Electrician Invoice Switzerland

Key Takeaways

• 8.1% VAT (MWST) applies to all electrical services in Switzerland — no reduced rate, no exemption.
• QR-Rechnung has been mandatory for electronic and printed invoices since October 2022.
• Typical electrician hourly rate in Switzerland: CHF 80–150/h depending on specialization and region.
• Seven mandatory invoice elements are required per Art. 26 of the Swiss VAT Ordinance.
• MWST registration is compulsory once annual turnover exceeds CHF 100,000; voluntary registration is possible below that threshold.

An electrician invoice in Switzerland must show 8.1% MWST (VAT), include a QR-Rechnung payment part, and list seven mandatory elements per Art. 26 of the Swiss VAT Ordinance. That applies whether you rewired a single apartment in Zurich or installed a full building automation system in Basel. Electricians are not VAT-exempt — every job you invoice falls under the standard 8.1% rate, and once your annual turnover hits CHF 100,000, MWST registration becomes compulsory.

Thomas, an electrician in Zurich, learned this the hard way. He ran a clean operation — punctual, tidy work, loyal clients — but invoiced by scribbling hours on a notepad and sending a PDF with no QR-code payment part. By the time he followed up on an unpaid CHF 3,400 rechnung, the client had lost the payment details and the invoice had no QR-IBAN. Thomas waited eleven weeks for payment and got a stern letter from the ESTV about his missing MWST number. One missing QR-Rechnung and one missing VAT line cost him cash flow and peace of mind.

This guide breaks down everything an electrician in Switzerland needs to bill correctly: the seven mandatory invoice elements, the 8.1% VAT rate, typical hourly rates between CHF 80 and 150 per hour, partial invoices for multi-day jobs, travel and emergency call-out billing, and a copy-paste-ready electrician invoice template. If you bill electrical work in Switzerland, this is your checklist.

Swiss invoice regulations — 7 mandatory elements per Art. 26 VAT Ordinance

Every electrician invoice Switzerland must contain seven mandatory elements, as set out in Art. 26 of the MWSTV (VAT Ordinance). Miss one, and your invoice is technically non-compliant — which can delay payment and, in rare cases, trigger questions from the Eidgenössische Steuerverwaltung (ESTV).

The seven mandatory elements are:

1. Full name and address of the electrician — your business name, street, postal code, and city. If you operate as an Einzelfirma, the registered company name goes here.
2. Full name and address of the client — the person or business receiving the electrical work.
3. Invoice date — the day the invoice is issued.
4. Type and scope of service — a clear description of the electrical work performed (e.g., "Installation of 8 ceiling spotlights, 2.5h labor + materials").
5. Net amount — the subtotal before VAT.
6. VAT rate and VAT amount — for electricians, this is 8.1%, shown as a separate line with the calculated amount.
7. MWST number (UID with MWST suffix) — your Swiss VAT identification number, required once you are MWST-registered.

Since October 2022, the QR-Rechnung replaced the old red and orange payment slips (ESR). If you send invoices electronically or on paper, the payment part must use the QR-IBAN and QR reference format. Many electricians still send PDFs without a QR-code part — that's a compliance gap your clients' accounting teams will flag immediately.

Marco, an electrician in Lucerne, ran into exactly this problem. He billed a commercial client for a panel board upgrade, listed everything correctly, but attached an old-style IBAN with no QR code. The client's accounts payable team sat on the invoice for three weeks because their payment workflow required a QR-Rechnung scan. Marco updated his template that same evening.

Electrician hourly rates in Switzerland — CHF 80–150/h

The typical electrician hourly rate in Switzerland ranges from CHF 80 to CHF 150 per hour, before VAT. The spread depends on specialization, region, and the type of work involved.

Standard vs specialist rates

• Standard electrical work (CHF 80–120/h): socket installation, light fixture replacement, basic rewiring, fuse box checks, apartment and house wiring. This is the bread-and-butter work most residential and small commercial electricians bill.
• Specialist electrical work (CHF 120–150/h): building automation (KNX), high-voltage systems, industrial installations, photovoltaic system commissioning, smart-home integration, and certified inspection work. These jobs demand specialized certifications and command higher rates.

