In recent years, several companies have emerged in Switzerland to provide freelancers, self-employed and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with affordable and efficient online invoicing and accounting software. These solutions focus on automating routine tasks, increasing operational efficiency, and ensuring full compliance with Swiss regulations.

While some international providers such as Zoho from India, and Xero from Australia, have adapted their platforms to meet Swiss standards, a strong ecosystem of homegrown Swiss software companies has also emerged.

In this article, we highlight leading Swiss providers that offer cloud-based accounting and invoicing tools built with the unique needs of domestic businesses. These platforms not only simplify financial management and reduce compliance risks but also integrate seamlessly with local banks, tax authorities, and payroll systems, making them a reliable choice for Swiss SMEs.

Accounto

Founded in 2016 and head quartered in Zurich, Accounto is an SaaS ERP solution designed specifically for trust companies and SMEs in Switzerland. The platform blends deep industry expertise with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and optical character recognition (OCR) to set a new standard for efficiency, accuracy, and usability in accounting.

At its core, Accounto automates accounting entries through intelligent allocation rules, real-time document processing, and seamless transaction reconciliation. This allows for consistently up-to-date bookkeeping with minimal user intervention. 

Key features of the platform include effortless digital archiving, comprehensive document accounting, real-time identification of missing receipts, integrated client communication tools, and a complete accounting suite covering everything from daily operations to annual closings and budgeting. The software also includes modules for invoicing, payroll, and expense management, all accessible via a modern, cloud-based interface optimized for users at all levels of experience.

bexio

Founded in 2013, Bexio is a Swiss company offering a cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform tailored specifically for SMEs. The company started with a focus on accounting solutions and has since evolved into a comprehensive business management platform that enables users to manage accounting, customer relationships, sales processes, payroll, and expense tracking in a single, integrated environment. 

The platform is designed to eliminate the administrative burden that often hampers small business growth. It features an intuitive interface that supports the seamless creation of customized offers and invoices, complete with automatic reminders and an e-banking interface for effortless bank reconciliation. 

Expense and payroll management are optimized for Swiss regulations, and the software’s accounting features make preparing annual financial statements straightforward and accessible. Furthermore, with Bexio Pay, users benefit from automated and contactless expense posting, full visibility into spending, and cost savings through fee-free foreign currency payments.

Bexio says its automation capabilities can save users up to 12 hours of office work each month, while its efficient financial tools help reduce fiduciary costs by up to a third annually. It claims more than 80,000 self-employed, small businesses and startups among its customers. 

Bexio was acquired by insurance firm Mobiliar in 2018.

CashCtrl

CashCtrl is a multi-client cloud-based accounting software designed for freelancers, SMEs, and fiduciaries. Core features are financial accounting with order processing, reporting, payroll, and many ERP features.

Hosting, backups, development and support are 100% Swiss-made. The software imposes minimal constraints on workflows and is awesome for various industries.

A strong focus is placed on direct interaction with the community, free technical support (as far as possible), and a fair pricing model — all of which are highly appreciated.

Both accounting professionals and beginners value the clean UI and transparent functionality. For specific workflows, custom apps and scripts can be integrated via the API.

CashCtrl Pro starts at CHF 350 per year.

Run my Accounts

Founded in 2008 and based in Stafa, Run my Accounts aims to revolutionize accounting for SMEs and startups. 

At the heart of the company’s offering is its proprietary online accounting software, developed specifically to support its innovative outsourcing model. The platform enables users to issue invoices, approve supplier bills, locate documents instantly, and monitor live financial data, all in one place. 

Automation is key to Run my Accounts’ approach. Using advanced proprietary technology, receipts and bank transactions are posted faster and more efficiently than through traditional methods. This allows businesses to offload time-consuming administrative tasks and gain real-time insight into their finances.

What sets Run my Accounts apart is the combination of cutting-edge software and personalized fiduciary support. Each client is assigned both an online accountant and trustee, who manage all accounting responsibilities, including bookkeeping, payroll, taxes, and annual financial statements. This hybrid model ensures that clients receive expert guidance while benefiting from streamlined digital processes.

In 2021, Run my Accounts was acquired by Austria-based Infoniqa.

Winbiz

Founded in 1992 and based in Geneva, Winbiz is a leading Swiss provider of business management software, offering a comprehensive and proven solution tailored to the needs of SMEs, micro-enterprises, the self-employed, and startups. 

The company’s flagship offering, Winbiz Cloud, is an all-in-one enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution designed to manage every aspect of business administration. Accessible anytime and anywhere from a Mac, Windows PC, or tablet, the platform provides tools for accounting, payroll, inventory management, customer invoicing, and supplier oversight. The software is available in four languages: French, German, Italian, and English, making it an inclusive and adaptable solution for the diverse Swiss market.

Winbiz is certified Swiss Made and Swissdec-compliant, ensuring its software meets the highest national standards for security and regulatory alignment. Data is securely stored within Switzerland and backed up multiple times daily, offering users peace of mind and operational reliability. Customers also benefit from continuous updates, guaranteeing access to the latest features and legal standards without additional effort.

Winbiz claims more than 50,000 customers, including 1,000 fiduciaries, making it one of the most widely used ERP systems among Swiss SMEs.

