Chèque service or Clino: What Does Your Cleaner Really Cost? (2026)
Geneva's chèque service isn't a company - it's the canton-subsidized payroll declaration system, run since 2008 by PRO. entreprise humaine, a labor-reintegration foundation. It's a serious, 21-year-old reference. But what does it really cost, and how is it different from Clino? We ran the numbers live in their own calculator.
Key Takeaways
- 1Chèque service isn't a startup - it's Geneva canton's own system, run by PRO. entreprise humaine since 2008, for 15'000+ households a year.
- 2The fee is an uncapped commission (~5.5-7% of gross wage) plus quarterly advance payments - not a flat price like Clino's CHF 19.90/month.
- 3Chèque service only exists in Geneva. Across the rest of French-speaking Switzerland, 5 other independent organizations play the same role - cantonal, not nationwide.
- 4Chèque service also runs “Ménage emploi” - a genuinely free household-staff matching service. Clino doesn't have that.
What is Chèque service?
Chèque service has been run since 1 January 2008 by PRO. entreprise humaine - a foundation whose core mission is labor reintegration for people excluded from the ordinary job market (disability, etc.). Chèque service is one of its programs, not a tech company.
How it works: employer and employee sign a paper mandate form (online registration exists too), attaching a copy of the AVS card/ID and work permit if applicable. Chèque service then opens an account and bills quarterly provisional advances for social charges - only a credit balance on that account allows a salary to be recorded. Monthly salary declaration runs online or via a paper coupon book mailed back and forth - a method their own site describes as part of their success.
A service Clino doesn't have: “Ménage emploi”
Alongside the admin side, Chèque service runs “Ménage emploi”: a genuinely free matching service - employers can request pre-vetted candidates, or a worker can submit her CV to be contacted. It's real recruiting, not just a form. Clino has no equivalent (see “Who should pick which” below).
Already hired someone directly?
Many families hire someone first - through an acquaintance, an ad, a recommendation - and only later realise that declaring them is mandatory. Chèque service is designed for clean starts; regularising an existing, informal employment after the fact is more cumbersome through it.
This is exactly the case Clino is built for: we regularise an existing job - registration, contract, correct payslips and insurances - without you having to start over.
The duty to declare applies retroactively
What does Chèque service really cost?
We ran it directly in Chèque service's own live calculator (2026 rates): cleaner, CHF 25/h net, 10h/week, vacation included in the wage, with optional daily-sickness insurance (APGM) turned on.
| Gross wage | 27.26 |
| Employer social contributions | 2.77 |
| Administration fee (VAT incl.) | 1.49 |
| Total employer cost / hour | 31.53 |
| Employee net wage | 25.00 |
That CHF 1.49 fee equals ~5.5% of the gross wage. RTS (April 2026) puts the chèque-emploi sector average at ~7% on a wage around CHF 30/h - in both cases an uncapped commission: the more the wage or hours, the more the employer pays, forever. Chèque service also requires quarterly advance payments - a prefunding requirement that ties up capital before a salary can even be recorded.
What happens at higher hours
Because the fee is a percentage, it grows with the wage. Clino stays at CHF 19.90/month regardless of hours. Two scenarios, computed with the verified rate (5.5-7%):
| Scenario | Monthly gross wage | Chèque service | quitt (cheapest tier) | Clino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time cleaner, 10h/week | ≈ CHF 1'180 | ≈ CHF 65-83/mo | ≈ CHF 72/mo | CHF 19.90 |
| Full-time nanny/caregiver, 40h/week | ≈ CHF 4'330 | ≈ CHF 238-303/mo | ≈ CHF 83/mo (Flat tier) | CHF 19.90 |
Scenario 2 is a projection applying the same verified rate, not a fresh live calculator run. The key difference: the saving against quitt settles around 76%, because quitt also has a capped Flat tier (CHF 990/yr). Chèque service has NO flat-fee option at all - the gap with Clino keeps growing with every extra franc of wage, without limit.