The elektriker stundensatz you invoice should reflect your actual cost structure — van, tools, insurance, AHV contributions, and your hourly wage target. Underpricing to win jobs erodes margin fast; overpricing loses you repeat residential clients.

Material vs labor — keep them separate

On every invoice, separate material costs from labor. Clients and their accountants expect to see which portion is materials (cable, fixtures, breakers) and which is your time. Materials are typically billed at list price or with a standard markup of 15–25%. Labor is billed at your hourly rate multiplied by hours worked.

Example line-item split:

• Material: 4x LED ceiling spots (Siemens) — CHF 180.00
• Material: 20m NYM-J 3×1.5mm² cable — CHF 48.00
• Labor: 3.5h × CHF 95/h — CHF 332.50
• Travel costs: 25km × CHF 0.80 — CHF 20.00

Travel costs (Fahrtkosten)

Most Swiss electricians bill travel costs as a per-kilometer rate (typically CHF 0.70–1.00/km) or a flat travel fee within a defined radius (e.g., CHF 40 flat within 20km). Long-distance jobs — say, driving from Bern to a alpine construction site — justify a higher flat fee. State your travel rate clearly on the quote and the invoice so clients know what to expect.

Emergency call-out rates (Notfalleinsatz)

Emergency electrical work commands a premium. Typical Notfalleinsatz rates in Switzerland:

• Weekday evening (after 18:00) — 1.3× to 1.5× standard hourly rate
• Weekend and public holidays — 1.5× to 2.0× standard rate
• Night call-outs (22:00–06:00) — 2.0× standard rate, often with a minimum charge of 1–2 hours

Some electricians add a flat call-out fee of CHF 80–150 on top of the higher hourly rate. Make sure both the call-out fee and the multiplier are stated in your quote terms — surprise charges on the final rechnung are the fastest way to lose a client.

SIA 118 norms for electrical contractors

The SIA 118 norms provide a framework for construction and craft trades in Switzerland, including guidelines for pricing, contract structure, and billing practices. While SIA 118 is not specific to electrical work alone, it is the norm Swiss contractors reference when structuring multi-trade construction contracts. For pure electrical work, the Schweizerischer Elektrotechnischer Verein (SEV) and branch-specific guidelines complement the SIA framework. Following SIA norms signals professionalism — especially in commercial and multi-trade construction projects.

VAT rules for electricians — 8.1% standard rate

Electrical services in Switzerland are not VAT-exempt. Unlike medical, dental, or educational services (which benefit from reduced or zero rates), electrical work is a standard-taxed commercial service. Every rechnung you issue as an electrician carries 8.1% MWST.

The 8.1% rate (since January 2024)

As of January 1, 2024, the Swiss standard VAT rate rose from 7.7% to 8.1%. The increase followed the AHV/IV financing referendum in June 2022. For electricians, this means:

• Every invoice issued from January 1, 2024 onward uses 8.1%
• Work completed before January 1, 2024 but invoiced after that date still uses 8.1% if the invoice is issued in 2024
• If you invoiced in 2023 with 7.7% and the work spans into 2024, you follow the date-of-invoice rule

Make sure your invoice template and any invoicing software you use are configured for 8.1%. Outdated 7.7% templates are the single most common VAT error Swiss electricians make in 2024–2026.

CHF 100,000 threshold — when MWST registration becomes compulsory

You must register for MWST once your annual taxable turnover exceeds CHF 100,000. Below that threshold, registration is voluntary. Most full-time electricians cross CHF 100,000 quickly — between van, tools, materials, and labor, a single large residential rewiring project can push you over.

Voluntary registration below the threshold is worth considering. Registration unlocks input tax deduction (Vorsteuerabzug): you reclaim the MWST you pay on business purchases — your van, power tools, cable reels, test equipment, and materials from suppliers. For an electrician buying CHF 20,000 of materials and equipment per year, input tax deduction on 8.1% reclaims roughly CHF 1,620. That usually outweighs the administrative cost of MWST filing.

Read our VAT management guide for freelancers for a full walkthrough of MWST registration, quarterly reporting, and input tax deduction.