Swiss21

Founded in 2017 and based in Appenzell,Swiss21 is a modern, cloud-based ERP platform designed to empower Swiss SMEs, startups, and associations. With an all-in-one system that covers invoicing, accounting, payroll, e-commerce, customer relationship management (CRM), and mobile expense management, Swiss21 aims to allows users to streamline their operations, save time, and reduce costs, without needing advanced technical knowledge or incurring high software expenses.

At the core of Swiss21’s offering is a suite of interconnected applications tailored to every aspect of a business. Its invoicing module includes features such as automated reminders, recurring billing, and electronic signatures, while the accounting tool, 21.AbaNinja, supports more than 70 bank connections, Swiss VAT methods, and real-time dashboards with journal, balance sheet, and income statement views. The payroll component, 21.AbaSalary, is ELM 5.0 certified and enables easy management of monthly salaries, benefits, social contributions, and working time tracking. 

Swiss21 also provides a comprehensive e-commerce module, 21.Commerce, for creating and managing an online store complete with order and inventory control, responsive design, and checkout integration. 

Its CRM system, 21.CRM, delivers a clear overview of customer interactions, sales opportunities, tasks, and marketing campaigns, while the mobile app AbaClik allows for expense reporting, time tracking, and document scanning on the go, powered by AI to further streamline input.

Klara

Klara is a Swiss business software developed by ePost Service. The software is designed to simplify and digitize administrative tasks for SMEs as well as private households, handling functions such as bookkeeping, payroll accounting, employee insurance, customer administration, point-of-sale (POS) systems, and marketing. 

Hosted entirely in Switzerland, Klara guarantees secure data management and complies with Swiss regulations. The software is intuitive and requires no IT expertise, offering modular features that can be easily combined and scaled according to business needs. It claims that it’s capable of automating up to 42% of office tasks, saving users valuable time that can be spent on core business activities or leisure.

ePost Service, a subsidiary of the Swiss Post, encompasses Klara and ePost, Switzerland’s digital letterbox. The company claims a total client base of 50,000 SMEs and over 250,000 private individuals. 

Shakehands

Shakehands is a Swiss company offering comprehensive accounting software for both Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows platforms. Its flagship product, ShakeHands Kontor, is designed for financial bookkeeping, invoicing, and order management, catering to self-employed professionals, startups, and small businesses. 

ShakeHands emphasizes data privacy, offering locally installed software rather than cloud-based solutions. The company offers multiple modules and packages to fit different needs: Shakehands Kontor Saldo covers all areas of financial accounting; Shakehands Balance includes accounting with complete order management and purchasing; and Shakehands Kontor Pro is aimed at professionals with extensions and add-ons.

For private users, Shakehands also offers ShakeHands Kontor SEP, which helps households manage budgets, payments, and financial records. 

Abacus

Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Wittenbach/St. Gallen, Abacus is a Swiss software company specializing in business management software. 

The Abacus Business Software is a comprehensive ERP solution for SMEs, with software modules for invoicing, order processing, production planning and control, performance and project billing, service and contract management, address management/CRM, financial accounting, accounts receivable, accounts payable, asset accounting, payroll accounting, and human resources. It also offers features such as integrated cost accounting, archiving, electronic banking, information management, e-commerce, and e-business.

With over 65,000 companies as customers, Abacus is one of the largest and the most successful independent Swiss provider of business software for SMEs. Every month, the company claims that more than one million payrolls are processed using the Abacus Business Software. 

Abacus is headquartered in Wittenbach/St. Gallen, with additional offices in St. Gallen/St. Fiden, Winterthur, Biel, Lugano, and Geneva.

Proffix

Proffix is a Swiss software provider offering integrated ERP solutions tailored to the needs of Swiss SMEs across industries including wholesale, retail, services and manufacturing. 

The Proffix ERP system enables modern accounting and payment processing, as well as comprehensive mapping of business processes in administration, HR, trade, and services. The software is modular in design and offers an attractive price-performance ratio. It is 100% Swiss made and hosted, and stands out with its comprehensive features and ease of use.

Proffix claims it currently serves around  4,000 Swiss SMEs, making it a prominent business software provider in Switzerland. 

Proffix has its headquarters in Wangs, St. Gallen, with branch offices in Wetzikon, Zurich, and in Steinhausen, Zug, and distributes its software through 39 sales partners in Switzerland. 

In August 2023, Proffix was acquired by Forterro, a European provider of software solutions to more than 11,000 small and mid-sized industrial companies. 

Pesaris

Pesaris is a Swiss, privately owned company that develops and distributes web-based accounting and payroll software designed specifically for SMEs. Founded by a team of fiduciary professionals and IT specialists, the company aims to develop simple and high-quality online software for accounting and payroll.

Pesaris’ software is offered as a cloud-based service, allowing users secure access from any location and operating system. The platform enables customers to grant fiduciaries direct access to their accounting data to facilitate optimal support. The software is modular in structure and continuously updated with new features. 

Key features and modules include financial accounting, allowing users to easily record income and expense, generate VAT reports, and complete annual financial statements; payroll accounting, enabling users to create payroll statements quickly, accurately, and intuitively; and cost accounting, which comes with efficient tools for tracking and allocating expenses to the right cost centers and cost units. 

Pesaris is sold in a subscription model with attractive monthly fees, starting from just CHF 15 per month. Updates, backups and support are included in the costs. 

Featured Picture via Xero.com