Invoices for sole proprietorships and freelancers

You don't need a business suite, you need to invoice

When you open a sole proprietorship or start working as a freelancer, the software market immediately throws huge business suites at you: full accounting, inventory management, modules you'll never use — and a monthly subscription for all of it.

For someone working alone, it's too much, and it costs too much. What you really need is simple: issue compliant invoices with the Swiss QR-Bill, keep a customer list, and know where you stand with payments. Vidima does this, and does it well — without the weight and the recurring fee of a suite you don't need.

What you really need to invoice in Switzerland

If you work for yourself in Switzerland, the essential things are three:

• The QR-Bill. Since 2022 it has effectively been the only way to get paid through a Swiss bank: every invoice must include the QR code. Vidima generates v2.2 QR-Bills compliant with the official SIX SPC 0200 standard. Read more in the complete QR-Bill guide.
• VAT, but only if it applies to you. Below CHF 100,000 in annual turnover you're not required to register. Vidima configures itself in minutes for those who are exempt, and supports both AFC methods when VAT applies to you. See the practical VAT guide.
• Simplicity. No learning curve, no training: open Vidima, create the invoice, export it to PDF. End.

Vidima: designed for people who work alone

Vidima is a native desktop application for Windows and macOS. Everything a sole proprietorship needs, nothing that isn't needed:

• Compliant v2.2 QR-Bill, validated before every PDF export.
• AFC VAT with all current rates (8.1% / 2.6% / 3.8% / exempt), effective or balance (saldo) method.
• Unlimited customers and invoices, with Swiss customer records and validation (postcode, UID, VAT).
• Payment reminders, credit notes and instalment payments.
• Import of the camt.053 bank statement to reconcile incoming payments.
• Cryptographic digital seal on every invoice — your customers can verify authenticity on verify.vidima.ch.
• Offline by default: your data stays on your computer, with no account and no tracking. If you work across machines, Pro & Studio add an optional, end-to-end encrypted sync — the key stays on your devices, so not even we can read it.

And VAT? Below CHF 100,000 you're exempt

If your annual turnover is below CHF 100,000, you do not have to register for VAT: in Vidima you set all the rates to 0% and you invoice without thinking about it.

When — and if — you cross that threshold, Vidima supports both AFC methods, effective and balance (saldo): you don't have to change software the day you grow. For the choice of method, it's worth speaking to a fiduciary; the details are in our Swiss VAT guide.

What it costs: CHF 149, one time only

Vidima costs CHF 149, one-time payment — launch price. It's not a subscription: you pay once and v1.x updates are included forever.

For a freelancer, it's the difference between a fixed cost that returns every month and an expense you make once and forget. There's a 30-day free trial, no credit card required.