01 · Debt collection
Swiss Inkasso and Betreibung — recover unpaid invoices.
From the first Mahnung at CHF 190, through the federal Betreibungsverfahren (SchKG) at CHF 290, to Rechtsöffnung in cantonal court from CHF 990. Most claims clear before court.
02 · Three escalation stages
Mahnung → Betreibung → Rechtsöffnung.
Out-of-court reminder
Formal Mahnung / payment demand on lawyer letterhead. Often clears the matter without further escalation. CHF 190 flat per debtor.
Betreibung (SchKG)
Federal debt-enforcement procedure. We file the Betreibungsbegehren with the cantonal Betreibungsamt. The debtor receives a Zahlungsbefehl with 20-day payment window. CHF 290.
Rechtsöffnung in court
When the debtor files an Rechtsvorschlag (objection), we obtain provisional or final Rechtsöffnung in the cantonal court. From CHF 990 plus office fees.
03 · Pricing
Fixed-fee per stage. Hourly only above Rechtsöffnung.
| Service | Our fee | Market range |
|---|---|---|
| Payment demand / Mahnung | CHF 190 | CHF 200–500 |
| Betreibungsbegehren (SchKG) | CHF 290 | CHF 300–800 |
| Rechtsöffnung (court) | from CHF 990 | CHF 1,000–3,000 |
| Inkasso (out-of-court flat) | from CHF 490 | CHF 500–2,000 |
| Litigation (hourly) | CHF 250 / hour | CHF 250–550 |
Fees excl. MWST. Betreibungsamt and court office fees are passed through at cost. The debtor bears all costs once Rechtsöffnung is granted (SchKG art. 68).
04 · What the fee covers
Drafting, filing, tracking, escalation.
- Review of the underlying invoice and contract
- Mahnung drafted on lawyer letterhead with statutory references
- Filing of the Betreibungsbegehren with the cantonal Betreibungsamt
- Tracking of the Zahlungsbefehl and any objection (Rechtsvorschlag)
- Drafting of the Rechtsöffnung petition for cantonal court
- Status reporting at each stage with next-step recommendation
05 · Process
Most matters clear at Mahnung or Zahlungsbefehl stage.
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01
Mahnung
Formal payment demand. 14-day deadline. Clears most matters where the debtor is solvent and disputing nothing.
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02
Betreibung
If unpaid, we file the Betreibungsbegehren. Debtor receives a Zahlungsbefehl with 20 days to pay or object.
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03
Rechtsvorschlag
If the debtor objects, the procedure is paused. We assess whether to seek Rechtsöffnung (clear evidence of debt) or move to ordinary court (disputed claim).
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04
Rechtsöffnung / enforcement
Court grants provisional or final Rechtsöffnung. Debtor has another 20 days to pay or trigger garnishment / seizure.
06 · FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
How is Swiss Betreibung different from court litigation?
Betreibung under the Federal Debt Collection and Bankruptcy Act (SchKG) is a streamlined administrative procedure. The Betreibungsamt issues a Zahlungsbefehl on simple application, no proof of the debt is required at the filing stage. Court litigation is needed only if the debtor objects (Rechtsvorschlag) and the matter is genuinely disputed. Most claims clear at the Betreibung stage.
How much does a Betreibung cost?
Our fee is CHF 290 to file the Betreibungsbegehren. The Betreibungsamt charges a sliding-scale office fee depending on the claim size — typically CHF 30 to CHF 400. Total out-of-pocket on a CHF 50,000 claim is roughly CHF 350. The debtor ultimately bears these costs once Rechtsöffnung is granted.
What happens if the debtor files a Rechtsvorschlag?
The Betreibung pauses. To resume, you need either provisional Rechtsöffnung (provided the debt rests on a written acknowledgement, signed contract or invoice with delivery proof) or, for genuinely disputed claims, an ordinary judgment in court. We assess which path applies on a case basis.
Can I collect a debt if the debtor is in another canton?
Yes. The Betreibung is filed in the canton where the debtor is domiciled, but Swiss procedure is uniform federally. We file in any cantonal Betreibungsamt; the work and fees are the same.
What if the debtor is abroad?
Foreign debtors fall outside SchKG. Recovery requires either (a) a Swiss judgment that can be exported under the Lugano Convention or a bilateral treaty, or (b) initiating proceedings in the debtor's country. We advise on the most cost-effective route at the scoping call.
Do you charge a percentage of the recovered amount?
No. We work on flat fees per stage, and (above flat-fee work) at CHF 250 per hour. Percentage-of-recovery is illegal for lawyers in Switzerland under bar rules. Genuine collection agencies (non-lawyer Inkassobüros) sometimes charge percentage, but their procedural reach is limited.
07 · Get started
Send the invoice and the contract.
Forward the unpaid invoice, the underlying contract or order confirmation, and any prior correspondence with the debtor. We confirm the recommended stage and fee within 24 hours.