KLARA

KLARA is cloud-based business software for Swiss SMEs, bringing accounting, payroll, point of sale, inventory, appointment booking, website and online shop functions together. Accounting tools cover offers, delivery notes, invoices and reminders, bank connections, AI-assisted receipt booking and automated bank transaction reconciliation. KLARA Lohn automates payroll calculations and electronic authority filings; it is Swissdec ELM5 certified. The POS combines hardware, software and payments for mobile or stationary use, with support for multiple stores and terminals. KLARA Payments lists TWINT and Apple Pay among its methods and charges a 1.7% transaction fee without subscription or additional fees. The myKLARA app supports receipt and invoice scanning, contact management and work-time recording, and is included at no charge in Business Basic and Plus. The service has ISO 27001 certification and stores application data in Switzerland; communication-only user data may be stored abroad. Paid plans start at 48 CHF/mo, and a 30-day trial is available. Business Basic has a three-admin limit; Plus allows unlimited admins.

KLARA combines accounting with payroll, POS and other SME administration tools. A 30-day trial is available, with paid plans starting at 48 CHF/mo.

KLARA suits Swiss SMEs looking to manage accounting and related business administration in one service. Its POS, payroll and online services can be added as business needs grow.

KLARA is cloud business software that brings accounting together with payroll, point of sale and other tools for Swiss SMEs. It is best suited to businesses that want room to add operational modules as they grow. Its main advantage is breadth in one system; the trade-off is that payroll is separate and the lowest core-package rates require a two-year term.

Overview

Businesses can start with administration and extend KLARA with POS, inventory, employee management and online services. That makes it a plausible fit for an SME moving beyond bookkeeping, especially if it wants sales and back-office functions under one roof. It is less compelling for a business that needs only accounting or wants to avoid a long-term package commitment.

Key features

Accounting covers offers, delivery notes, invoices and reminders, with bank connectivity, AI-assisted receipt booking and automated reconciliation. Automatic reconciliation includes connections for UBS, PostFinance, Raiffeisen and Zürcher Kantonalbank. Supported-bank users can cut down on manual matching, while journal-entry automation and an audit trail add useful controls. KLARA does not include close-task management, so teams that need to coordinate closing work will need another approach.

KLARA Lohn automates payroll calculations and electronic filings to authorities, and is Swissdec ELM5 certified. Payroll is a separate module, not part of the core package price. The quoted rate is 4.90 CHF a month per payroll; Business Basic, Plus and Premium customers pay 3.90 CHF a month per payroll, and prices exclude VAT.

The POS offer combines hardware, software and payments, supports mobile and stationary use, and accommodates multiple stores and terminals at each location. That flexibility is useful for retailers or hospitality businesses operating several checkout points. KLARA Payments supports methods including TWINT and Apple Pay; its 1.7% transaction fee has no subscription or additional fees.

The API provides 97 integration endpoints for connecting KLARA Business with webshops, industry software and custom applications. The myKLARA app scans and books receipts and invoices, manages business contacts and records work time; it is included at no charge with Business Basic and Plus. KLARA says it holds ISO 27001 certification and stores application data in Switzerland, while communication-only user data may be stored abroad.

Pricing

There is no free plan, and the free trial lasts 30 days. Business packages have monthly, annual and two-year options, with annual payment for the term-based rates. The lower two-year prices are not month-to-month commitments: Basic is 48 CHF a month and Plus is 69 CHF a month, both billed annually for a two-year term. For a shorter commitment, annual billing costs 55 CHF a month for Basic or 79 CHF a month for Plus; monthly billing is 69 CHF a month for Basic and 99 CHF a month for Plus.

Business Basic includes all accounting functions and 24/7 chat and email support, but caps the account at three admin users. It suits a small team that can work within that seat limit and does not need phone support. Business Plus includes everything in Basic, unlimited admin users, phone support, free one-to-one online meeting support and budgeting. The higher price is most defensible for larger teams or users who value direct support and budgeting.

Business Premium costs 111 CHF a month on a two-year term or 127 CHF a month with annual billing. It adds on-site support, a personal account manager and free accounting migration, making it the package for businesses that want more guided setup and ongoing assistance. Business Plus is also offered at 69 CHF a month on a two-year term with annual billing; the plan details identify unlimited admin users, phone and one-to-one online meeting support, and budgeting. The listed prices are the package rates; payroll remains an additional per-payroll charge.

Platforms

KLARA is available on Android, iOS and the web, and provides an API for integrations. Its cloud deployment suits teams that need access across devices, while the API gives businesses a route to connect other systems.

Who it's for

KLARA is strongest for Swiss SMEs that want accounting as a base and may add payroll, POS, inventory or online services. A small business with no more than three administrators can keep costs lower on Basic. Teams needing unlimited administrators or more support should weigh Plus, while businesses that want on-site help and migration support may prefer Premium. A company seeking standalone payroll or a simple accounting-only tool may find KLARA's broader package structure and separate module costs unnecessary.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Accounting automation, supported Swiss-bank reconciliation, payroll and POS options bring several SME workflows into one platform.
• Pros: Basic includes the receipt-scanning mobile app and 24/7 chat and email support, while Plus removes the admin-user cap and adds phone and meeting support.
• Cons: The cheapest package rates commit buyers to a two-year term, and even annual billing costs more.
• Cons: Payroll is separately charged per payroll, and Payments takes a 1.7% transaction fee.
• Cons: Basic is limited to three admin users, and KLARA does not offer close-task management.

Alternatives

Docyt is the better fit for a business looking for a free starting point: its free Accountant Copilot plan includes AI categorization, bank and card reconciliation, and month-end close automation. WISO Business also offers a free plan, with invoicing, receipt scanning, a digital archive and online payments in invoices for users prioritizing those tasks. MargBooks may suit a buyer comparing paid accounting plans with stated annual prices and invoice quotas.

Quipu is an alternative for businesses comparing accounting plans with monthly scanner-read allowances. Digits offers a paid option aimed at solopreneurs and early-stage businesses, including custom reports and dashboards for firm partners. Double is a paid option for internal finance teams, with unlimited users and its complete platform on its annual plan. WISO MeinBüro is worth considering for users seeking invoicing and offers on a paid plan with one user and a turnover cap.

Verdict

KLARA is a strong match for Swiss SMEs that want accounting alongside the option to add payroll, POS and other administration tools as needs expand. The accounting automation, bank connections and scalable package tiers are its clearest reasons to choose it. Look elsewhere if you need close-task management, want payroll included in the base price or cannot accept a two-year commitment for the lowest package rates.