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Accounting outsourcing pricing in Grabs: the practical guide

Accounting outsourcing pricing in Grabs raises the same questions for most Swiss SME owners: which obligations apply, which deadlines are running, which documents to prepare. This page covers the federal rules in force — without unnecessary jargon.

The Swiss legal frame for accounting outsourcing

Swiss accounting law has been unified in the Code of Obligations since 2013: the same bookkeeping rules (art. 957a CO) and retention rules (art. 958f CO — 10 years for books, vouchers and reports) apply regardless of legal form. Accounting outsourcing sits squarely within this frame, including for companies based in Grabs.

The good news: the Swiss frame is stable and predictable. Structure accounting outsourcing once — chart of accounts, document flow, calendar — and the same organisation pays off for years.

Digitalising accounting outsourcing: what actually works

Access for the fiduciary, the auditor and employees is set by roles: view, enter, approve, close. Well-set rights protect the data and speed up collaboration.

The winning pair for accounting outsourcing: a single inbox (e-mail, scan, photo) and one simple rule — no document sits more than a few days without a proposed entry.

A Swiss SME's accounting calendar

Extensions exist and can be requested: cantonal deadlines for the tax return, deferral of the VAT filing on a reasoned request. But an extension does not stop interest: on VAT, default interest runs from the ordinary due date even when more time has been granted.

Handing deadline monitoring to a tool is no luxury: automatic reminders, a status per obligation, and an “all green” view that clears the mind. What matters is not who ticks the box — but that the box exists and everyone can see it.

Two people reviewing numerical reports

Outsource accounting outsourcing or keep it in-house?

Responsibility stays with the client: the fiduciary executes with care, but the signed accounts bind the company. Understanding what you sign is not optional.

Three signals say it is time to delegate more: missed deadlines (VAT, AHV), entries running months behind, or an owner spending evenings on receipts instead of the business. Conversely, an SME equipped with modern software can safely take day-to-day entry back in-house.

Grabs: what changes, what does not

Working with a fiduciary from Grabs no longer depends on geography: the documents of a business in Grabs are shared online, while the canton St. Gallen keeps its own deadlines for the tax return.

Federal deadlines do not move in Grabs: VAT within 60 days, salary declaration in January, 10-year record retention — postal code 9470 changes nothing about those rules, only the sender's address.

Frequently asked questions

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 Grabs: the CO dictates it, not the commune.

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 Grabs too.

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 Grabs as anywhere.

What are the legal obligations for accounting outsourcing in Switzerland?

The foundation is the Code of Obligations: proper bookkeeping (art. 957a CO), annual accounts (balance sheet, income statement, notes) and 10-year retention of books and records (art. 958f CO). VAT applies from CHF 100,000 of turnover, and social insurance settlements from the first employee. Nothing is different in Grabs: federal law applies.

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates accounting outsourcing for businesses in Grabs: AI-read documents, posting suggestions, VAT and exports ready for your fiduciary. Try the platform or browse our other guides.

The application is operated in French.