Swiss law mandates proper bookkeeping for all companies under Articles 957–963 of the Code of Obligations\[1\]. Most foreign founders underestimate the administrative burden this creates. Outsourcing accounting to a Swiss fiduciary removes compliance risk and costs significantly less than hiring a full-time bookkeeper. This page explains what monthly accounting support includes, what the law requires, and how outsourced services compare to in-house staff in terms of cost and risk. We address three questions: What does Swiss law require? What does a monthly accounting package include? How much does it cost compared to hiring someone? ## Legal Framework: Swiss Bookkeeping Requirements All Swiss companies — [AG (Aktiengesellschaft) and GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung)](https://lawsupport.ch/company-formation-switzerland) — must maintain proper accounting records. The Code of Obligations (Obligationenrecht, OR) sets the rules in Articles 957–963\[1\]. These apply to every company, regardless of size or activity. **What the law requires:** Companies must keep a ledger showing all business transactions. This includes income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. The ledger must be supported by original documents: invoices, receipts, contracts, bank statements. All records must be kept for 10 years from the end of the fiscal year\[2\]. The company director is personally responsible for compliance. If the tax authority or an auditor requests records and they are missing, the director faces penalties. **Language and currency:** Records can be kept in German, French, Italian, or English\[1\]. The currency must be Swiss francs (CHF) or the functional currency of the business if most transactions occur in another currency. Foreign companies operating in Switzerland often use EUR or USD as functional currency, but year-end financial statements must show CHF equivalents. **Audit requirements:** Not all companies need a full audit. The requirement depends on company size. The thresholds changed in 2023\[3\]: | Company Size | Annual Revenue | Balance Sheet Total | Full-Time Employees | Audit Requirement | |:---|:---|:---|:---|:---| | Small | < CHF 20 million | < CHF 10 million | < 50 | Can opt out (no audit) | | Medium | CHF 20–40 million | CHF 10–20 million | 50–250 | Limited audit required | | Large | > CHF 40 million | > CHF 20 million | > 250 | Ordinary audit required | Small companies can opt out of audit entirely if all shareholders agree in writing. Most foreign-owned micro-companies (holding structures, consulting firms, trading companies with low transaction volume) qualify for opt-out. Medium companies must have a limited audit (review of financial statements, no detailed transaction testing). Large companies need an ordinary audit (full examination by a licensed audit firm). Even if a company opts out of audit, it must still keep proper books and file annual accounts with the Commercial Register (Handelsregister)\[4\]. The tax authority can audit at any time. Proper bookkeeping is not optional. {{cta:cta-1}} ## What Monthly Accounting Support Includes Outsourced accounting means a Swiss fiduciary (Treuhandbüro) handles all bookkeeping tasks on behalf of the company. The company provides source documents. The fiduciary processes them and produces monthly reports. **Core services in a monthly package:** 1. **Transaction recording:** The fiduciary receives bank statements, invoices, receipts, and contracts. Each transaction is posted to the correct account in the ledger. Bank accounts are reconciled monthly to ensure the ledger matches actual cash flow. 2. **Invoice processing:** Incoming supplier invoices are checked, posted, and tracked for payment. Outgoing client invoices are recorded as revenue. Overdue invoices are flagged. 3. **[VAT (Mehrwertsteuer) returns](https://lawsupport.ch/vat-registration-switzerland):** Switzerland requires quarterly VAT filings for most businesses\[5\]. The fiduciary calculates input VAT (paid on purchases) and output VAT (collected on sales), files the return, and ensures payment by the deadline. Late VAT filings trigger automatic penalties. 4. **[Payroll processing](https://lawsupport.ch/payroll-services-switzerland) (if applicable):** If the company has employees, the fiduciary calculates gross salary, deducts social security contributions (AHV/IV/EO, about 10.6% combined employer + employee share)\[6\], pension contributions (BVG, around 7–18% depending on age)\[7\], and accident insurance. The fiduciary files monthly payroll reports with the social security office and handles year-end salary certificates (Lohnausweis) for employees. 5. **Year-end preparation:** At fiscal year-end, the fiduciary closes the books, prepares the balance sheet and profit/loss statement, and drafts notes to the accounts. These documents are required for the annual filing with the Commercial Register. The deadline is 6 months after fiscal year-end (for most companies: June 30 for year ending December 31)\[4\]. If the company needs an audit, the fiduciary prepares the trial balance and supporting schedules for the auditor. 