Pen pointing at a bar chart on paper

Sole proprietorship for e-commerce in Féchy: the practical guide

Between VAT, social contributions and the year-end close, a Swiss SME juggles dozens of deadlines a year. This page focuses on sole proprietorship in Féchy: what the law requires, what can be automated, and when to delegate.

Choosing the structure: Sàrl, SA or sole proprietorship

Chronologically, incorporation follows a precise thread: choose the form and the company name, pay the capital into an escrow account (Sàrl/SA), notarised deed, entry in the commercial register, then AHV affiliation and the VAT check. The Confederation's online desk (EasyGov) walks founders through these steps.

From day one, three administrative tracks open: affiliation to an AHV compensation office, review of VAT liability (CHF 100,000 threshold) and setting up the accounts. Handling sole proprietorship from the first month costs far less than reconstructing a whole year in December.

Digitalising sole proprietorship: 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.

An SME in Féchy that digitalises gains owner time first: less filing, fewer “where is that receipt?” questions, more attention to the trade — that is the real return of sole proprietorship.

The Swiss legal frame for sole proprietorship

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

The annual accounts (art. 958 CO) consist of the balance sheet, the income statement and the notes; they must be drawn up within six months of the year-end so the general meeting can approve them. A delay here cascades into the tax return and the final social insurance settlements.

Meeting in a bright conference room

Swiss VAT: rates, threshold and filings

Registration happens with the Federal Tax Administration and yields a VAT number based on the business identifier (format CHE-xxx.xxx.xxx VAT). From then on, every invoice must state that number, the rate applied and the tax amount — three details sole proprietorship should lock down from day one to avoid retroactive fixes.

For businesses in Féchy, VAT is in practice the most audited tax: punctual returns consistent with the books markedly reduce the odds of a deep audit of sole proprietorship.

Féchy: what changes, what does not

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

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

Frequently asked questions

Can sole proprietorship be automated with AI?

Largely, yes: automatic document reading, posting suggestions, bank reconciliation via QR references and VAT exports. Human approval remains essential — AI prepares, the professional checks. That is exactly how MyFiducia.ai approaches sole proprietorship.

How long must records related to sole proprietorship 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 Féchy can therefore archive fully digitally.

Which social contributions does a Swiss employer pay?

AHV/IV/APG: 5.3% employer share (the same is withheld from the employee); unemployment insurance: 1.1% each up to CHF 148,200 a year; occupational pension (LPP) by age and plan (employer at least 50%); occupational accident insurance paid by the employer; family allowances by canton. For an employer in Féchy, family allowances follow the canton's rates.

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 Féchy.

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates sole proprietorship for businesses in Féchy: 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.