Swiss Invoice Payment Terms: What's Standard?

Swiss law does not prescribe a payment deadline on invoices. That freedom sounds nice, but it creates a problem: if you don't state one, "whenever the customer feels like it" becomes the default. That is why a clear term matters.

The 30-day standard

In Swiss B2B practice, 30 days is the de-facto standard payment term. It is short enough to keep cash flow healthy and long enough to be reasonable for the customer.

State it plainly on the invoice, for example "Payment within 30 days". A clear, written deadline removes ambiguity and gives you a firm date to act on.

For private customers or smaller amounts, shorter terms of 10 to 14 days are common. For long-standing business relationships, some companies extend to 60 days — but only deliberately, not by accident.

Whatever term you choose, keep it consistent across quotes and invoices. A customer who sees one deadline in the quote and another on the invoice has an excuse to pay late.

Early-payment discounts

A common incentive is a discount for fast payment: "2% discount if paid within 10 days, otherwise net 30 days." It rewards prompt payers and signals that you value cash flow.

The mechanics are simple — the customer deducts the stated percentage if the money arrives before the early deadline, otherwise pays the full amount by the final date.

Before offering a discount, do the math on your margin. Two percent off every invoice adds up, so make sure the faster cash actually benefits your business.

State the discount and both deadlines unambiguously on the invoice. Ambiguous wording gives the customer room to claim the discount late, and disputes over a small percentage are rarely worth the time.

What to do when payment is late

When an invoice passes its due date, escalate in measured steps. A calm, documented sequence is more effective than a single angry email.

1. Reminder (Zahlungserinnerung) — a friendly nudge, usually 1–2 weeks after the due date. No fees yet.
2. Dunning notice (Mahnung) — a formal reminder with a new deadline (often 10–14 days) and, where agreed or customary, a dunning fee.
3. Debt enforcement (Betreibung) — the formal legal process. This is the last resort and should not be the first move.

Start with a friendly reminder a week or two after the due date. Most late payments are oversights, and a polite nudge resolves them without any fees.

If that fails, send a formal dunning notice with a new deadline — often 10 to 14 days — and, where agreed or customary, a dunning fee. This signals that you take the matter seriously.

Only as a last resort do you move to debt enforcement, the formal legal process. Keep every reminder polite, factual, and well documented, because a clear paper trail matters if a dispute reaches that stage.

Set expectations up front

The easiest way to avoid chasing payments is to agree on terms before you start the work. Quote the price, the payment deadline, and any late fees in writing.

Then make sure every invoice repeats the same terms. Consistency removes surprise and gives you a clean reference point when payment is late.

A clean QR-bill makes paying effortless. The less friction a customer faces, the faster the money tends to arrive — payment terms are only half the story.

If a customer repeatedly pays late, revisit the relationship: shorten the terms, require a deposit, or reconsider the project. Your terms should reflect the customer's actual payment behavior.