What does this actually mean for your business? “This costs CHF 15,000” sounds clear. But in the end, you pay CHF 22,000. Hidden costs are a common problem when commissioning service providers. This article shows which additional costs typically arise, how to recognise them early, and what fair providers do differently.

The Most Common Hidden Costs

1. Travel Costs and Expenses

What’s often forgotten:

  • Travel costs (km flat rate or public transport)
  • Travel time (often 50–100% of hourly rate)
  • Parking fees
  • Accommodation for multi-day deployments

Example: Website project, 3 on-site meetings:

  • Base: CHF 20,000
  • Travel Zurich-Bern (3× 250 km): CHF 675
  • Travel time (3× 2h @ CHF 75): CHF 450
  • Additional costs: CHF 1,125

How to avoid surprises: Ask: “Are travel costs included in the price?“

2. Licenses and Software

Typical for:

  • Web projects (CMS licenses, plugins)
  • Design (stock photos, fonts)
  • Software development (APIs, libraries)

Example website:

  • Premium theme: CHF 200
  • 5 stock photos: CHF 500
  • Newsletter tool (1 year): CHF 600
  • Additional costs: CHF 1,300

How to avoid surprises: Ask: “Which licenses are additional?“

3. Revisions and Changes

The trap: Offer says “design included,” but only 1 revision round is included.

Typical costs:

  • Revision 2+: CHF 500–2,000 per round
  • Changes after approval: CHF 120–200 per hour

Example: 3 revision rounds instead of 1 = CHF 2,000 additional costs

How to avoid surprises: Ask: “How many revision rounds are included?“

4. Training and Onboarding

Often not included:

  • Team training
  • Documentation
  • Support after go-live

Typical costs:

  • Training: CHF 1,000–3,000
  • Documentation: CHF 500–2,000
  • Support (first 3 months): CHF 1,500–5,000

How to avoid surprises: Ask: “Is training and documentation included?“

5. Materials and Consumables

Typical for:

  • Landscaping (plants, soil, fertilizer)
  • Construction (materials, tools)
  • Remediation (disposal)

The trap: “CHF 5,000 for garden installation” – but plants, soil, and stones cost extra CHF 3,000.

How to avoid surprises: Ask: “Are materials included in the price?“

6. Disposal and Incidentals

Typical for:

  • Asbestos remediation: Disposal costs CHF 400–800 per ton
  • Renovations: Container, disposal
  • Demolition work

Example asbestos remediation:

  • Remediation: CHF 8,000
  • Disposal: CHF 2,400
  • Total: CHF 10,400

How to avoid surprises: Ask: “Are disposal costs included?“

7. Taxes and Fees

What’s often forgotten:

  • VAT (8.1%) isn’t always in quoted price
  • Building permits
  • Fees for certificates

Example: CHF 20,000 offer + 8.1% VAT = CHF 21,620

How to avoid surprises: Ask: “Is VAT included?“

8. Project Extensions

The trap: Project runs longer than planned (for whatever reason).

Typical additional costs:

  • Ongoing hourly rates
  • Opportunity costs (other projects delayed)

How to avoid surprises: Ask: “What happens with delays?”

Industry-Specific Hidden Costs

IT and Web Development

Frequently not in price:

  • Hosting (CHF 20–200 per month)
  • Domain (CHF 15–50 per year)
  • SSL certificate (CHF 0–300 per year)
  • Backup solution (CHF 10–100 per month)
  • Maintenance and updates (CHF 100–500 per month)
  • Content creation (CHF 2,000–10,000)

Total possible additional costs Year 1: CHF 5,000–15,000

Construction and Remediation

Frequently not in price:

  • Building permit (CHF 500–5,000)
  • Disposal (CHF 500–5,000)
  • Unforeseen damage (CHF 1,000–10,000)
  • Scaffolding (CHF 2,000–10,000)
  • Connection work from other trades

Total possible additional costs: CHF 4,000–30,000

Design and Branding

Frequently not in price:

  • Stock photos (CHF 200–2,000)
  • Printing and production (CHF 1,000–10,000)
  • Adaptations for various formats (CHF 500–3,000)
  • Brand guidelines documentation (CHF 1,000–5,000)

Total possible additional costs: CHF 2,700–20,000

Landscaping

Frequently not in price:

  • Plants (CHF 500–5,000)
  • Soil and substrates (CHF 200–2,000)
  • Stones and gravel (CHF 500–5,000)
  • Irrigation system (CHF 2,000–10,000)
  • Disposal of old plants/soil (CHF 200–1,000)

Total possible additional costs: CHF 3,400–23,000

How Fair Providers Create Transparency

1. Detailed Offers

Good offer contains:

  • Line items with prices
  • Clear description of what’s included
  • Explicit exclusion list
  • Flat rates or effort estimates

2. Cost Range for Uncertainty

Example: “Disposal: CHF 1,500–3,000, depending on actual quantity”

3. Change Process

Clear regulation:

  • How are changes communicated?
  • How are additional costs approved?
  • Written confirmation before additional effort

4. Transparent Communication

Proactive:

  • Provider points out possible additional costs
  • No surprises at the end
  • Regular cost updates

Checklist: Ask Before Commissioning

  • Are all travel costs included in price?
  • How many revision rounds are included?
  • Are materials included in price or extra?
  • Are licenses (software, images) included?
  • Is training and documentation included?
  • Is disposal included in price?
  • Is VAT included in quoted price?
  • What does support cost after project completion?
  • Is there a cost ceiling?
  • How are changes billed?

What to Do When Additional Costs Appear?

Before Contract Signing

  • Clarify all ambiguities in writing
  • Demand detailed offer
  • Agree on cost ceiling

During Project

  • Have additional costs confirmed in writing
  • Only approve what’s necessary
  • Keep eye on budget

For Unjustified Costs

  • Check original offer
  • What was agreed?
  • Object in writing if unjustified

Fair vs. Unfair Additional Costs

Fair Additional Costs

Characteristics:

  • Were communicated in advance
  • Are traceable
  • Are industry standard
  • Are proportionate to effort

Example: “Additional page: CHF 500” (when offer states: “Project for 10 pages, each additional CHF 500”)

Unfair Additional Costs

Characteristics:

  • Were not communicated
  • Are excessive
  • Were presented as “included”
  • Serve only the provider

Example: “Coordination effort CHF 2,000” for something that should be self-evident

Uncovering the True Price

Hidden costs are avoidable if you:

  1. Ask the right questions
  2. Demand detailed offers
  3. Clarify exclusions explicitly
  4. Make written agreements

Fair providers are transparent about all costs. If a provider answers evasively or says “we’ll clarify details later,” be cautious.

A higher price with clear scope is cheaper long-term than a low price with many hidden costs.