Your precision-engineering client in Zurich keeps saying "legal department reviewing"—but eight weeks later, your €180,000 invoice remains unpaid. Switzerland has exceptional payment discipline. When a Swiss company delays, something specific is happening. Here's what The Switzerland Precision Protocol™ reveals.
Switzerland is NOT in the European Union. This single fact changes everything about Swiss business debt collection. No EU Payment Order. No Brussels Regulation enforcement. Different mechanisms entirely—and these mechanisms work if you understand them.
If you're tracking unpaid invoices from Zurich, Geneva, Basel, or anywhere across Switzerland's cantons, you already know: Swiss companies usually pay. When they don't, the "why" matters enormously. This guide—built from our European locations network experience—maps exactly how to move from "legal review pending" to payment received.
🎯 Quick Triage: Is Your Swiss File Ready for Professional Collection?
- ✓ Invoice amount exceeds CHF 20,000 (or equivalent)
- ✓ 45+ days past due with at least 2 documented follow-ups
- ✓ Contract exists (German, French, Italian, or English)
- ✓ Delivery/acceptance documentation available
- ✓ Debtor entity confirmed (AG, GmbH, SA, Sàrl)
If 4+ apply, professional intervention typically accelerates resolution. Get your Swiss collection roadmap →
The Three Hooks: Why Your Swiss Debtor Isn't Paying
Switzerland enjoys payment discipline that makes other countries jealous. Net 30 is standard and usually honored. So when payment stalls, one of three patterns emerges:
Legal Review Loop
Contract interpretation dispute that legal departments analyze exhaustively. Swiss precision culture means they won't pay until every detail is resolved.
Specification Mismatch
Manufacturing specs or service deliverables don't match expected precision. Quality-obsessed culture requires documented resolution.
CHF Complexity
Currency conversion disputes. CHF strength against EUR/USD creates invoicing friction. Payment timing games around exchange rates.
Here's the uncomfortable truth: Swiss companies know their court system is expensive. Some leverage this—knowing that smaller EU suppliers may write off invoices rather than face CHF 50,000+ in Swiss legal costs.
The precision that makes Swiss watches famous also applies to their dispute management. Every objection will be documented.
Every 30 Days Adds Friction
The Cost of Waiting in Switzerland
Legal departments rotate. Decision-makers move between Zurich, Geneva, and international assignments. Documentation requirements accumulate. CHF exchange rates shift. Swiss statute of limitations runs (typically 10 years for commercial contracts, but evidence degrades long before). The first 90 days matter most—before "legal review" becomes institutional memory.
Why Not DIY / Lawyer-First / Write It Off?
| Approach | Typical Outcome | When It Works |
|---|---|---|
| DIY Follow-up | Polite responses continue; legal department remains "reviewing"; no escalation path without local presence | Small amounts, existing relationship, clear acceptance, single specification issue |
| Lawyer-First | CHF 30,000-80,000+ upfront; relationship destroyed; 12-24+ month court timeline; expensive but thorough | Large amounts (CHF 200K+); relationship already broken; clear liability; significant Swiss assets |
| Write It Off | 100% loss; precedent set with other Swiss/European clients; no collection attempt | Amount below CHF 10,000; company dissolved; genuinely unenforceable contract |
The Switzerland Precision Protocol™
5-phase precision collection for Swiss cantonal jurisdictions
Verify company via Handelsregister, identify applicable canton and language.
- Pull Handelsregister extract
- Determine canton (Zürich, Geneva, etc.)
- Identify language (DE/FR/IT)
Build Swiss-compliant evidence file with interest calculation per OR 104.
- Calculate Verzugszins (5% minimum)
- Index Rechnung + Lieferschein
- Prepare AGB and contract terms
Calibrated outreach respecting Swiss business precision and directness.
- Initial Mahnung in appropriate language
- Phone follow-up to Buchhaltung/Comptabilité
- Escalation to Geschäftsleitung
Pre-legal notice with explicit Betreibung timeline.
- Send formal Betreibungsandrohung
- Reference OR 104 interest provisions
- Set 10-day response deadline
Route via Betreibungsamt (debt collection office) or Schlichtungsbehörde.
- File Betreibungsbegehren at Betreibungsamt
- Zahlungsbefehl issued to debtor
- Escalate to court if Rechtsvorschlag filed
⚖️ Route via Betreibungsamt or Schlichtungsbehörde
Industries We Handle Across Switzerland
🏦 Banking & Financial Services
Zurich and Geneva financial center disputes. Private banking service fees. Asset management billing. FinTech platform integrations.
