Hi everyone, I’m currently working 100% while giving the first steps into building a side-hustle.
After reading about the different options, I’m still not sure about what’s the best way to set things up: freelancing v sole proprietorship or other. Actually, or none, if revenues below ~2000CHF? It would be great to declare some expenses though, such as website hosting or outsourcing.
What are your thoughts on this?
Recommendations on information sources/accountants is also welcome.
You need to make sure you are allowed to do this with your current employer.
You need to declare the income to the AVS (and pay social contributions) if you earn more than 2300 CHF per year, and in that case, you will be forced to create an official structure. a sole proprietorship is very easy, LLC not so much.
You need to declare the revenue regardless of the amount. But you can indeed declare expenses there, within some limits probably based on your canton
Creating a sole propriorship takes about 2h, with a visit to a notary. For the amount of revenues (2k/month) this seems as as good structure, expect if you have big liabilities.
Registering for AHV also takes up about 1h, the most difficult part being to estimate how much you will make the first year accurately, but basically you simply correct it during and in the end of the year.
That’s incorrect. There is no need for a notary for a sole proprietorship. It takes a about 15 minutes to fill a form to form a sole proprietorship and this can be done at the same time as the registration through the AVS.
Cantonal difference?
Either had to go to the commerce registry (is that the right translation for Handelsregister?) or to go to the Notary to send it by post. Notary was much closer in my case. That would be Canton Zurich.
Is that including the Handelsregister registration ?
But main message, for setting up the sole propriorship, do not go via these predatory companies who will do that for you at a rate of 200 CHF or something. It is not worth it.
Good call for the unemployment insurance.
However, not being registered can have negative effects in other areas (especially between businesses, to get good payment terms etc.)
Hi everyone, many thanks for your help. The unemployment benefits issue might be a deal breaker, since I’m on a fixed-term contract. It’s hard to believe that, after 2300CHF/year, one would lose the right to unemployment benefits, given that such amount would barely cover the living costs of 1 month (not doubting anyone here, just sharing the frustration).
If that is the “registre du commerce” in French, it’s optional until you generate more than 100’000 CHF in revenue. For LLC, it’s directly registered when you create the entity, and you indeed need a notary for LLCs.
I see - I first understood that registering with the AHV meant registration with the commercial registry and, therefore, losing unemployment benefits. Thanks for clarifying. Happy to learn one can move on without too much hustle and see how it goes.
Hi everyone,
I have been reading the Mustachianpost for more than a year now but never looked into the forum.
I stumbled upon this thread. I am also starting to make some (very little) earnings on the side. It will stay well below 2300 CHF this year.
And I saw this:
Are you sure about that?
I do not see myself explaining my employer about that side business which has nothing to do with my day job.
Did all of you (that have side jobs) informed your employer?
Thanks for your inputs.
It’s not in my contract but in our internal rules.
It does state that I need the approval of my supervisor and from HR before I start the side business.
Well, I’m a bit late… (actually, I did not think I would earn money with this).
And it’s not in the line of work of my day job.
I just won’t tell them. It’s all good with my supervisor. But HR is so childish, it might become a thing…
Then better tell them before they turn it into a fireable offense. Afaik they can’t really say no if it’s not affecting your performance of your day job.
Be careful, I think the can say no if the amount of hours that you work exceed a certain range. However, in the real world I guess it’s hard to prove that for a company unless you are using the company device for your work etc. I think there was an article recently that many office workers are getting a side hustle during their WFH.
Actually, this side business is not a hustle.
To tell the truth, it’s a small website I own. I added affliate links in it and now it’s generating some bucks. Not a whole lot, but still…
I am not working on it during my day job. I, sometimes, use the computer the company gives me: when I am travelling and working a bit on the website on the evening from the hotel and sometimes from home as well (it’s quicker to transition from work when I feel like working on this website).
Now that it’s generating some $ I think about growing it.
Telling my employer about that side business will just raise some doubts about my commitment within the company (which, for me, has never been in question: I am very commited). The only impact that would have is: I could be more “scrutinized” and people talk (especially some HR )…
All this trouble for a small website that earns me close to $50 per month right now? No way.
I am not sure about Switzerland but in France a company could claim the work/projects you are doing on a side if you are using their equipment to do it or software licensed by your company.
Well, most of the time, I am not “working” on this website with the equipment of my company. As I mentioned, I use it from time to time to do so. It’s not black and white.
But you have a good point here.
I should probably have my own device handy every time I travel.
I became aware of the affiliate business almost by accident and looked more into it. There is a whole community out there and, guess what? Most of these people do not share their websites and almost all of these are created under a pen name. I found out a few of these and the “about page” looks like it’s a a real persone with a real name, but it’s not. I feel there is no breach of law if you write under a pen name.
Maybe the law is different on that matter in Switzerland. I don’t know.
Thanks for this thorough answer. I really appreciate your comment.
Regarding my employer, I am not trying to hide anything. I just think it is not relevant.
Putting your full name out there might lead to someone you know noticing it and questioning what you are doing. That could also be a co-worker. That might be a bit annoying. At first my small website was only written with my first name, as I felt not ready to put my full name out there (and it was not even monetized).
The creation of the company is probably the best solution. Yes, your name can be found in the paperwork, but you can partner with someone (from your family) and explain you help them out if someone ask you anything about it. The company name does not have to be the name of the website. Nobody is exaclty aware of which website is managed by that company.
But it’s probably not worth it if the website generates only $50 par month.
Another option is to create a company outside Switzerland (I have family ties in France & Germany). I think there are some options available for small business.
The only thing to make this viable (through a company creation) is to make that business grow. But this is not what I originally envisioned (and that might enter in conflict with my day job). I like my day job and my work ethic does not allow me to cut back on the quality of my work.
For now I do not delete these affiliate links that generate a little cash on the side, but I will have to think it through quickly.
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