Everything that matters about SA incorporation for SMEs in Thurnen
Swiss accounting law (art. 957 ff. of the Code of Obligations) sets a precise frame, yet day-to-day practice often stays fuzzy. This guide walks through what actually matters for a business based in Thurnen.
Choosing the structure: Sàrl, SA or sole proprietorship
Check the company name before any enthusiasm: availability in the commercial register, internet domain, possible trademark. Renaming later costs time and trust, in Thurnen as elsewhere.
On taxes, corporate profit bears direct federal tax at 8.5% (statutory rate) plus cantonal and communal tax — the total effective burden varies markedly between cantons. A realistic business plan and accounts kept from the start make bank credit noticeably easier.
The Swiss legal frame for SA incorporation
Responsibility for the books is personal: in an SA, organising the accounting is one of the board's non-transferable duties (art. 716a CO); in a Sàrl, the managing directors carry the same duty. Outsourcing the execution never transfers that underlying responsibility, including for a company based in Thurnen.
The good news: the Swiss frame is stable and predictable. Structure SA incorporation once — chart of accounts, document flow, calendar — and the same organisation pays off for years.
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.
For businesses in Thurnen, VAT is in practice the most audited tax: punctual returns consistent with the books markedly reduce the odds of a deep audit of SA incorporation.
Salaries and social contributions: the rates to know
A Swiss salary reads in three columns: gross, employee social deductions, employer contributions. Confusing them distorts cost prices — and quotes from businesses in Thurnen.
A thirteenth salary, where agreed, is accrued month by month — forget it and December reveals a charge of one-twelfth of the payroll, in Thurnen as everywhere.
Thurnen: what changes, what does not
Thurnen (postal code 3127, canton Bern) applies the same federal rules as the rest of the country: what changes in Thurnen are the cantonal counterparts — tax administration, compensation office, commercial register.
Thurnen requires no special bookkeeping: the Code of Obligations applies at postal code 3127 as everywhere else, and a well-kept digital file transfers smoothly to any auditor in the canton.
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 Thurnen.
How long must records related to SA incorporation 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 Thurnen can therefore archive fully digitally.
Do you need a fiduciary for SA incorporation, 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 Thurnen.
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 Thurnen too.
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