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Accounting software for garages in Lumino: what every SME should know

Whether you run a Sàrl, an SA or a sole proprietorship in Lumino, accounting software eventually lands on your desk. Here are the practical reference points — legal basis, deadlines and common pitfalls — to decide with a clear head.

Digitalising accounting software: what actually works

Accounting digitalisation always follows the same path: capture documents at the source (photo or PDF upload), let automatic recognition extract supplier, amount, date and VAT, approve the proposed entries, then archive each document linked to its entry. Every step removes a re-keying — and therefore an error source.

The winning pair for accounting software: a single inbox (e-mail, scan, photo) and one simple rule — no document sits more than a few days without a proposed entry.

QR-bills and friction-free collections

Electronic invoicing keeps advancing: the Swiss Confederation requires it from its suppliers for contracts from CHF 5,000, and more and more large Swiss companies ask for structured e-invoices rather than PDFs. Getting equipped early beats improvising under a client's deadline.

For accounting software, invoicing fast changes everything: a service billed the week it is delivered gets paid noticeably earlier than a month-end batch invoice.

A well-structured SME chart of accounts

The test of a good chart of accounts is a single question: can the owner find the margins in three clicks? If not, the chart serves the tax office but not the business — even in Lumino.

In an SME in Lumino, the chart of accounts is also a delegation tool: clear posting rules let a non-accountant prepare most entries without error.

Collaborative desk with laptops and documents, top view

Outsource accounting software or keep it in-house?

A fiduciary's cost depends first on the quality of the data received: digitised, filed, reconciled documents are processed fast; a box of loose receipts is billed by the hour. Improving the internal preparation of accounting software lowers fees more surely than any negotiation.

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

Lumino: what changes, what does not

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

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

Frequently asked questions

How long must records related to accounting software 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 Lumino can therefore archive fully digitally.

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 Lumino.

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 Lumino too.

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 Lumino: the CO dictates it, not the commune.

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates accounting software for businesses in Lumino: 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.

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