Banking, VAT & Getting Your Financial Ducks in a Row in Switzerland
The Swiss Biz Builder Sessions – episode #5
5 February 2026
Listen now!
How to set up clean finances, understand VAT, and build a runway that gives you confidence instead of panic.
Money is the part of entrepreneurship everyone touches — whether they love numbers or not.
In this episode of the Swiss Biz Builder Sessions, Susan Platt and Libby O’Loghlin walk through the financial foundations every founder in Switzerland needs: business banking, VAT realities (especially for online businesses), and how to think about runway and cashflow in a way that supports calm, grounded decision-making.
This episode is not about becoming an accountant.
It’s about creating clarity — so money stops being a source of stress and starts becoming a support system.
What you’ll learn in this episode
✅ When you can (and shouldn’t) use a private bank account for business
✅ Business bank accounts for Einzelfirma, GmbH and AG
✅ Capital deposit accounts and what slows Swiss bank onboarding
✅ How to choose the right bank for your business model
✅ VAT in Switzerland — thresholds, registration and charging VAT correctly
✅ Why EU VAT and Swiss VAT are not the same thing
✅ Which online platforms handle Swiss VAT — and which don’t
✅ How to deal with Swiss VAT when selling digital products internationally
✅ What a financial runway really is — and how to calculate it
✅ The difference between profit and cashflow (and why cashflow kills businesses)
✅ Simple habits that protect liquidity and reduce money stress
Chapters
Key Takeaways
- Even if you’re legally allowed to use a private account, separating business and personal money is one of the best decisions you can make
- Opening a Swiss business bank account takes time — preparation matters
- VAT is a pass-through tax, not your income
- You must register for Swiss VAT once global turnover reaches CHF 100’000
- Swiss VAT is not EU VAT — and platforms often blur this distinction
- Only one major platform currently handles Swiss VAT as merchant of record
- Cashflow, not profit, is the number one survival factor for new businesses
- A financial runway buys you clarity, confidence and better decisions
Website and tools mentioned in this episode
online sales platforms
- Digistore24
(Handles Swiss VAT as merchant of record)
Platforms that do not handle Swiss VAT even if they handle EU VAT:
- Shopify
- Gumroad
- Kajabi
- Teachable
- Podia
- ThriveCart
- Payhip
- Ko‑fi
- Lemon Squeezy
- WooCommerce
Platforms mentioned as examples that allow exporting sales by country:
- Ravelry
- Shopify
- Gumroad
- Kajabi
- Teachable
- Etsy
Quotes
“Prepare well and don’t assume it’ll be done in a day.”
“Don’t get caught up in analysis paralysis. Keep moving!”
Swiss Biz
Builder Sessions
- EP 1 So you want to start a business in Switzerland
- EP 2 Swiss business structures explained
- EP 3 Swiss insurance for founders
- EP 4 Legal essentials: contract, websites & digital signatures
- EP 5 Banking, VAT & getting your financial ducks in a row in Switzerland
- EP 6 Digital tools & tech
- EP 7 Identity shift: from trailing spouse or employee to entrepreneur
- EP 8 Networking & building your client base in Switzerland
Air date: 8 January 2026
- Why Switzerland is attractive
- Challenges expats face (language, regulations, cultural norms)
- Mindset & success
Air date: 15 January 2026
- Sole proprietorship vs LLC (GmbH) vs stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft AG)
- Costs, liability, and tax implications
- Which structure suits best?
Air date: 22 January 2026
- Insurances & the three pillars – the Swiss social security system made simple
- Pillar 2, pillar 3 & staying safe – without losing sleep
- Business insurances – your safety net for the company
Air date: 29 January 2026
- Business contracts & terms
- Website and tech basics (data protection, impressum, privacy & cookies)
- Signing contacts digitally (Swiss and EU law)
Air date: 5 February 2026
- Opening a bank account for your business
- VAT registration and thresholds, digital stores with international cross border sales (who charges and pays VAT Etsy etc)
- Budgeting your runway and keeping an eye on your cashflow
Air date: 12 February 2026
- Accounting & invoicing
- Payment & and finance solutions that calculate your VAT (Twint, digistore24)
- Website hosting and data centers
- Project & productivity
Air date: 19 February 2026
- Why identity matters in entrepreneurship
- Rebuilding a professional identity in a new country from scratch
- Practical steps to reinvent yourself with the “obstacle is the way” approach
Air date: 26 February 2026
- Are expat networks enough or should you go local?
- Startup hubs and networking platforms
- Swiss business culture, trust and reliability
Susan
Omnia Mea Founder
Swiss-based multilingual entrepreneur, educator, writer, and business executive.
Has never walked the beaten path or fit into a box.
Superpower:
Overwhelm destroyer
Breaks down complex challenges into simple manageable tasks.
Libby
The Content Coach
Swiss-Australian narrative media strategist, climate-tech startup co-founder, author and trained coach.
Forever in awe of the power of words.
Superpower:
Story mechanic
Asks clarifying questions to get to the heart of the story
Let’s connect