Pen pointing at a bar chart on paper

Sole proprietorship for hotels in Zuoz without the stress: how it works

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 Zuoz.

Choosing the structure: Sàrl, SA or sole proprietorship

Partners from day one? A shareholders' agreement settles what the articles do not: exit, deadlock, valuation. Signing it while everything is fine costs an evening; negotiating it in a crisis costs the company.

Incorporating in Zuoz opens the same toolbox: banks, funds, fiduciaries and online tools work everywhere — the choice of seat is strategic, not technical, for sole proprietorship.

Digitalising sole proprietorship: what actually works

Digitising does not mean hoarding PDFs: without the document-entry link, a digital file is as opaque as a box of archives — true in Zuoz as everywhere.

For an owner in Zuoz, a dashboard only has value if the data is fresh: automating data entry means, first of all, buying up-to-date information about your own business.

The Swiss legal frame for sole proprietorship

Whether a business sits in Zuoz or elsewhere in Switzerland, the same federal law applies — one of the strengths of the Swiss system for sole proprietorship. Cantonal differences concentrate on taxation (rates, filing deadlines); bookkeeping itself follows art. 957 ff. CO everywhere.

The law also settles the form: accounts may be kept in a national language or in English, on paper or electronically (art. 957a para. 5 CO). That pragmatism lets sole proprietorship run entirely on digital tools — no paper binder is required.

Pen pointing at a bar chart on paper

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 an SME in Zuoz, electronic filing of VAT returns has been mandatory since 1 January 2025; the tax administration's online portal is also where extensions are requested and past periods consulted. Combined with accounts that prepare the return automatically, sole proprietorship stops being a quarterly chore.

Zuoz: what changes, what does not

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

Zuoz requires no special bookkeeping: the Code of Obligations applies at postal code 7524 as everywhere else, and a well-kept digital file transfers smoothly to any auditor in the canton.

Frequently asked questions

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 Zuoz can therefore archive fully digitally.

Do you need a fiduciary for sole proprietorship, 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 Zuoz.

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 Zuoz too.

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 Zuoz, family allowances follow the canton's rates.

Also worth reading

In neighbouring municipalities

Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

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

    Sole proprietorship for hotels in Zuoz | MyFiducia.ai