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Balance sheet preparation for startups in Mülligen: rules, deadlines, best practice

Delegate, digitalise or do it all yourself? Around balance sheet preparation in Mülligen, 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.

Year-end closing: how the mechanics work

The CO's accounting principles frame the closing: regularity, prudence and consistency of presentation (art. 958c CO), on the going-concern assumption (art. 958a CO). In practice, that means valuation methods kept constant from one year to the next — and documented whenever they change.

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

Outsource balance sheet preparation or keep it in-house?

The scope goes down in writing: who enters data, who approves payments, who answers the tax office, who keeps the originals. Every “we'll see” at the start becomes a December misunderstanding — in Mülligen as elsewhere.

For balance sheet preparation, a quarterly 30-minute check-in with the fiduciary beats an annual marathon: questions get handled while they are small.

A well-structured SME chart of accounts

Shareholder current accounts demand strict hygiene: every private withdrawal documented, interest at the rates accepted by the tax administration, and a clean-up at closing.

For a business in Mülligen, the Sterchi/Käfer structure also eases benchmarking: banks and fiduciaries reason on those standard classes to situate an SME's balance sheet preparation.

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A Swiss SME's accounting calendar

Three families of deadlines shape the year: federal (VAT within 60 days, salary declaration in January), cantonal (tax return, extensions depending on the canton, including in Mülligen) and internal (closing, general meeting within six months). Mixing them up is the leading cause of delays.

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.

Mülligen: what changes, what does not

Sole proprietorship, Sàrl or SA in Mülligen: the AHV contact remains the competent compensation office, and taxes follow the scales of the canton Aargau.

For a business in Mülligen, that means VAT returns identical to anywhere in Switzerland, but a tax return and family allowances governed by the canton Aargau.

Frequently asked questions

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 Mülligen.

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 Mülligen too.

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 Mülligen.

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 Mülligen as anywhere.

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

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

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