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Financial dashboard for e-commerce in Basel 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 Basel.

The Swiss legal frame for financial dashboard

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. Financial dashboard sits squarely within this frame, including for companies based in Basel.

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.

Outsource financial dashboard or keep it in-house?

Outsourcing does not exempt you from understanding: an owner who can read the balance sheet and the income statement challenges the fiduciary better — and pays for advice, not re-keying.

For financial dashboard, the internal-external duo works when both sides see the same file: same entries, same documents, same deadlines. Misunderstandings are born from parallel copies.

Year-end closing: how the mechanics work

Depreciation follows rates accepted by tax practice (property, machinery, IT): staying within those ranges avoids reassessments. Exceeding them is justified — and documented, in Basel as anywhere.

For financial dashboard, the golden rule is to discover nothing in January: every uncertainty (doubtful receivable, dispute, unsellable stock) must be identified before the closing date, not after.

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A Swiss SME's accounting calendar

An accounting calendar only lives if it is shared: owner, in-house bookkeeper and fiduciary must see the same deadlines and the same status — the rule holds for every SME in Basel.

An SME in Basel that holds its calendar twelve months straight changes its position: fewer official reminders, easier extensions — and financial dashboard stops being a source of worry.

Basel: what changes, what does not

Basel (postal code 4001, canton Basel-City) applies the same federal rules as the rest of the country: what changes in Basel are the cantonal counterparts — tax administration, compensation office, commercial register.

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

Frequently asked questions

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 Basel.

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 Basel, family allowances follow the canton's rates.

Does MyFiducia.ai work for a business based in Basel?

Yes: the platform runs online, the rules applied are federal (VAT, CO, AHV), and the file can be shared with any fiduciary. A business in Basel manages its documents, VAT and exports exactly as anywhere in Switzerland.

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 Basel too.

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates financial dashboard for businesses in Basel: 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.