6. **Communication with authorities:** The fiduciary handles correspondence with the cantonal tax office, social security office, and VAT authority. This includes responding to queries, providing documents, and clarifying discrepancies. **Typical transaction volume:** A micro-company (holding, consulting, small trading) usually has 10–30 transactions per month. A small active business (e-commerce, services, retail) has 50–200 transactions. A medium business (manufacturing, wholesale, multi-location) can have 500+ transactions. The monthly fee scales with volume. **What the client provides:** The client sends bank statements (usually via online banking export), scanned invoices, and expense receipts by the 5th of each month. The fiduciary processes them and returns a monthly report by the 15th. The report shows profit/loss for the month, cash position, outstanding invoices, and VAT liability. The client reviews the report and asks questions. Response time at Lawsupport: 1–2 hours. ## Cost Benchmarks: Outsourced vs In-House The decision between outsourced accounting and hiring an in-house bookkeeper comes down to cost, flexibility, and risk. **Outsourced accounting fees:** Swiss fiduciaries charge monthly fees based on transaction volume and complexity. Typical ranges: * **Micro-company (10–30 transactions/month, no payroll, no VAT):** CHF 200–400/month * **Small business (50–100 transactions/month, VAT, 1–3 employees):** CHF 400–600/month * **Medium business (200–500 transactions/month, VAT, payroll for 5–10 employees):** CHF 800–1,200/month These fees include transaction recording, VAT returns, and monthly reports. Year-end financial statement preparation (balance sheet, P&L, notes) typically costs an additional CHF 800–1,500\. Audit preparation (if required) adds CHF 1,000–2,000. **Annual cost example (micro-company):** * Monthly bookkeeping: CHF 300 × 12 = CHF 3,600 * Year-end accounts: CHF 1,000 * **Total: CHF 4,600/year** **In-house bookkeeper salary:** A qualified bookkeeper in Switzerland earns CHF 65,000–80,000 gross annual salary (Zurich and Zug; lower in rural cantons)\[8\]. Employer costs add 15–20% for social security contributions (AHV/IV/EO, BVG, accident insurance, family allowance fund)\[6\]. Total employer cost: CHF 75,000–96,000/year, or CHF 6,250–8,000/month. **Hidden costs of in-house staff:** * **Recruitment:** Hiring takes 4–8 weeks. Recruitment agency fees: 15–20% of first-year salary (CHF 10,000–15,000). * **Training:** New hire needs 2–3 months to learn company systems and Swiss procedures. * **Sick leave and vacation:** 4 weeks mandatory vacation + average 10 days sick leave per year = 6 weeks absent. Productivity loss or need for temporary replacement. * **Turnover risk:** If the bookkeeper quits, the company faces a knowledge gap and must restart recruitment. * **Software and equipment:** Accounting software licenses, computer, office space. * **Supervision:** Someone must review the bookkeeper's work. If the director is not financially trained, errors can go unnoticed for months. **Cost comparison table:** | Cost Item | Outsourced (Micro-Company) | In-House Bookkeeper | |:---|:---|:---| | Monthly service fee / gross salary | CHF 300 | CHF 6,500 | | Employer social charges (15–20%) | Included in fee | CHF 1,000 | | Year-end accounts | CHF 1,000 (one-time) | Included in salary | | Recruitment | CHF 0 | CHF 10,000 (one-time) | | Training period | CHF 0 | 2–3 months reduced output | | Sick leave / vacation cover | CHF 0 (fiduciary always available) | CHF 1,500/year (temp replacement) | | Software | CHF 0 (fiduciary provides) | CHF 500/year | | **Total annual cost** | **CHF 4,600** | **CHF 91,000+** | For a small company with 50–100 transactions per month, outsourced accounting costs CHF 6,000–8,000/year. An in-house bookkeeper costs CHF 90,000–100,000/year. The break-even point is around 500 transactions per month, or when the company needs full-time financial oversight beyond basic bookkeeping (budgeting, cash flow forecasting, financial analysis). ## Why Small Businesses Choose Outsourcing Foreign founders often assume they need an in-house bookkeeper because "that is how it works at home." In Switzerland, most small companies outsource. The reasons are practical: **1\. Compliance assurance** Swiss accounting rules are strict. A bookkeeper who does not know the local requirements will make mistakes. VAT filings, social security reporting, and year-end accounts all have specific formats and deadlines. A Swiss fiduciary knows the rules and stays current with changes. At Lawsupport, we have processed thousands of VAT returns and year-end closings. We know what the tax authority expects. The client does not need to become an expert in Swiss accounting law. **2\. Scalability** A company that starts with 10 transactions per month may grow to 100 within a year. Outsourced accounting scales with the business. The monthly fee adjusts to the new volume. An in-house bookkeeper is a fixed cost. If the business shrinks, the company still pays the full salary. If it grows rapidly, one bookkeeper may not be enough, forcing the company to hire a second person or an accountant to supervise. **3\. No HR overhead** Hiring an employee in Switzerland means registering with the social security office, setting up pension and accident insurance, handling payroll, and complying with labor law (employment contract, vacation entitlement, notice periods, termination procedures). If the bookkeeper underperforms or the company needs to downsize, termination is complex and costly. Outsourcing eliminates this. The fiduciary contract can be terminated with 30–90 days' notice, and there is no severance obligation. **4\. Access to specialist knowledge** A fiduciary firm has multiple specialists: bookkeepers, tax advisors, auditors, payroll experts. If a complex issue arises — crypto transactions, cross-border VAT, holding company dividend reporting, FINMA compliance — the client gets advice from the relevant specialist. An