How to show VAT correctly on an electrician invoice

Your invoice should show three clear lines:

1. Net amount — subtotal of all material, labor, and travel before VAT
2. MWST 8.1% — the calculated VAT amount (net × 0.081)
3. Total (brutto) — net + MWST, the amount the client pays

Example:

• Net total: CHF 1,000.00
• MWST 8.1%: CHF 81.00
• Total: CHF 1,081.00

Round MWST amounts to the nearest 5 rappen (Swiss convention). Most invoicing tools handle this automatically.

Partial and final invoices — project-based billing

Most electrical projects are multi-day. A full apartment rewiring, a commercial fit-out, or a photovoltaic installation runs over days or weeks. Sending a single final invoice at the end starves your cash flow. Partial invoices keep money coming in as work progresses.

Typical phase billing structure

1. Deposit / advance invoice (Anzahlung): 20–40% of the quoted total, invoiced before work begins. Covers materials you pre-order and locks in the client's commitment.
2. Progress invoices (Akonto-Rechnungen): Issued at defined milestones — e.g., after rough-in, after panel installation, after first-fix inspection. Each covers the value of work completed to date, minus the deposit already paid.
3. Final invoice (Schlussrechnung): Issued once the project is complete. Reconciles all partial invoices and the deposit, then bills the remaining balance with all materials and labor finalized.

On the final invoice, clearly list every partial invoice already paid so the client sees a clean reconciliation. This avoids disputes and "I thought I already paid for that?" conversations.

Material invoices from suppliers

When you pre-order materials from a supplier (Werkstatt or Bestellung), those supplier invoices hit your accounts payable. In the partial-invoice phase, you typically bill the client for materials at list price or with a standard markup. Track supplier invoices against each project so your final invoice reconciliation is clean. Tools that link purchase orders to projects make this dramatically easier — see our invoicing and customer management features.

Mini-story: Stefan's multi-phase build

Stefan, an electrician in Winterthur, took on a CHF 22,000 apartment rewiring job for a private client. He billed a CHF 7,000 deposit to pre-order the distribution panel, cabling, and fixtures. After rough-in, he sent a CHF 8,000 progress invoice. After second-fix and commissioning, he sent the final CHF 7,000 rechnung — with a clear reconciliation showing both prior partial invoices. The client paid each invoice within 14 days. Stefan never had to bridge the project out of his own pocket. That is what phase billing is for.

Invoice template for Swiss electricians

Below is a copy-paste-ready electrician invoice template with all seven mandatory elements, QR-Rechnung payment details, and the 8.1% MWST line. Replace the placeholders with your details.

RECHNUNG

[Your business name]                      [Your address]
[Street, ZIP, City]                       [Your phone]
[UID: CHE-XXX.XXX.XXX MWST]               [Your email]

Invoice no: 2026-014
Date: 10 July 2026

Billed to:
[Client name]
[Client street, ZIP, City]

Service description: Electrical installation — 4 ceiling spots,
1 dedicated circuit, 20m NYM-J 3×1.5mm² cable, panel connection.

MATERIAL
- 4× LED ceiling spot (Brand) — CHF 180.00
- 20m NYM-J 3×1.5mm² cable — CHF 48.00
- 1× 16A MCB + DIN rail clip — CHF 32.00

LABOR
- 3.5h × CHF 95/h — CHF 332.50

TRAVEL (Fahrrtkosten)
- 24km × CHF 0.80/km — CHF 19.20

Net subtotal:                CHF 611.70
MWST 8.1%:                   CHF 49.50
Total due (brutto):          CHF 661.20

Payment due: 30 days net
QR-IBAN: CH00 0000 0000 0000 0000 0
QR reference: 00 00000 00000 00000 00000 00000

[QR-Rechnung payment part with QR code attached]

Thank you for your business.

Notes on this template:

• All seven mandatory elements are present — business name/address, client name/address, invoice date, service description, net amount, MWST rate and amount, UID/MWST number.
• QR-IBAN and QR reference — required for the QR-Rechnung payment part. Generate the QR code from your invoicing tool or your bank's QR-Rechnung generator.
• Payment terms — 30 days net is standard in Switzerland. For new clients, consider 14 days or payment-on-delivery for the first job.
• Travel and emergency multipliers — shown as separate line items so clients can see the breakdown.

