What does a receptionist really cost?
Gross salary is only part of it. This calculator shows full costs including social insurance (AHV/IV/EO), unemployment, pension, accident, family allowance, vacation, and workplace — and compares them to fonea's tariff.
Note: This only covers direct salary and workplace costs. Not included: recruitment on turnover (one-off CHF 10,000–20,000), sick leave, onboarding. fonea additionally covers evenings, weekends, and vacation (24/7).
These are typical Swiss SMB values. For your concrete situation we recommend a personal consultation.
How to use the calculator
- 1Set workload, gross salary, and number of monthly salaries (typically 12 or 13 in Switzerland).
- 2Estimate social contributions between 18% and 28% — a realistic Swiss SMB average is 20–24%.
- 3Enter workplace costs (office space, IT, furniture). Reference: CHF 5,000–10,000/year.
- 4Compare the result with your target fonea plan — Basic (CHF 90), Professional (CHF 290), or Scale (from CHF 590).
Frequently asked questions
What assumptions does the calculator use?
Typical Swiss values: AHV/IV/EO 5.3% employer share, ALV 1.1%, average BVG 10%, UVG 0.8–2%, FAK 1.2–3%, KTG 0.5–1.5%. Social contributions total ~20–25% depending on age, industry, and fund.
Are vacation and holidays included?
Vacation and holidays are implicit in the monthly salary (under Swiss law they are paid anyway). Not included: sick leave, vacation cover, training. These costs apply on top.
Why is fonea cheaper?
fonea automates routine inquiries: appointments, standard questions, callbacks. It does not fully replace a receptionist, but takes over 60–80% of phone tasks — 24/7. Businesses that need on-site greeting, mail handling, or complex coordination combine fonea with a part-time role.
Does the calculator cover external phone services?
No, only the "own receptionist vs. fonea" comparison. External phone services typically cost CHF 1.50–3.50 per answered call plus a base fee. At 200 calls/month that's CHF 400–800. A separate calculator is planned.
Is the calculator FADP-compliant?
Yes. The calculator runs entirely in your browser — no inputs are sent to our servers or stored. You can use, print, or share the results freely.
Want to walk through the numbers for your case?
Book a free 20-minute call with our team.