Document shredding — DSG-compliant
Personal records (customers, employees, contracts) must be securely destroyed per the data protection act (DSG). Standard is protection class 3 (DIN 66399 P-4 or higher) with a destruction certificate. A professional firm partners with certified shredders and hands over the certificate as compliance evidence. Loose records do not belong in the normal paper bin.
IT disposal per VREG
Electronic equipment (computers, printers, monitors, servers) falls under the Ordinance on the Return, Take-Back and Disposal of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (VREG). Storage media must be physically destroyed or certified-wiped before disposal (e.g. DoD 5220.22-M). A reputable firm compiles a list of disposed devices with serial numbers and destruction proof — important for audit and insurance.
Furniture — recover, don't dispose
Office chairs, desks, cabinets and meeting-room furniture have a regional secondary market. A separate recovery valuation can offset 15–30 percent of the clearance price — request this option when comparing offers. For specialist fit-outs (practice, lab, workshop), a separate valuation is sensible.
Tax — what's deductible
Business-clearance costs are generally deductible as business expenses. Keep the invoice, disposal receipts (hazardous waste, IT) and shredding certificate for tax files. In a corporate liquidation, these documents are also relevant for the closing balance sheet.
FAQ
- How quickly can a business clearance be organised?
- Standard 2–4 weeks after awarding the contract — the extra lead time over a residential clearance comes from document shredding (scheduling with the certified shredder) and IT inventory.
- What does a typical office clearance cost?
- For a 5–10-workstation office: CHF 2,500–6,000 incl. shredding and IT disposal, depending on volume and hazardous-waste share. Furniture recovery can reduce the total.
- Do I need a destruction certificate for taxes?
- Recommended yes — both for records (DSG compliance) and IT (VREG). In audits or liquidation reviews these certificates are standard.
- Who handles the final cleaning of business premises?
- Typically a separate cleaning company — firms often recommend a partner. For tenancy, the contract requirement (e.g. broom-clean vs. handover-grade) is decisive.