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For the self-employed in the canton of Zurich

Every payment, already split.

You write invoices with a QR-bill. When the money comes in, Zettelio shows you how much of it is yours and how much to set aside for AHV and tax.

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  • AHV on the 2026 scale
  • Tax as an estimate
  • Under CHF 100'000 turnover

How it works

Money comes in. You see right away what's left.

Muster GmbH paid

4'200.–

Yours3'297.–
Set aside903.–

AHV 441.– · tax about 462.–

Invoice 2026-014, paid on 04.11.2026

Example with a profit of about 70'000.– a year, single, city of Zurich. The AHV figure includes the compensation office's admin fee.

Example AHV top-up

You see the bill from SVA before it arrives.

SVA Zürich is the compensation office where you pay AHV, the Swiss old-age and survivors' insurance, once you are self-employed. During the year it bills you advance payments, based on the income it expects you to make. The real bill only comes once the tax office has set your income. If your advance payments were too low, that's when the top-up arrives. And if they were more than a quarter short, 5 % interest runs on it from 1 January of the year after next. Zettelio keeps an eye on both all year and tells you when to ask SVA for higher advance payments.

Example 2026, profit 46'400.–

AHV owed on your payments3'638.90
Advance payments made2'400.–
Expected top-upabout 1'240.–

New in Zurich

From your permit to your first invoice.

If you've just moved to Switzerland, it's hard to know where to start. The checklist takes you through five steps, in the order they happen.

  1. Check your permit

    With a Swiss passport or a C permit you can just start. With an EU B permit you usually can too. With a B permit from outside the EU you need an authorisation first.

  2. Self-employed or not?

    SVA decides, based on how you actually work. If you only work for one client, you usually count as an employee.

  3. Register with SVA Zürich

    Online, and only once you've started working. SVA wants to see quotes, invoices or contracts.

  4. Get your UID

    UID? That's your business number. It arrives by letter after you register, for free, without you asking.

  5. First invoice

    With a QR-bill, straight from Zettelio.

Open the checklist

What else is in it

Everything for a business under CHF 100'000.

QR-bill invoices

In CHF or EUR. Zettelio takes the invoice language from the customer, in English, German, Italian or French.

Expenses with a receipt photo

Amount, date, category, a photo of the receipt. That's all it takes.

Access for your fiduciary

Invite them. They see everything and download what they need. They can't change a thing.

Year-end export

The year's income, expenses and receipts as PDF and CSV, or everything in one ZIP.

What we say and what we don't

Clear about what's exact, and what's estimated.

AHV worked out exactly

With the official 2026 contribution scale, the minimum contribution of 530.– and SVA Zürich's admin fees.

Tax estimated

From where you live, your civil status and roughly what you earn. Zettelio doesn't know about other income or your savings. We don't give tax advice.

Data in the EU

Stored in Frankfurt. Swiss data protection law recognises the EU as adequate. Your data isn't in Switzerland, and we say so.

Invoices stay

You can cancel an issued invoice, but not delete it. It's kept for ten years, as the law requires.

Questions

Who is Zettelio for?
Sole proprietors in the canton of Zurich with less than CHF 100'000 turnover a year. At that size you don't charge VAT, registering in the commercial register is optional and simple bookkeeping is enough. Other cantons come later.
Does Zettelio replace my fiduciary?
Zettelio does the sums and keeps your records. It doesn't give advice. Plenty of people still have a fiduciary do their tax return, and you can invite yours to see your numbers and download the year-end export.
How exact are the numbers?
AHV contributions are worked out exactly with the 2026 scale, including SVA Zürich's admin fees. Tax is an estimate, which is why it always says «about».
Where is my data?
In Frankfurt, in the EU. Under Swiss data protection law the EU counts as having adequate protection. There's more in the privacy policy.
When can I start, and what will it cost?
Zettelio is still being built. If you join the list, you hear about both first, in a single email.

Already here

Calculators and guides, free, no sign-up.

Guides

Becoming self-employed in the canton of Zurich, step by stepFrom your permit to your first invoice. What a sole proprietorship in Zurich under CHF 100'000 turnover actually needs, as of 2026.

Guides

The AHV top-up for the self-employed, and how to avoid the interestWhy the AHV top-up often arrives years later, when 5 % interest is added and what you can tell SVA Zürich now. As of 2026.

Guides

The QR-bill for the self-employed, what goes on itThe Swiss QR-bill explained. IBAN or QR-IBAN, which reference, CHF and EUR, and what changes for EUR by November 2027.

Guides

Can I be self-employed on my permit? Canton of ZurichB, C, L or G permit, from the EU and EFTA or outside them. Who can start working for themselves in Zurich straight away, and who needs authorisation first.

Sources

Coming soon

Zettelio is still being built. Be one of the first.

We'll write once, when you can start. Nothing else.