01 · Bookkeeping restoration
Reconstruct missing Swiss accounting records.
Recovery of incomplete or lost bookkeeping back to OR art. 957 ff compliance. Hourly at CHF 150. Most recoveries cost CHF 1,500 to CHF 25,000 depending on volume and source-material quality.
02 · Three common scenarios
Missing year-ends, audit findings, lost records.
Missing year-ends
You took over a company with one or more outstanding year-end accounts. We reconstruct the underlying bookkeeping, prepare opening balances, and produce the audited (or attested-as-dormant) financial statements.
Audit findings
Auditor flagged material weaknesses or inability to give an opinion. We rebuild the accounting records, document the corrections, and coordinate with the auditor for a clean opinion.
Lost / damaged records
Records lost to system failure, departed bookkeeper, or damaged premises. We rebuild from bank statements, supplier invoices, contracts and counterparty confirmations.
03 · Pricing
Hourly base, plus standard year-end deliverables.
| Service | Our fee | Market range |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping restoration (hourly) | CHF 150 / hour | CHF 150–250 |
| Opening balance sheet (after restoration) | CHF 490 | CHF 500–1,500 |
| Year-end accounts (active company) | CHF 1,900 / year | CHF 2,000–5,000 |
| Coordination with auditor (per hour) | CHF 150 / hour | CHF 150–250 |
04 · Mandate scope
Reconstruct, reconcile, file, audit-coordinate.
- Reconstruction of general ledger from underlying source documents
- Reconciliation of bank accounts, debtors, creditors
- Inventory reconstruction (where applicable) including stocktake support
- Reproduction of journal entries with cross-references to source documents
- Preparation of opening / closing balance sheets in line with OR art. 957 ff
- Coordination with auditor and tax authorities on resulting filings
05 · Process
Diagnostic → source review → reconstruction → filing.
-
01
Diagnostic
Free 30-minute scoping call to assess the gap: how many periods, available source material, the resulting tax / regulatory exposure.
-
02
Source-document inventory
We collect what exists: bank statements, contracts, supplier and customer invoices, prior tax returns. Identify what is missing and how to obtain it (counterparty confirmations, bank archives).
-
03
Reconstruction
Ledger rebuilt period by period. Reconciliations performed. Journal entries documented with source references. 1–6 months depending on volume.
-
04
Filing + audit
Year-end financial statements produced. Tax returns filed (with late-filing position negotiated where applicable). Auditor coordination for clean opinion if audit is required.
06 · FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
When is bookkeeping restoration mandatory?
Swiss companies are required to keep accounting records under OR art. 957 ff (Code of Obligations). Failure to maintain records exposes the company and its directors to civil and criminal liability. Tax filings must be supported by underlying records. If records are missing, restoration is the practical answer to bring the company back into compliance.
What does "ordinary audit" require for Swiss companies?
Under OR art. 727, ordinary audit applies to companies that exceed two of three thresholds in two consecutive years: total assets CHF 20m, revenue CHF 40m, full-time employees 250. Below thresholds the company can opt for limited audit (Eingeschränkte Revision) under OR art. 727a, or — if all shareholders agree and no employees — opt out entirely (Opting-Out). Restoration must satisfy whichever audit standard applies.
How much will restoration cost in total?
Strongly depends on volume and source-material quality. Small dormant company missing 1–2 years of accounts: CHF 1,500–4,000. Active SME with 3+ missing years and incomplete source: CHF 8,000–25,000. We confirm a budget after the diagnostic call.
Will I face penalties for late filings?
Tax filings: late-filing fines apply (typically CHF 200–1,000 per period) plus interest on any tax due. AHV / VAT: separate late-filing penalties. We negotiate with the tax authorities where the late filing is due to documented circumstances (departed bookkeeper, system failure) and often achieve significant reduction or waiver.
Can the auditor still issue a clean opinion after restoration?
Often yes, provided the reconstruction is supported by adequate underlying documentation and reconciliations. Where source material is irrecoverable for some balances, the auditor may issue a qualified opinion limited to those balances. We design the reconstruction to minimise audit qualifications.
What if accounting records were never kept (de novo)?
Treated as a company in default. Reconstruction starts from incorporation date or last filed accounts (whichever is later). Tax authorities will typically issue assessment-by-estimation for periods without records, which we challenge once reconstruction is complete. This is the most expensive scenario — typical CHF 15,000–40,000 — but unavoidable to bring the company into good standing.
07 · Get started
Free 30-minute diagnostic call.
One-line brief: which company, how many periods missing or incomplete, broad nature of the gap. We confirm an estimated budget, recovery plan and timeline within 48 hours of the diagnostic call.