SA incorporation for carpenters in Fideris: the practical guide
Delegate, digitalise or do it all yourself? Around SA incorporation in Fideris, every SME draws its own line. The reference points below — federal law, cantonal practice and lessons from the field — help you place the cursor well.
Choosing the structure: Sàrl, SA or sole proprietorship
A Sàrl requires CHF 20,000 of fully paid-in capital; an SA CHF 100,000 of which at least CHF 50,000 paid in. Both require a notarised deed and entry in the commercial register. A sole proprietorship arises from mere activity — registration only becomes mandatory from CHF 100,000 of annual revenue.
SA incorporation starts on day one: founding capital, notary and register fees are the first entries. Opening a separate business bank account immediately — even for a sole proprietorship — saves hours of sorting private from business.
The Swiss legal frame for SA incorporation
For an owner in Fideris, the question is never “do we need accounts?” but “at what level of detail?”. The CO sets the floor; the bank, the tax office and the shareholders set the rest.
Also worth knowing: accounts may be drawn up in the currency most relevant to the business; if that is not the franc, values must additionally be stated in CHF (art. 958d para. 3 CO). Internationally active companies gain books that match their economic reality.
Swiss VAT: rates, threshold and filings
Since 1 January 2024, Swiss VAT rates are 8.1% (standard), 2.6% (reduced — food, books, medicines) and 3.8% (accommodation). Registration becomes mandatory from CHF 100,000 of worldwide annual turnover. For SA incorporation, step one is therefore checking the threshold and choosing the right reporting method.
Also useful for SA incorporation: some supplies are excluded from VAT (health, education, property rental) — with no corresponding input VAT right. Qualifying revenues correctly from the start avoids surprises.
Salaries and social contributions: the rates to know
Hiring the first employee triggers everything at once: affiliation to AHV and LPP funds, accident insurance, family allowances, working-time rules. A complete payroll file from day one avoids catch-ups.
An employer in Fideris does well to fix payday on a set day of the month: funds, employees and cash flow organise around it, and SA incorporation becomes routine instead of a sprint.
Fideris: what changes, what does not
Working with a fiduciary from Fideris no longer depends on geography: the documents of a business in Fideris are shared online, while the canton Grisons keeps its own deadlines for the tax return.
Federal deadlines do not move in Fideris: VAT within 60 days, salary declaration in January, 10-year record retention — postal code 7235 changes nothing about those rules, only the sender's address.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a limited and an ordinary audit?
The ordinary audit applies to companies exceeding, for two consecutive years, two of three thresholds: CHF 20 million balance sheet total, CHF 40 million revenue, 250 full-time positions. Others fall under the limited audit, and those with no more than ten full-time positions on annual average can opt out with all shareholders' consent. These federal thresholds do not depend on the registered seat — in Fideris as anywhere.
Which documents should be prepared for the year-end closing?
Bank and cash statements at the closing date, the inventory of stock and work in progress, final AHV/LPP/accident settlements, contracts signed or amended during the year, invoices straddling two years and the detail of accruals. With an up-to-date document archive, most of it is already there. The list is identical in Fideris: the CO dictates it, not the commune.
What are the current Swiss VAT rates?
Since 1 January 2024: 8.1% (standard), 2.6% (reduced — for example food and medicines) and 3.8% (accommodation). Returns must be filed and paid within 60 days after the period ends (quarterly under the effective method, semi-annually under the net tax rate method). These federal rates apply unchanged in Fideris.
When is entry in the commercial register mandatory?
A Sàrl and an SA only come into existence with their registration. A sole proprietorship must register from CHF 100,000 of annual revenue; below that, registration stays voluntary but adds credibility and protects the business name. Registration goes through the canton's commercial register office — for Fideris too.
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