Complete systems & ERP in Switzerland — comparison

Accounting, invoicing, orders and payroll in one single system.

Swiss specifics

What is different in Switzerland

Complete system

The Swiss market imposes requirements that an international solution usually lacks — it is built for other legal systems. Buy from abroad and you notice at the year-end close, in the VAT filing or with the first payroll declaration. These are the points that decide in this category:

Swissdec ELMPayroll declarations to the old-age insurance, the accident insurer, tax authorities and insurers run electronically through the Swissdec standard. Without certification, «payroll» often means no more than a payroll list.
QR-billMandatory standard since the payment slip was retired. Check both directions: issuing invoices with a QR code and reading incoming QR documents — the second is missing more often.
ISO 20022 / camtThe bank supplies incoming payments as a camt file and the software reconciles them against open invoices. This saves more time than any other automation. Clarify whether your bank is connected directly or only through a file import.
Data hosted in SwitzerlandData residency in Switzerland is not a legal requirement but frequently a procurement one — especially for personal data and public contracts. Ask where the data centre is, not where the vendor is registered.
Partner requiredSome vendors sell and support exclusively through resellers. That means no price without a quote, no start without an implementation project — and the quality depends on the partner, not the manufacturer.
VAT 8.1 / 2.6 / 3.8 %The software has to carry all three Swiss rates — standard, reduced and the special rate for accommodation — and assign them correctly on documents and in the filing. Foreign programs often know only one rate per country.
Data locationSwiss data centres are not a legal requirement, but often a procurement criterion – especially for personal data and public-sector contracts.
Accountant accessThe decisive soft factor: can your accounting firm work in the system directly? Ask them first which two or three systems they use every day.
Ten-year retentionThe Swiss Code of Obligations requires ten years of audit-proof retention – including readability. Clarify what happens to your data after you cancel.
Export and exitBefore signing up, check what an export looks like (entries, documents, master data). A solution without a usable export is a one-way street.

Criterion	Cloud all-rounder for small firmsDetails	Free entry with ecosystemDetails	Microsoft ERP with Swiss localisationDetails	Bookkeeping fully outsourcedDetails	Invoicing with some bookkeepingDetails	Complete package at a small priceDetails	Modular Swiss cloud kitDetails	ERP heavyweight, strongest payrollDetails	SAP for the mid-marketDetails	Proven classic, installed locallyDetails	Open source, enormous scopeDetails	Swiss ERP for the upper mid-marketDetails	SME ERP for trades and retailDetails	Customisable mid-market ERPDetails	Automated, through your accountantDetails	Merchandise management for tradeDetails	Modular Swiss software, cloud or localDetails	Cloud ERP with very broad scopeDetails
Cost & onboarding
List priceas stated by the vendorbars: 0 to CHF 290	CHF 35–119	from CHF 26	CHF 65–89	CHF 0–290	free–CHF 45	CHF 64	CHF 45–55	via partner only	via partner only	via partner only	no prices in francs	on request	via partner only	via partner only	via partner only	via partner only	on request	via partner only
Pricing model	Subscription	Subscription	Subscription	Service	Subscription	Subscription or licence	Subscription	via partner	via partner	Subscription or licence	Subscription	Subscription or licence	via partner	via partner	via partner	Subscription or licence	Subscription or licence	via partner
Getting started	self-service	self-service	partner/project needed	self-service	self-service	self-service	self-service	partner/project needed	partner/project needed	partner/project needed	partner/project needed	partner/project needed	partner/project needed	partner/project needed	partner/project needed	partner/project needed	self-service	partner/project needed
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud	Cloud + Desktop/Server	Cloud	Cloud	Desktop/Server + hosted	Cloud	Cloud + Desktop/Server	Cloud + Desktop/Server	Desktop/Server + hosted	Cloud + Desktop/Server	Cloud + Desktop/Server	Desktop/Server + hosted	Desktop/Server + hosted	Cloud	Desktop/Server + Cloud	Cloud + Desktop/Server	Cloud
Free version	–	–	–	–	✓	–	–	–	–	–	✓	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Payroll, VAT & law
Payroll (Swissdec)	✓	✓	~ limited	✓	–	✓	~ limited	✓	–	✓	~ limited	–	✓	✓	✓	–	~ limited	✓
Swiss VAT filing	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Multiple currencies	✓	–	✓	✓	✓	✓	–	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Data location	Switzerland	Switzerland	Switzerland/EU	Switzerland	Switzerland	Switzerland	Switzerland	Switzerland	Switzerland/EU	Switzerland	EU	Switzerland	Switzerland	Switzerland/EU	Switzerland	Switzerland	Switzerland	Switzerland
Payments
QR-bill	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Bank reconciliation (camt)	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Scope & extensions
Orders & inventory	~ basic	~ basic	✓	–	~ basic	✓	~ basic	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	–	✓	✓	✓
Open API	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Mobile app	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	–	✓	✓	✓	–	✓	✓	✓	–	✓	✓	–	–
Works offline	–	–	✓	–	–	✓	–	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	–	✓	✓	–
Collaboration & vendor
Adoption among accountants	high	medium	low	high	medium	medium	medium	high	low	high	low	low	medium	medium	high	medium	medium	medium
Languages	DE · FR · IT · EN	DE · FR · IT	DE · FR · IT · EN	DE · FR · EN	DE · FR · IT · EN	DE · FR · IT	DE · FR · EN	DE · FR · IT · EN	DE · FR · IT · EN	DE · FR · IT	DE · FR · IT · EN	DE · FR · EN	DE · FR	DE · FR	DE · FR · EN	DE	DE	DE · FR · EN
Vendor	bexio AG (Mobiliar Group)	ePost Service AG (Swiss Post)	Microsoft (with Swiss partners)	Run my Accounts AG	smallinvoice AG	FIDUCIAL WINBIZ SA	Atlanto AG	Abacus Research AG	SAP (with Swiss partners)	Infoniqa Schweiz AG (formerly Sage Switzerland)	Odoo SA (with Swiss partners)	Opacc Software AG	Forterro Schweiz Proffix AG	SelectLine Software AG (Swiss edition)	Accounto AG	blue office ag	Comatic AG	Forterro Schweiz AG
Headquarters	Rapperswil-Jona SG	St. Gallen	USA	Stäfa ZH	Zug	Sierre VS	St. Gallen	Wittenbach SG	Germany	Root LU	Belgium	Rothenburg LU	Wangs SG	Switzerland	Zürich	Hochdorf LU	Sursee LU	Altendorf SZ
Fit by profile
Sole proprietor / freelance
Small business 2–9
SME 10–49
50 employees and up
Working with an accountant
Vendor website	open ↗	open ↗	open ↗	open ↗	open ↗	open ↗	open ↗	open ↗	open ↗	open ↗	open ↗	open ↗	open ↗	open ↗	open ↗	open ↗	open ↗	open ↗