Insurance for Swiss startups
Insurance for Swiss startups includes mandatory social insurance (AHV, UVG, BVG) as well as recommended business insurance: business liability, legal protection, cyber insurance and property insurance. Costs from CHF 500 per year for basic coverage.
Mandatory personal insurance:
AHV/IV/EO (1st pillar):
- Contribution rate: 10.6% of salary (half each employer/employee)
- Minimum annual contribution: CHF 514 for self-employed
- Maximum annual contribution: CHF 25,900 for CHF 148,200 income
- Registration: At cantonal compensation fund
- Benefits: Old-age pension, disability pension, survivor's pension
Accident insurance (UVG):
- Mandatory for: All employees (over 8 hours/week)
- Coverage: Occupational and non-occupational accidents, occupational diseases
- Benefits: Up to 80% of insured salary
- Ceiling: CHF 148,200 per year (status 2025)
- Costs: 1-3% of salary depending on sector
Occupational pension (BVG, 2nd pillar):
- Mandatory from: CHF 22,680 annual income (status 2025)
- Age limits: Risk coverage from 18, old-age provision from 25
- Contribution rates: 7-18% depending on age
- Employer share: At least 50%
- Coordination deduction: CHF 25,725 (2025)
Daily sickness allowance insurance (KTG):
- Legally: Not mandatory, but highly recommended
- Salary continuation: Employer must pay salary in case of illness
- Duration: 3 weeks to 6 months depending on canton
- Costs: 1-3% of payroll
- Advantage: Plannable costs instead of incalculable risk
Recommended business insurance:
Business liability insurance:
- Coverage: Personal injury, property damage and financial loss
- Insurance sum: CHF 2-20 million
- Costs: CHF 300-1,500 per year
- Important for: All companies with customer contact
- Exclusions: Intentional damage, fines
Legal protection insurance:
- Coverage: Legal disputes up to CHF 500,000
- Areas: Contracts, labor law, criminal law
- Costs: CHF 200-800 per year
- Deductible: CHF 200-1,000 per case
- Advantage: Legal advice and cost protection
Cyber insurance:
- Coverage: Data breaches, hacker attacks
- Benefits: Data recovery, notification costs
- Insurance sum: CHF 100,000-5 million
- Costs: CHF 500-5,000 per year
- Prevention: IT security training included
Property insurance:
- Inventory insurance: Office furniture, IT equipment
- Goods insurance: Stock and inventory
- Insurance sum: According to inventory value
- Costs: 0.1-0.5% of insurance sum
- Perils: Fire, burglary, water, storm
Industry-specific insurance:
IT and software:
- E&O insurance: Professional liability for consulting
- Cyber insurance: Particularly important
- Fidelity damage: Protection against dishonest employees
- Costs: CHF 1,000-3,000 per year
Medtech and pharma:
- Product liability: Mandatory for medical devices
- Clinical trials: Special insurance required
- Recall cost insurance: In case of product defects
- Costs: CHF 2,000-10,000 per year
Fintech:
- D&O insurance: Directors and officers insurance
- Cyber insurance: Higher coverage required
- Financial lines: Special coverages
- Costs: CHF 3,000-15,000 per year
E-commerce:
- Goods in transit insurance: Shipping and logistics
- Returns insurance: Cover returns
- Cyber insurance: Online shop risks
- Costs: CHF 800-3,000 per year
Insurance costs by company size:
Solo startup (1 person):
- Basic package: CHF 500-1,500 per year
- Business liability: CHF 300-600
- Legal protection: CHF 200-400
- Cyber insurance: CHF 300-600
Small team (2-5 people):
- Total costs: CHF 2,000-5,000 per year
- Social insurance: 25-30% of payroll
- Business insurance: CHF 1,000-2,000
- Additional insurance: CHF 500-1,500
Growing startup (6-20 people):
- Total costs: CHF 5,000-15,000 per year
- BVG solution: Pension fund required
- Extended coverage: Higher insurance sums
- Special insurance: Industry-specific coverage
Optimization strategies:
Cost optimization:
- Combination discounts: Multiple insurances with one insurer
- Deductibles: Higher deductible = lower premiums
- Risk management: Preventive measures reduce costs
- Adjustment: Annual review of coverage
Insurance comparison:
- Coverage scope: Don't compare price only
- Service: Evaluate claims handling
- Flexibility: Check adjustment possibilities
- Reputation: Reviews and references
Avoiding common mistakes:
Under-insurance:
- Coverage too low: Regularly adjust insurance sums
- Missing policies: Cyber risks often underestimated
- Outdated contracts: Not adapted to business development
Over-insurance:
- Double coverage: Avoid overlaps
- Unnecessary insurance: Conduct risk assessment
- Premiums too expensive: Regular market comparisons
Claims handling:
Claim notification:
- Immediate notification: Delays can jeopardize coverage
- Documentation: Photos, receipts, witnesses
- Damage mitigation: Avoid additional damage
- Cooperation: Cooperate with insurer
Claim settlement:
- Processing time: 2-8 weeks depending on complexity
- Expert: For larger damages
- Negotiation: Professional support
- Payment: After verification and acceptance
Conclusion: A thoughtful insurance concept protects startups from existential risks. The right mix of mandatory and voluntary insurance ensures optimal protection for companies and employees.

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