Smiling advisor with a headset at their workstation

Limited statutory audit for florists in Ettingen: rules, deadlines, best practice

Limited statutory audit for florists in Ettingen 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.

Year-end closing: how the mechanics work

Accrual accounting is the technical heart of the closing: every income and every expense belongs to the year it economically concerns, regardless of the payment date. Rents paid in advance, insurance premiums straddling the date, supplier invoices arriving in January: all flow through accrual accounts.

For limited statutory audit, the golden rule is to discover nothing in January: every uncertainty (doubtful receivable, dispute, unsellable stock) must be identified before the closing date, not after.

A well-structured SME chart of accounts

A good chart of accounts tells the story of the business: classes 1 and 2 describe what it owns and owes, class 3 what it sells, classes 4 to 6 what it consumes. Private accounts (sole proprietorships) and shareholder current accounts (Sàrl/SA) must stay spotless: they are the first thing examined in a tax audit.

For a business in Ettingen, the Sterchi/Käfer structure also eases benchmarking: banks and fiduciaries reason on those standard classes to situate an SME's limited statutory audit.

A Swiss SME's accounting calendar

An accounting calendar only lives if it is shared: owner, in-house bookkeeper and fiduciary must see the same deadlines and the same status — the rule holds for every SME in Ettingen.

For limited statutory audit, year-end is prepared in October: last invoices, investment decisions, provisions to assess — December is too late to act, January is for recording.

Pen pointing at a bar chart on paper

Outsource limited statutory audit or keep it in-house?

A good test before choosing: ask the fiduciary HOW it wants to receive the documents. A precise answer (formats, frequency, platform) says more than any brochure — including in Ettingen.

For limited statutory audit, the internal-external duo works when both sides see the same file: same entries, same documents, same deadlines. Misunderstandings are born from parallel copies.

Ettingen: what changes, what does not

Sole proprietorship, Sàrl or SA in Ettingen: the AHV contact remains the competent compensation office, and taxes follow the scales of the canton Basel-Country.

Federal deadlines do not move in Ettingen: VAT within 60 days, salary declaration in January, 10-year record retention — postal code 4107 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 Ettingen: 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 Ettingen too.

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 Ettingen.

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 Ettingen.

Also worth reading

In neighbouring municipalities

Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates limited statutory audit for businesses in Ettingen: 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.

    Limited statutory audit for florists in Ettingen