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Balance sheet preparation for landscaping firms in Greppen explained simply

Balance sheet preparation for landscaping firms in Greppen 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

Depreciation follows rates accepted by tax practice (property, machinery, IT): staying within those ranges avoids reassessments. Exceeding them is justified — and documented, in Greppen as anywhere.

A company in Greppen that presents clean, punctual annual accounts gains credibility — with its bank, its suppliers and the tax administration.

A Swiss SME's accounting calendar

The professionals' trick: handle every deadline at D-30, not D-1. A VAT return prepared a month early leaves time to chase a missing document without penalty.

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

Outsource balance sheet preparation or keep it in-house?

Outsourcing balance sheet preparation to a fiduciary frees up time and secures compliance; keeping it in-house preserves a continuous view and costs less in fees. The best answer is often hybrid: the company captures and digitises as it goes, the fiduciary supervises, closes the books and represents the company before the authorities.

A clear mandate agreement states who does what by when: document handover, posting deadlines, filing calendar, and responsibility for delays. A shared platform (same data, same document archive) between the company and its fiduciary eliminates binder ping-pong and duplicate entry.

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The Swiss legal frame for balance sheet preparation

A small business does not mean small obligations: from the first salary or the first VAT return, mistakes get expensive — in Greppen as anywhere.

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

Greppen: what changes, what does not

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

Greppen requires no special bookkeeping: the Code of Obligations applies at postal code 6404 as everywhere else, and a well-kept digital file transfers smoothly to any auditor in the canton.

Frequently asked questions

What are the legal obligations for balance sheet preparation 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 Greppen: federal law applies.

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 Greppen.

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 Greppen.

Do you need a fiduciary for balance sheet preparation, 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 Greppen.

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates balance sheet preparation for businesses in Greppen: 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.

    Balance sheet preparation for landscaping firms in Greppen