.

Costs & capital for your wealth management business plan (CHF)

Onboarding, bank links, and client moves take time. So plan for a slower first six to nine months. The table below is illustrative for a three-person launch.

Category	Detail	Amount (CHF)
Personnel (fully loaded)	Two RMs + one all-rounder (ops/compliance/admin)	316,764
Office & infrastructure	Serviced office or ~100 m² lease; furnishing & setup	240,000 – 390,000
Systems	PMS/CRM, cloud, and licences (setup + annual)	~100,000
Regulatory & insurance	Legal and licence work, oversight body fees, and liability cover	~50,000
Marketing & operations	Brand, website, content, utilities, and consultants	35,000 – 55,000
Liquidity reserve	About six months of fixed costs	~150,000
Total (illustrative)	Year-one cash need incl. buffer	~917,000 – 943,000

Capital strategy inside the wealth management business plan template

• Paid-up capital sized to your legal form and runway. Also keep proof of funds.
• Equity buffer tied to fixed costs. Therefore, review it each quarter and record decisions.
• Founder pay can be deferred until break-even to protect cash. In addition, cut optional spend early.

Compliance inside your wealth management business plan

Strong compliance builds trust. Therefore, make it part of daily work, not a side task. In short, keep it simple and easy to audit.

• Policy pack: AML/KYC, suitability, best execution, conflicts, outsourcing, complaints, and incident response.
• Controls: four-eyes checks, pre- and post-trade reviews, quarterly file checks, and yearly sign-offs.
• Evidence: if it is not written down, it did not happen. So keep versioned policies and registers.

Also see FINMA’s licence page and the FATF for AML standards.

Market plan for this wealth management business plan template

Who you serve

• Entrepreneurs with multi-bank needs and cross-border issues.
• HNWI families who want consolidation, governance, and succession planning.
• Executives with concentrated equity and upcoming liquidity events.

Value proposition

• Independent oversight: unbiased allocation, multi-bank reporting, and fee transparency.
• Tax-aware design: mandate menus built for after-tax results.
• Curated access: legal, tax, and fiduciary partners under written oversight.

12-month acquisition cadence

1. Publish one helpful article per month. For example, share a succession checklist.
2. Run quarterly events with a partner. Afterwards, upload the slides.
3. Reach out to 120 named prospects. Next, track meetings and next steps in your CRM.
4. Set a referral programme with clear value for introducers. Moreover, review it every six months.
5. Measure pipeline size, meeting speed, mandate conversion, AUM added, and fee yield.

Tech stack for an independent wealth management business plan

• PMS/Order management: model portfolios, rebalancing, and reconciliation.
• CRM: stages, KYC fields, tasks, and notes.
• Data & reporting: custody bank feeds, a client portal, and simple statements.
• Core productivity: email with archive, document storage, and e-signature.
• Security: MFA, least-privilege access, vendor checks, and exit plans.

Key risks & mitigants

• Client portability: respect notice periods and restrictive covenants. Also, build a net-new pipeline early.
• Single-bank risk: keep two custody banks and test data feeds before go-live.
• Market drawdown: use conservative revenue views and keep a cash buffer.
• Operational error: use four-eyes checks, change logs, and incident playbooks.
• Compliance drift: plan quarterly sign-offs and a yearly policy refresh.

FAQs about the wealth management business plan template

When do fees start to arrive?

Allow six to nine months before meaningful revenue. Licensing, bank onboarding, and client moves take time. However, a focused pipeline speeds this up.

How much capital do I need?

Budget for year-one costs plus a cash buffer. A three-person firm may target about CHF 900k to 950k, depending on office choices and vendor pricing.

Can I start solo?

Yes. Even so, you will need outsourcing for compliance admin and bookkeeping. Also, plan cover for approvals, holidays, and service SLAs.

What makes this different from a private banking business plan?

Independent firms must prove control without a parent bank, run multi-bank setups, and use clear pricing with lean teams. So this template focuses on those points.

What belongs in the compliance pack?

Core policies (AML/KYC, suitability, best execution, conflicts, outsourcing), an oversight calendar, registers, and training records. Above all, keep everything version-controlled and easy to audit.

Download the free Wealth Management Business Plan Template

This wealth management business plan template includes a one-page summary, an operating model canvas, a simple financial model, a compliance checklist, and a client document suite checklist.

Download the free wealth management business plan template for Switzerland (DOCX)

Disclaimer: This page is informational. Always check the current Swiss rules and get advice for your case.