Sole proprietorship checklist in Worb: what every SME should know
Between VAT, social contributions and the year-end close, a Swiss SME juggles dozens of deadlines a year. This page focuses on sole proprietorship in Worb: what the law requires, what can be automated, and when to delegate.
Choosing the structure: Sàrl, SA or sole proprietorship
Settling in Worb does not change federal law, but the canton shapes what follows: profit and capital tax rates, family allowances, possible start-up support. Comparing seriously before fixing the seat can pay off — moving a company later costs more.
A Sàrl and an SA must also appoint an auditor, unless they opt out (no more than ten full-time positions on annual average and unanimous shareholder consent). Many young companies start without one, then appoint an auditor when growth or investors demand it.
Swiss VAT: rates, threshold and filings
Exports, services abroad, acquisition tax: as soon as anything international enters the picture, VAT gets demanding (place of supply, acquisition tax on services). Better to set the rules once with a professional than to correct three financial years.
Also useful for sole proprietorship: 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
Every salary paid in Switzerland triggers joint contributions: AHV/IV/APG at 10.6% in total, i.e. 5.3% borne by the employer and 5.3% withheld from the employee; unemployment insurance at 2.2% (1.1% each) up to CHF 148,200 of annual salary. Add occupational pension (LPP credits of 7 to 18% of the coordinated salary depending on age, employer at least 50%), accident insurance (occupational accidents paid by the employer) and family allowances.
For sole proprietorship, the winning mechanics are simple: one single payroll database (salaries, rates, allowances), monthly slips generated from it, and an annual declaration that is little more than a sum. Painful catch-up invoices almost always stem from scattered data.
Digitalising sole proprietorship: what actually works
Digitising does not mean hoarding PDFs: without the document-entry link, a digital file is as opaque as a box of archives — true in Worb as everywhere.
The winning pair for sole proprietorship: a single inbox (e-mail, scan, photo) and one simple rule — no document sits more than a few days without a proposed entry.
Worb: what changes, what does not
Worb (postal code 3075, canton Bern) applies the same federal rules as the rest of the country: what changes in Worb are the cantonal counterparts — tax administration, compensation office, commercial register.
For a business in Worb, that means VAT returns identical to anywhere in Switzerland, but a tax return and family allowances governed by the canton Bern.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a fiduciary for sole proprietorship, or can you do it yourself?
Both are defensible. Below CHF 500,000 of revenue, a sole proprietorship may keep simplified accounts itself. As soon as payroll, VAT and a closing with tax stakes are involved, professional support prevents mistakes that cost more than the fees. With a shared platform, the fiduciary does not even need to be in Worb.
What is simplified bookkeeping and who can use it?
Sole proprietorships and partnerships under CHF 500,000 of revenue may limit themselves to recording income, expenses and assets (art. 957 para. 2 CO). Once over the threshold — or upon founding a Sàrl or an SA — full accounts with balance sheet, income statement and notes become mandatory. The CHF 500,000 threshold is assessed the same way in Worb.
Does MyFiducia.ai work for a business based in Worb?
Yes: the platform runs online, the rules applied are federal (VAT, CO, AHV), and the file can be shared with any fiduciary. A business in Worb manages its documents, VAT and exports exactly as anywhere in Switzerland.
How long must records related to sole proprietorship be kept?
Ten years from the end of the financial year concerned (art. 958f CO). Electronic retention is permitted if the integrity and readability of the records are guaranteed — a serious digital archive validly replaces paper binders. A business in Worb can therefore archive fully digitally.
Also worth reading
In neighbouring municipalities
Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date
MyFiducia.ai automates sole proprietorship for businesses in Worb: 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.