If you want this template pre-configured with QR-Rechnung, 8.1% MWST, and your business details, Magic Heidi generates it in under 30 seconds from your phone.

How Magic Heidi simplifies electrician invoicing

Most Swiss electricians do not need a full accounting suite. They need to send a compliant rechnung from the construction site, get paid, and move on to the next job. That is the gap Magic Heidi fills.

Lean pricing vs bexio

Magic Heidi costs CHF 25–39 per month. bexio starts at CHF 52 per month and scales up from there for additional users and features. For a sole electrician or a small two-person operation, bexio's project accounting, payroll, and CRM modules are overkill — you pay for features you will never touch. Magic Heidi strips the invoicing workflow down to what electricians actually use: client list, project-based invoicing, QR-Rechnung, VAT 8.1% preset, partial invoices, and payment tracking. Check the full comparison on our pricing page.

Mobile-first — invoice from the construction site

Electricians do not sit at desks. You finish a job at 17:00 on a building site in Dietikon, pull out your phone, and send the rechnung before you drive home. Magic Heidi is built mobile-first — the invoice workflow runs cleanly on a phone screen, with the QR-Rechnung generated and attached automatically. No laptop, no spreadsheet, no "I'll do it when I get back to the office."

QR-Rechnung native

The QR-Rechnung payment part is generated automatically on every invoice — QR-IBAN, QR reference, QR code, all formatted to Swiss banking standards. No manual QR-IBAN entry, no third-party QR generator, no PDF stitching.

Project-based invoicing with partial invoices

Magic Heidi links invoices to projects, so you can send a deposit, progress invoices, and a final rechnung that reconciles everything against the same job. Customer management tracks every client, every project, and every payment status in one place.

VAT 8.1% preset

The 8.1% MWST rate is preset. No risk of invoicing with the old 7.7% rate by mistake. Input tax deduction and quarterly MWST reporting are supported through our VAT management guide for freelancers.

Mini-story: Lena switches to Magic Heidi

Lena, an electrician in Basel, ran her invoicing on Excel and a free QR-code generator. She spent three evenings per month stitching QR-Rechnung PDFs and tracking who had paid. After switching to Magic Heidi, she cut that admin time to under an hour per month. She now sends invoices from her phone before she leaves the job site, and clients pay faster because the QR-Rechnung is right there on the invoice. Lena pays CHF 25/month. She calculated her old toolchain cost her roughly 8 hours of unpaid admin per month — at her own hourly rate of CHF 110, that was CHF 880 in lost time.

Conclusion

An electrician invoice in Switzerland needs three things to be compliant: the 8.1% MWST rate, a QR-Rechnung payment part with QR-IBAN and QR reference, and the seven mandatory invoice elements per Art. 26 of the VAT Ordinance. On top of that, your handwerkerrechnung should separate material from labor, bill travel costs transparently, and apply emergency multipliers when relevant. Typical hourly rates land between CHF 80 and CHF 150 per hour depending on specialization and region.

For multi-day jobs, phase-based billing — deposit, progress invoices, final rechnung — protects your cash flow. Do not fund a three-week rewiring out of your own pocket; invoice as you go. Most Swiss electricians cross the CHF 100,000 MWST threshold within their first year of full-time work, so factor MWST registration and quarterly reporting into your workflow from the start.

Magic Heidi gives you the invoicing workflow electricians actually need — QR-Rechnung native, 8.1% MWST preset, partial invoices, mobile-first — at CHF 25–39/month instead of bexio's CHF 52+. If you are still stitching QR-Rechnung PDFs by hand or sending invoices without a QR-IBAN, it is time to stop.

Start invoicing with Magic Heidi now →

Sources: Art. 26 MWSTV (Swiss VAT Ordinance); ESTV QR-Rechnung requirements (effective October 2022); MWST rate change to 8.1% effective January 1, 2024; SIA 118 norms for construction contractors.