Who this page is for
Therapists and coaches before or shortly after becoming self-employed
This page focuses on setup points that later appear in practice software. Legal form, AHV, VAT, and permits remain prerequisites; AHV status and VAT liability are clarified outside the software with the responsible bodies.
The practical sequence is: clarify professional, legal, and financial basics first, then build online booking, patient data, invoicing, and payment processes on that basis.
What must be defined before software setup
For setup, the practice needs a clear name, invoice address, location or locations, bank account, team roles, service offering, and a decision on which tariffs or individual services will be used.
The AHV compensation office assesses self-employment case by case based on the economic circumstances. VAT liability, turnover limits, and possible exemptions are clarified with the FTA or a fiduciary. These decisions still affect invoice text, sender data, roles, access rights, and later reports.
Permits, recognition, and registers
KMU.admin notes that only certain professions or cantonal regulated activities need special permits. In health and therapy, exactly this check is central.
For later billing, ZSR number, Tarif 590, EMR, ASCA, or NVS/SPAK may be needed. These details belong in practice data, invoice templates, and patient information before the first patient invoice.
Appointments, dossiers, invoices, and data protection
Practice software is set up before launch, not after invoices and dossiers are already spread across spreadsheets, emails, and PDFs. Patient data, appointments, services, invoices, QR payments, and documents belong in a traceable process.
Data protection belongs in the basic setup. Access rights, secure storage, export options, retention, backups, and clear roles are defined before live operation.
Practice launch checklist
- Define practice name, invoice address, locations, and bank account.
- Check professional and cantonal permit obligations.
- Clarify legal form, AHV status, VAT liability, and exemptions with an official body or fiduciary.
- Check services, tariffs, ZSR, EMR, ASCA, NVS/SPAK, or other recognitions.
- Set up online booking, patient dossier, QR-bill, and payment process.
- Define data protection, dossier management, roles, and software access.
- Run a test patient, test appointment, test service, and test invoice before opening.
Common mistakes
- Launching website and online booking before permits and register questions are clarified.
- Setting up practice software only after the first dossiers and invoices are already scattered.
- Collecting patient data first in temporary files and hoping to migrate later.
- Testing the invoicing process only after the first treatments are complete.
Practice questions
What must be defined before software setup?
At least practice name, address, locations, bank account, service offering, tariffs or individual services, roles, and access rights. Legal and tax questions are clarified with the responsible bodies.
Can I switch later from spreadsheets and PDF folders?
Yes, but the switch is more error-prone than starting with defined processes. Patient data, open invoices, documents, and payment history then need additional control.
Which recognition do I obtain first?
That depends on method, profession, canton, and reimbursement goals. For complementary medicine services, EMR, ASCA, NVS/SPAK, ZSR, and Tarif 590 are checked together early.
Prepare the practice start in PRAXSYS
In PRAXSYS, appointments, patient data, invoices, and practice administration can be set up from the start.
View practice software for therapy practicesRelated topics
Identification
ZSR Number
The ZSR number identifies medical service providers in the Swiss provider register. For billing and insurer communication it must match the practice, activity, and current register status.
Billing
Tarif 590
Tarif 590 standardizes outpatient complementary medicine services in Swiss supplementary insurance. Recognition, reimbursement, and licensing remain separate topics.
Recognition
EMR
EMR is a quality label and directory for empirical medicine. Patients and insurers can use it when checking recognition; invoices still need complete and consistent billing data.
Recognition
ASCA
ASCA is a quality label for complementary medicine. Practices need to keep recognition, continuing education, method, and invoicing clearly separated.
Association and quality
NVS / SPAK
NVS is a professional association for naturopathy and complementary therapy; SPAK is the quality label in the NVS environment. Membership, label, and invoice data must be understood separately.
Payments
QR-Bill
The QR-bill combines readable payment data with the Swiss QR Code. It only becomes reliable when master data, invoices, and payment tracking fit together.
Sources and further reading
Status, responsibilities, and details can change. For binding information, consult the responsible authorities, registries, insurers, associations, and professional advisors.