Sole proprietorship in Switzerland in Romanshorn explained simply
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 Romanshorn: what the law requires, what can be automated, and when to delegate.
Choosing the structure: Sàrl, SA or sole proprietorship
Check the company name before any enthusiasm: availability in the commercial register, internet domain, possible trademark. Renaming later costs time and trust, in Romanshorn as elsewhere.
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.
The Swiss legal frame for sole proprietorship
Swiss accounting law has been unified in the Code of Obligations since 2013: the same bookkeeping rules (art. 957a CO) and retention rules (art. 958f CO — 10 years for books, vouchers and reports) apply regardless of legal form. Sole proprietorship sits squarely within this frame, including for companies based in Romanshorn.
The good news: the Swiss frame is stable and predictable. Structure sole proprietorship once — chart of accounts, document flow, calendar — and the same organisation pays off for years.
Salaries and social contributions: the rates to know
Absences are managed upstream: illness, accident, military service or maternity trigger allowances (APG, insurance) that replace part of the salary. Clean absence records are the basis of correct settlements, in Romanshorn as elsewhere.
An often underestimated point: self-employed status is granted by the compensation office — or not. Whoever invoices essentially one main client risks requalification as an employee, with contribution arrears charged to the principal. Clarifying AHV status before starting avoids that trap.
Digitalising sole proprietorship: what actually works
Artificial intelligence has changed the economics of sole proprietorship: automatic invoice reading reaches recognition rates that make manual entry marginal, and posting suggestions learn from corrections. The accountant does not disappear — the job shifts from data entry to control and advice.
For sole proprietorship, migrating history must not block the start: begin on day one of the current financial year and import the history later if needed.
Romanshorn: what changes, what does not
Working with a fiduciary from Romanshorn no longer depends on geography: the documents of a business in Romanshorn are shared online, while the canton Thurgau keeps its own deadlines for the tax return.
For a business in Romanshorn, that means VAT returns identical to anywhere in Switzerland, but a tax return and family allowances governed by the canton Thurgau.
Frequently asked questions
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 Romanshorn 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 Romanshorn, family allowances follow the canton's rates.
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 Romanshorn: federal law applies.
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 Romanshorn can therefore archive fully digitally.
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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date
MyFiducia.ai automates sole proprietorship for businesses in Romanshorn: AI-read documents, posting suggestions, VAT and exports ready for your fiduciary. Try the platform or browse our other guides.
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