May 8, 20262 min

Freelance invoicing in Switzerland — practical guide

What Swiss freelancers need on their invoices: AVS/AHV status, VAT threshold, required fields, and quick templates for daily use.

#freelance
#self-employed
#invoice
#switzerland

Freelancing in Switzerland means handling all the admin yourself. Sending invoices is part of the weekly rhythm. Here's how to do it quickly and correctly for 2026.

Confirm your self-employed status

SUVA and the AVS/AHV compensation office check whether you're truly self-employed. Indicators:

Multiple clients simultaneously
Own business risk (you bear losses)
Own infrastructure (computer, software, premises)
No subordination
Invoicing under your own name

A single client and presence at the client's office = risk of being reclassified as a disguised employee, with back-charged social-security contributions for the client.

Required fields on a freelance invoice

Without VAT:

Your first name, last name and address
Recipient's name and address
Invoice date
Invoice number (sequential)
Service description with date or period
Hourly rate or fixed price
Total amount in CHF
Payment terms and payment details (IBAN or QR-bill)

With VAT, add UID number and rate — details in our Swiss VAT guide and invoice requirements.

QR-bill is mandatory

The orange payment slip has been gone since October 2022. You need a QR-bill. With the SnapBill app, you create one in under a minute from your existing Word or PDF template.

Realistic hourly rate

Rough rule: gross annual income target × 1.4 (for social contributions, holidays, sick days, training) ÷ 1'500 productive hours = minimum hourly rate.

Example: CHF 120'000 × 1.4 ÷ 1'500 = CHF 112/hour.

With VAT add 8.1% — end clients compare the gross price.

Key takeaways

Confirm self-employed status early (10.0% AVS/AI/APG)
VAT liability from CHF 100'000 turnover
Required fields: name, address, number, date, service, amount, IBAN
QR-bill mandatory — fastest via SnapBill app
Concrete due date instead of "30 days net" shortens payment times measurably

Frequently asked

Do I need a company number as a freelancer?

Not mandatory. As a sole proprietorship without commercial-register entry, you invoice under your first and last name. Once you become VAT-liable or registered in the commercial register, you need a UID number. Registering the sole proprietorship is voluntary but builds trust.

What is the AVS/AHV contribution rate for self-employed?

Self-employed people pay 10.0% AVS/AI/APG (AHV/IV/EO) on earned income, full rate from CHF 60'500 income, sliding scale below. Registration as self-employed is done with the cantonal compensation office within 90 days of starting activity.

Do I need to write 'incl. VAT' on the invoice?

Only if you're VAT-liable. Below the CHF 100'000 threshold you invoice without VAT and don't state a rate. The note 'Not subject to VAT' is optional but helpful to prevent client questions.

How quickly should I send invoices?

Ideally on the day the service ends. The longer you wait, the longer payment drags. Set a clear due date of 30 days net and send the invoice as a PDF by email with a subject line stating amount and due date.

Try it now