Comparison: Chèque service, quitt, Clino
| Dimension | Chèque service | quitt.ch | Clino |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage | 1 canton (Geneva) | 26 cantons | 26 cantons |
| Pricing model | Commission ~5.5-7%, no cap | 3 tiers: 8% / 5% / 0% by tier | CHF 19.90/month flat, 0% always |
| Prefunding | Yes - credit balance required | No | No |
| Power of attorney | Yes - signed mandate | Yes, on Comfort/Flat | Never - you stay in control |
| Insurance choice | None - Helsana/La Bâloise fixed | Optional via Baloise/TCS | 9-insurer comparator by real eligibility |
| Matching/recruiting | Yes - free “Ménage emploi” | No | No (CV-PDF only, no directory) |
| Employee portal activation | Manual - “contact us” | Digital | Self-service via invite |
| Paper fallback | Yes - mailed coupon book | No | No |
Only Geneva? The regional network
Geneva's chèque service is one node of the umbrella association “Chèques-Emploi Suisse,” which groups six legally independent organizations - each with its own brand, fee, and tools, active only in French-speaking Switzerland.
| Canton(s) | Organization |
|---|---|
| Geneva | Chèque service (PRO. entreprise humaine) |
| Vaud | EPER - Entraide Protestante Suisse |
| Valais | TopRelais (Agence TRIO SA) |
| Fribourg | Chèque Emploi Fribourg (CIS) |
| Neuchâtel | TAC - Travail au Clair |
| Jura & Bernese Jura | Caritas Jura |
| Rest of Switzerland (17-20 cantons: ZH, BE, BS, BL, TI...) | None - direct registration with the cantonal compensation fund (simplified procedure / VAVplus) |
For German- and Italian-speaking Switzerland: no comparable semi-public system exists there - the employer registers directly with the compensation fund. More detail in our guide for the rest of French-speaking Switzerland. Chèque service across the rest of French-speaking Switzerland
Who should pick which?
Chèque service fits you if...
you live in Geneva, want a fully delegated mandate with advance payments, don't mind the variable commission, and value 21 years of experience plus phone-based advice.
Clino fits you if...
you live outside Geneva (or inside it, but want a flat price), want to keep control (no power of attorney), want a contract + monthly payslip + automatic reminders, and your wage level means a variable percentage ends up costing more long-term.
Honestly
Register your cleaner - flat price, no power of attorney
Whether in Geneva, Vaud, Valais or any other canton: Clino handles the contract, payslip, and registration guidance for CHF 19.90/month, no commission. 30 days free.
Register now - 30 days freeFrequently Asked Questions
Is Geneva's Chèque service really free?+
No - registration itself is free, but every payroll run is billed an administration fee of roughly 5.5-7% of the gross wage, with no upper limit.
Why does Chèque service ask for money upfront?+
Chèque service runs on quarterly provisional advances - you need a credit balance before a salary can be recorded. That's a prefunding mechanism, not a normal subscription.
Does Chèque service exist in the canton of Vaud or Valais?+
Not under that name - Vaud, Valais, Fribourg, Neuchâtel and the Jura each have their own organization (e.g. EPER in Vaud), with distinct fees and tools, not a shared platform.
Is there an equivalent in German- or Italian-speaking Switzerland?+
No - there, everything runs directly through the cantonal compensation fund, with no intermediary organization.
Chèque service or Clino: which is cheaper?+
It depends on the wage: with a variable ~5.5-7% commission, Chèque service can be cheap for very small hourly volumes, but its cost rises with the wage - while Clino stays at CHF 19.90/month regardless of what your employee earns.
Do I have to give Chèque service power of attorney?+
Yes, via a signed mandate - Chèque service then acts in your name with the compensation fund. Clino never asks for that: we prepare everything, but you submit the registration yourself.
Sources
- Chèque service (chequeservice.ch) - calculator, FAQ, “about us”, recomputed live 16.07.2026
- ge.ch - Geneva canton's official page on chèque service
- cheques-emploi-suisse.ch - umbrella association of the 6 Romandie organizations
- RTS, “Plateformes, chèques emploi, entreprises classiques: le ménage à domicile se réinvente,” April 2026
- quitt.ch/en - pricing, live-checked 16.07.2026
As of 16 July 2026. Cantonal rules, rates and amounts change - check the current status before each hire.
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