What is it?

Protect the business, not only the assets

Insuring your activity means prioritising the covers that protect cash flow, liability, employees and business continuity.

Mandatory?

Yes for staff, often not for the rest

OASI, accident insurance and occupational pension apply as soon as you employ staff. Liability, cyber, commercial and business interruption insurance depend on the trade, contracts and collective labour agreements.

Objective

Avoid the claim that stops the business

A good plan starts with risk mapping, not with a generic list of insurance policies.

Priorities for insuring the business

Protect what keeps the company running before comfort options.

  1. By trade Cyber / technical If you depend on digital or machines
  2. Critical Business interruption Costs without turnover
  3. Core Premises and equipment Means of production
  4. Safety net Business liability Damage and errors toward third parties

Without continuity, turnover stops.

Insuring a business is not about ticking a list

A Swiss SME does not face the same risks whether it sells products, advises clients, runs a shop, stores goods, employs staff or depends on software to invoice. The right contract therefore starts with risk mapping.

Finwise helps you distinguish what is mandatory, what is strongly recommended and what really depends on your trade. The goal: protect cash flow, management liability, employees and business continuity.

Cover
Role
To check
Employer obligationsOASI, accident insurance, occupational pension
Protect employees and limit the company's social liability.
2026 occupational pension threshold at CHF 22,680, non-occupational accidents from 8 h/week, possible collective labour agreement.
Business / professional liabilityLiability
Covers damage caused to third parties or errors linked to your services.
Exact services, ceilings required by clients, non-material damage.
Commercial + cyberContinuity
Protect equipment, stock, systems and income if activity stops.
Real asset value, business interruption, IT dependency.

The logic of business activity cover

Legal obligations + Trade risks + Continuity = Useful plan

Insurance is only useful if it answers a concrete risk: a client claim, unusable premises, a blocked server or an absent key employee.

Obligations as soon as you employ staff

Dès le premier salarié, l’employeur doit gérer les cotisations AVS/AI/APG et chômage, l’assurance-accidents LAA, puis la prévoyance professionnelle LPP dès CHF 22’680 de salaire annuel en 2026.

La LAA couvre les accidents professionnels pour tous les employés. Les accidents non professionnels s’ajoutent dès que le collaborateur travaille au moins 8 heures par semaine chez le même employeur. En cas de maladie, l’employeur doit aussi maintenir le salaire pendant une durée limitée : une perte salaire maladie permet de transférer ce risque.

Priority protections for the activity

La Professional liability protège contre les conséquences financières d’une erreur, négligence ou omission dans une prestation. La RC entreprise intervient plutôt pour les dommages corporels ou matériels liés à vos locaux, collaborateurs, produits ou exploitation.

L’assurance commerce couvre mobilier, machines, marchandises et installations. La perte d’exploitation complète ce socle en compensant le chiffre d’affaires et les charges fixes si un sinistre interrompt l’activité. La cyberassurance et la protection juridique entreprise sécurisent les incidents informatiques et les litiges.

Services and consulting

Consultants, fiduciaries, IT or engineers: priority to professional liability, cyber and legal protection.

Commerce and retail

Stock, premises, business interruption and business liability often become more critical than purely technical covers.

Crafts and technical trades

Machines, sites, vehicles, accident insurance and business liability weigh heavily as soon as a tool or site stops.

Digital activity

Dependency on data, online invoicing and client-related liability: cyber and professional liability come before equipment.

Common pitfalls

Mistakes often come from a plan built too quickly, or only around the price of the premium.

Liability cover that is too genericIt does not necessarily cover your real professional services.
Equipment without continuityInsuring assets without business interruption leaves cash flow exposed.
SME "too small" for cyberAttacks also target structures that depend on their digital tools.
Frozen planGrowth, new premises or online sales change the necessary covers.

You already have policies: what should you check?

Check whether your covers still follow your real activities, premises, client contracts, ceilings and exclusions. A quick audit often removes useless overlaps and fills the most costly gaps before a claim.

With Finwise

We build clear cover for your trade

We analyse your activity, contracts, premises, employees, turnover and critical tools. Then we compare solutions to protect what really matters, without overloading your budget.

Finwise Assurances partner logos

Insure my business activity View professional liability View cyber insurance

Let’s talk about your needs

Tell us about your situation in a few lines. A Finwise adviser will contact you to clarify your options and compare suitable solutions.