Advisor handing a document and pen to a client

Sole proprietorship for physiotherapy practices in Dörflingen: what every SME should know

Sole proprietorship for physiotherapy practices in Dörflingen raises the same questions for most Swiss SME owners: which obligations apply, which deadlines are running, which documents to prepare. This page covers the federal rules in force — without unnecessary jargon.

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.

A Sàrl and an SA must also appoint an auditor, unless they opt out (no more than ten full-time positions on annual average and unanimous shareholder consent). Many young companies start without one, then appoint an auditor when growth or investors demand it.

The Swiss legal frame for sole proprietorship

Whether a business sits in Dörflingen 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.

Also worth knowing: accounts may be drawn up in the currency most relevant to the business; if that is not the franc, values must additionally be stated in CHF (art. 958d para. 3 CO). Internationally active companies gain books that match their economic reality.

Swiss VAT: rates, threshold and filings

Three rates coexist in Switzerland: 8.1% for most supplies, 2.6% for everyday essentials and 3.8% for accommodation. Businesses staying under CHF 100,000 a year are exempt from registration but may opt in voluntarily — useful to reclaim input VAT on investments.

Input VAT deduction is the flip side of VAT charged: tax paid on purchases and investments comes back through the return, receipt in hand. Rigorous entry of supplier invoices therefore translates directly into cash.

Professional in a suit reviewing documents

Digitalising sole proprietorship: what actually works

Access for the fiduciary, the auditor and employees is set by roles: view, enter, approve, close. Well-set rights protect the data and speed up collaboration.

An SME in Dörflingen 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.

Dörflingen: what changes, what does not

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

Dörflingen requires no special bookkeeping: the Code of Obligations applies at postal code 8239 as everywhere else, and a well-kept digital file transfers smoothly to any auditor in the canton.

Frequently asked questions

Effective VAT method or net tax rate: how to choose?

The effective method deducts actual input VAT and files quarterly; the net tax rate method applies a flat industry rate to turnover, semi-annually, with no separate input VAT deduction. The flat rate suits low-cost structures; as investments grow, the effective method usually wins again. The choice rests on the company's own figures, in Dörflingen as anywhere.

What are the legal obligations for sole proprietorship in Switzerland?

The foundation is the Code of Obligations: proper bookkeeping (art. 957a CO), annual accounts (balance sheet, income statement, notes) and 10-year retention of books and records (art. 958f CO). VAT applies from CHF 100,000 of turnover, and social insurance settlements from the first employee. Nothing is different in Dörflingen: federal law applies.

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 Dörflingen too.

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 Dörflingen.

Also worth reading

In neighbouring municipalities

Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

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