Carrying out an activity is not about checking off a list
A Swiss SME does not have the same risks depending on whether it sells products, advises customers, operates a business, stores merchandise, employs staff or depends on software for invoicing. The good contract therefore begins with risk mapping.
Finwise helps you distinguish what is mandatory, what is strongly recommended and what really depends on your business. The objective: to protect cash flow, manager liability, employees and business continuity.
Obligations as soon as you employ staff
- AVS/AI/APG and unemployment: compulsory social security contributions for employees.
- LAA: Compulsory accident insurance for employees, with non-occupational accidents if the employee works at least 8 hours per week with the same employer.
- BVG: compulsory professional pension from CHF 22,680 of annual salary in 2026, depending on age and affiliation conditions.
- Salary maintenance: the employer must continue to pay wages in the event of illness for a limited period; Loss of salary health insurance allows this risk to be transferred.
- CCT: certain branches impose additional coverage or minimum conditions.
Priority protections for the activity
- Company RC: covers bodily injury or material damage caused to third parties by your premises, your employees, your products or your operations.
- Professional RC: protects against the financial consequences of an error, negligence or omission in the provision of a service or advice.
- Trade or property insurance: covers furniture, machines, tools, goods, installations, theft, fire, water or broken glass according to the contract.
- Operating loss: compensates for loss of turnover and fixed costs if a claim interrupts activity.
- Cyber insurance: intervenes in the event of an attack, computer blockage, data leak, system restoration, crisis costs or data-related liability.
- Legal protection: assistance in the event of disputes with customers, suppliers, lessors, employees or authorities.
Depending on your job, priorities change
- Consultants, trustees, IT, engineers: Professional liability, cyber, legal protection and loss of executive income.
- Commerce, retail, catering: trade insurance, stock, operating loss, business liability and loss of salary and illness.
- Crafts, construction, technique: Company liability, machinery, vehicle, construction site insurance, LAA/LAAC and legal protection.
- Industry, production, import/export: Product liability, recall, transport, machines, goods and operating losses.
- Startup or digital activity: cyber, professional liability, data protection, business interruption and key person insurance.
Questions to ask yourself before choosing
- What claim can stop my activity for more than 7 days?
- Which customer contracts require professional liability or a minimum amount of guarantee?
- Are my stock, machines or tools insured at their true value?
- Who pays salaries if a long-term illness affects a key employee?
- How many days can I operate without access to my data or software?
- Do my insurance cover new activities, new premises or online sales?
Common errors
- Take out a generic liability insurance without covering real professional services.
- Insure the equipment but forget about the operating loss.
- Thinking that an SME is too small to be targeted by a cyber attack.
- Do not adapt the guarantees after growth, moving or new service.
- Forget the difference between independent manager and salaried manager of an SA/Sàrl.
- Compare only the annual premium without reading deductibles, exclusions and ceilings.
Our support
Finwise analyzes your activity, your contracts, your premises, your employees, your turnover, your critical tools and your legal obligations. We then build a cover that is readable, modular and consistent with your budget, avoiding duplicates such as dangerous holes.