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| I wanted to tell you all about my experience registering as a self employed in Lausanne just recently, to act as a guide for others in a similar situation. Of course this is no replacement for professional advice :-)
For context, I am an Australian who recently moved to Lausanne with my husband. I guess I am the 'trailing spouse' ha ha. I have my own consulting business (sole trader) which was originally set up in Australia but when I moved I wanted to take it with me. I do a lot of work online and on the phone so moving it to Lausanne was relatively easy but actually getting a permit and registering here as self employed initially looked extremely complicated!!! But it turned out to be relatively straight forward.
I checked my B permit and it says "...avec activitie" which apparently allows me to work. I took my B permit and my passport to the Registre du commerce in Moudon (Rue Grenade 38). I had a swiss friend with me who translated and no one in the office speaks english (we kept the office entertained)! They took a copy of my passport (didn't really look at my permit which I thought they would scrutinize - very odd), got my contact details, a brief description of the work I do and the name of my business. Then I had to pay $242. I will receive a document in the post to certify I am self employed shortly.
I also have to register for AVS and I went to the AVS office (with my invaluable Swiss friend to translate) to get some information about this. Once I get my certificate from Registre du commerce I take it, some invoices, a completed questionnaire (which AVS will post to me) back to the AVS office in Lausanne.
Also need to register for VAT. My situation is a bit unusual so not sure whether I have to pay VAT but nevertheless I should still register apparently. I need to see an accountant to confirm if I actually need to pay it.
So there you go. Not too complicated at all!!! Just make sure you take a someone who can translate for you if you can't speak very much french! | |
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What's that film called.........."lost in translation"
Office de commerce took Chf 242 from you to register your company which has your name in it as part of the company name. It's nothing to do with whether you are self employed or not.
AVS form will determine whether they issue you with a certificate ofd self-employment or not. They are quite tight on this as everybody with 2 clients was setting up as self employed and taking their pension funds out in cast "to set up the company" You need several clients, hold a stock depending on what you do, in general really prove you are self employed and not working for a few people.
VAT depends on your turnover, once you hit over Chf 100k you need to be registered, and before they register your company, you will need to prove your turnover will be at least Chf 100k in less than 12 months.
If this is the case, then setting up as you did was not best course of action, setting up as an Sàrl or an SA would have been better.