in-house bookkeeper may not have this breadth of knowledge. **5\. Risk mitigation** Swiss fiduciaries carry professional indemnity insurance. If the fiduciary makes an error that results in a fine or penalty, the insurance covers it. An in-house bookkeeper's errors are the company's problem. The director is personally liable for tax and social security compliance. Outsourcing transfers some of that risk to the fiduciary. **6\. Continuity** If the in-house bookkeeper is sick, on vacation, or quits, the work stops. The fiduciary firm has backup staff. At Lawsupport, client work is handled by a team, not a single person. If one team member is unavailable, another steps in. The client always gets a response within 1–2 hours. ## How Lawsupport Handles Accounting Outsourcing We provide monthly accounting services for Swiss companies owned by non-residents. Our clients include holding companies, trading firms, consulting businesses, fintech startups, and crypto companies. Most clients are based outside Switzerland and manage their Swiss entity remotely. **Service scope:** * Transaction recording and bank reconciliation * [VAT registration](https://lawsupport.ch/vat-registration-switzerland) and quarterly returns * [Payroll processing](https://lawsupport.ch/payroll-services-switzerland) (if the company has employees) * Monthly financial reports (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow) * Year-end financial statements (balance sheet, P&L, notes) * Preparation for [audit](https://lawsupport.ch/audit-services-switzerland) or tax authority review * Communication with cantonal tax office, social security office, VAT authority **Process:** 1. **Onboarding:** We collect company documents (Articles of Association, Commercial Register extract, bank account details, access to online banking). We set up the chart of accounts and agree on the reporting format. 2. **Monthly cycle:** By the 5th of each month, the client sends bank statements, invoices, receipts, and payroll data. We process them and return a monthly report by the 15th. The report shows profit/loss for the month, cash position, outstanding invoices, VAT liability, and any issues requiring attention. 3. **Quarterly VAT:** We file VAT returns by the deadline (end of the quarter + 60 days)\[5\]. We notify the client of the payment amount 10 days before the due date. 4. **Year-end:** We close the books, prepare the financial statements, and file them with the Commercial Register. If the company requires an audit, we prepare the trial balance and schedules for the auditor. 5. **Ongoing support:** The client can ask questions at any time. Response time: 1–2 hours during business hours (Monday–Friday, 09:00–18:00 CET). **Software:** We use standard Swiss accounting software (Abacus, Sage, Bexio). If the client already uses a specific system, we adapt. If not, we provide access to our software. The client can view reports and documents online at any time. **Languages:** We work in English, German, and Russian. All official documents (financial statements, VAT returns, correspondence with authorities) are in German, as required by Swiss law. Internal communication with the client is in the client's preferred language. **Fees:** We quote a fixed monthly fee based on transaction volume and complexity. Typical ranges: * Micro-company (10–30 transactions/month, no payroll): CHF 250–400/month * Small business (50–100 transactions, VAT, 1–3 employees): CHF 450–650/month * Medium business (200+ transactions, payroll for 5–10 employees): CHF 900–1,300/month Year-end financial statement preparation: CHF 800–1,500 (one-time, annual). Audit preparation (if required): CHF 1,000–2,000 (one-time, annual). We send a fixed-fee proposal within 24 hours of receiving the client's company details and transaction volume estimate. No obligation. No sales call. {{cta:cta-1}} ## Sources \[1\] Swiss Code of Obligations (Obligationenrecht, OR), Articles 957–963\. Available at: \[2\] Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP), Art. 958f OR: retention period for accounting records. Available at: \[3\] Swiss Federal Council: Revision of audit law (effective January 1, 2023). Thresholds for audit requirements. Available at: \[4\] Swiss Commercial Register (Handelsregister / ZEFIX). Available at: \[5\] Federal Tax Administration (ESTV): VAT registration and filing requirements. Available at: \[6\] Swiss Federal Social Insurance Office (BSV): AHV/IV/EO contribution rates. Available at: \[7\] Swiss Federal Office for Social Insurance: BVG (occupational pension) contribution rates by age. Available at: \[8\] Swiss Federal Statistical Office (BFS): Salary structure survey 2022 (Lohnstrukturerhebung). Available at: \[9\] Swiss Federal Tax Administration (ESTV): Guidance on crypto asset valuation for tax purposes. Available at: You now have the procedural clarity to decide whether outsourced accounting fits your Swiss company structure. The cost difference is significant: CHF 5,000–8,000 per year outsourced versus CHF 90,000+ per year in-house. The compliance risk is lower because the fiduciary knows Swiss rules and carries professional insurance. The next step is to provide us with your company details and transaction volume. We will send a fixed-fee proposal within 24 hours. No obligation. No sales call. Contact us at Grafenauweg 4, 6300 Zug, or through the contact form on [lawsupport.ch](https://lawsupport.ch).

Outsourced Accounting for Swiss Companies | Monthly Support, Legal Requirements, and Cost Benchmarks

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