💊 Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices
Basel pharma corridor (Roche, Novartis ecosystem). Clinical trial services. Medical device manufacturing. Regulatory consulting fees.
⚙️ Precision Manufacturing
Watch component suppliers. Machinery parts. Precision engineering specifications. Quality dispute resolution.
💼 Professional Services
Consulting project disputes. Legal services fees. Accounting and audit billing. Advisory scope disagreements.
🛢️ Commodities Trading
Geneva trading houses. Commodity financing disputes. Inspection and certification fees. Logistics coordination billing.
💻 Technology & Software
Enterprise software implementations. SaaS subscription disputes. IT consulting. Development milestone disputes.
Each industry has its own documentation requirements and dispute patterns. Our international B2B collection services include specialists who understand Swiss pharma regulatory frameworks, banking compliance requirements, and precision manufacturing specifications.
The Switzerland Evidence Pack
Checklist
0 of 16 completeSwiss Legal Framework: What You Need to Know
Switzerland operates under a civil law system with federal structure. Each canton has some procedural variations, though commercial law is largely unified.
Key framework elements for B2B debt collection Switzerland:
- Statute of Limitations: Typically 10 years for commercial obligations under Swiss Code of Obligations (OR Art. 127). Some specific claims have shorter periods—requirements vary, so consult Swiss counsel for your specific situation.
- Betreibungsamt (Debt Enforcement Office): Switzerland's unique debt collection office system. A formal Zahlungsbefehl (payment order) can be issued relatively quickly and affordably.
- Rechtsvorschlag: Debtors can file opposition to payment orders, but this requires them to engage formally with the dispute.
- Court Costs: Swiss litigation is expensive—often CHF 30,000-100,000+ for commercial cases. This creates both leverage and barriers.
- Language Requirements: Proceedings occur in the official language of the canton (German, French, or Italian). Documentation may need translation.
This is educational context only. Specific legal advice requires engagement with qualified Swiss legal counsel.
Coverage Across Swiss Business Centers
Zurich
Banking, insurance, fintech, manufacturing headquarters
Geneva
Private banking, commodities trading, international organizations
Basel
Pharmaceuticals, chemicals, life sciences, logistics
Bern
Government services, professional services, technology
Lausanne
Technology, education services, hospitality B2B
Zug
Crypto, commodities, holding companies, trading
View our coverage across 40+ countries for cross-border situations involving Swiss debtors with international operations.
Switzerland Soft-to-Firm Communication Pack
Subject: Invoice [NUMBER] – Status Update Request Dear [FINANCE DIRECTOR/CFO],
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Swiss business debt collection different from EU collection? ▼
How long does B2B debt collection in Switzerland typically take? ▼
What is the statute of limitations for commercial debt in Switzerland? ▼
How does the Betreibungsamt (debt enforcement office) work? ▼
What documentation do I need to collect business debt in Switzerland? ▼
Can I add interest to unpaid Swiss invoices? ▼
How does CHF currency affect cross-border collection? ▼
What if my Swiss debtor disputes the quality of goods/services? ▼
Ready to Recover Your Swiss Receivables?
Fast Triage in 10 Minutes
Share invoice amount, industry (banking, pharma, manufacturing, professional services), debtor location (Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern), and days overdue—we'll map the next Swiss-compliant, cross-border-aware move.
Start Assessment →Conclusion: Swiss Precision Applied to Debt Recovery
Swiss business debt collection requires understanding that you're operating outside EU frameworks. The Betreibungsamt system provides efficient formal pressure. Swiss companies value their reputations and respond to structured, evidence-based collection efforts.
Your €180,000 precision engineering invoice? It's stuck in "legal review" because the legal department hasn't received a signal that this will escalate professionally. Swiss companies pay when the evidence is clear and the path forward is structured.
The first 90 days matter most. Legal reviews extend. Decision-makers move. Currency rates shift. Evidence trails fade.
Next steps:
- Compile your Switzerland Evidence Pack (contract, delivery docs, acceptance)
- Document all "legal review" communications
- Note entity type (AG, GmbH, SA, Sàrl) and canton
- Request your Swiss collection roadmap
Get Your Swiss Collection Roadmap
Evidence-first approach. German/French/Italian/English capability. CHF currency expertise. Non-EU enforcement mechanisms.
Start Your Swiss Recovery →
Sarah Lindberg
International Operations Lead
Sarah coordinates our global partner network across 160+ countries, ensuring seamless cross-border debt recovery.
