Everything that matters about sole proprietorship for taxi operators in Chavannes-près-Renens
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 Chavannes-près-Renens.
Choosing the structure: Sàrl, SA or sole proprietorship
A Sàrl requires CHF 20,000 of fully paid-in capital; an SA CHF 100,000 of which at least CHF 50,000 paid in. Both require a notarised deed and entry in the commercial register. A sole proprietorship arises from mere activity — registration only becomes mandatory from CHF 100,000 of annual revenue.
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
Digitising does not mean hoarding PDFs: without the document-entry link, a digital file is as opaque as a box of archives — true in Chavannes-près-Renens as everywhere.
The selection criterion for a tool is not the length of its feature list but the robustness of the daily flow: reliable bank imports, VAT computed correctly (8.1 / 2.6 / 3.8%), a complete audit trail from document to entry, and a clean export for the auditor or fiduciary. Everything else is secondary.
The Swiss legal frame for sole proprietorship
Whether a business sits in Chavannes-près-Renens 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.
Swiss VAT: rates, threshold and filings
The most frequent VAT mistakes are well known: the wrong rate among 8.1%, 2.6% and 3.8%, forgotten self-supplies, and a rushed annual reconciliation. Corrections are due at the latest in the return for the period containing the 180th day after the year-end — the earlier you correct, the less default interest runs.
The right reflex for sole proprietorship: file every supplier invoice with its VAT on receipt. Forgotten input VAT is money definitively lost once the limitation period runs out.
Chavannes-près-Renens: what changes, what does not
Working with a fiduciary from Chavannes-près-Renens no longer depends on geography: the documents of a business in Chavannes-près-Renens are shared online, while the canton Vaud keeps its own deadlines for the tax return.
Federal deadlines do not move in Chavannes-près-Renens: VAT within 60 days, salary declaration in January, 10-year record retention — postal code 1022 changes nothing about those rules, only the sender's address.
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 Chavannes-près-Renens can therefore archive fully digitally.
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 Chavannes-près-Renens: the CO dictates it, not the commune.
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 Chavannes-près-Renens too.
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 Chavannes-près-Renens.
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