Hi, Just arrived out here with my partner who has full time work in Zurich. I have been self employed as a freelance TV producer for the past 14 years in the UK. I have submitted my temporary self employed registration over here which has been received, and now I have 90 days to register properly. I have been sent a lot of documents to read, but all don't make real sense as to what I do. (Especially as they are in German and Google doesn't translate clearly). I don't necessarily want to form a company - unless this is a requirement - I just want to be a sole trader (self employed). Could anyone please give me a bullet point list as to what I need to do?
Thank you! Jemalis

In a very similar situation to yours. We visited a lawyer who advised us to form a sole-proprietorship company which apparently is pretty straightforward and much easier than in the UK. Just a few forms I'm led to understand.

Anyway, because we don't speak German either, in the end we're getting the lawyer to do the form filling and so on for us; it isn't going to cost us much, it removes the stress and we know he's not going to tick the wrong box much like we were about to do.

Hi,

You may find this link helpful.

http://www.ch.ch/private/00054/00055...x.html?lang=en

It is in English.

The key thing to registering as self employed here is registration as such with the SVA (social security) and getting them to confirm that you are indeed self-employed. However, they don't just take your word for it but will check that you really are a sole trader with multiple clients and not a quasi employee (IR35 type thing). The easiest way - especially if you are relying on this for your permit to be issued - is to set up an Einzelfirma (sole tradership) registered in the Handelsregister. It's one form for the HRA, then one or two forms from the SVA and will cost you about CHF 300 to do once everything's notarised. Yes, it's more formal than in the UK, but I think it's good because both the authorities and the sole trader then realise that they are in business and it's not just something you play at

Thank you very much for all your advice - it's really appreciated!

No, you hope he isn't going to tick the wrong box !

Quoting the first thread comment..."Could anyone please give me a bullet point list as to what I need to do? "

Having read through the majority of the threads on the site re: self-employment I still see no basic step 1 - go to ..... fill out ....forms etc...

I see multiple times register with SVA...but where are the basic 1, 2, 3 steps of "setting up self-employment for dummies"?
eg.
1. Where do I go first to start the process? (SVA Where/what is that?)
2. How much does it cost...?
3. How many forms should I expect to complete.
4. What documentation do I need to provide to do this? Passport, permit...etc etc?

I have checked also other sites such as www.ch.ch which is helpful but doesnt really tell start at the beginning...where to go...

can someone please help? Thanks

Ok so step 1...go to website below, complete the form for selbständig...

SVA - Sozialversicherungsanstalt
des Kantons Zürich
Röntgenstrasse 17, Postfach, 8087 Zürich
Tel 044 448 50 00, Fax 044 448 55 55
www.svazurich.ch, info-ahv@svazurich.ch