How it works

Helfa connects private individuals who need a hand with independent people who offer their services, anywhere in Switzerland. We don’t do the work ourselves and we’re neither an agency nor an employer. The contract is made directly between you and the provider.

A job is the request a client posts: what they want done, where and by when. A reply is the price proposal a provider sends to that job; it costs the provider one credit. A listing is a provider’s page describing a service and its rate: you can write to them directly from there.

For clients, nothing: posting, receiving replies, chatting and choosing are free. Providers buy credit packs (from CHF 9.90 for 5 credits) and get 3 free credits at sign-up. Helfa takes no commission on the job price.

You pay the provider directly, at the time and by the means you agree between you: cash, TWINT or bank transfer. Helfa never touches this money and doesn’t guarantee it.

Other members see your first name, the initial of your surname and your town. Your exact address is only shown to the provider you chose; your phone and email are never published. Your full name appears only in the job agreement signed with the chosen provider. You can download or delete your data from My profile.

Helfa exists in French, German, Italian and English. Switch language at the bottom of the page or in the menu; your choice is remembered. Legal documents are currently available in French only.

Click “Post a job”, describe the work, the town, the preferred date and, if you like, a price or a budget. Your email or phone must be confirmed. The job stays visible for 30 days and you can edit or cancel it at any time from its page.

Read the reviews: they can only be left after a job actually completed on Helfa. The “Verified” badge means we checked an identity document, not the quality of the work. Ask your questions in the chat before choosing: what the price includes, insurance, equipment.

The other replies are declined and their authors notified. A job agreement is created: it records the job, the price and the date. You accept it by choosing the provider, they sign it with one click. You can print it from the job page.

When the work is done, the provider marks it finished and you get a notification. You confirm by leaving a rating and a comment: this review is mandatory and public. Three days after the provider marks the job finished, you can’t post a new job until this one is closed.

Most jobs get replies within hours, sometimes a day or two. If nothing comes, refine your description, add a budget or write directly to a provider from the Providers page. Without a chosen provider, the job closes after 30 days; you can repost it.

Talk to the provider first in the chat, then say it in your review. The provider is liable for damage they cause; ask before the job whether they have liability insurance, and check what your own household insurance covers. In a serious dispute, write to us: we can offer mediation, but Helfa isn’t a party to the contract.

Yes, from the job page, as long as the provider hasn’t marked the work finished. If no provider has been chosen yet, those who replied get their credit back. If a provider is already chosen, let them know first in the chat.

For weekly cleaning or regular care, the law may consider you an employer, with AHV/AVS contributions to pay. Your canton’s service-voucher scheme, where it exists, simplifies this. Read our guide on home cleaning help before you start.

Create an account choosing “offer my services”, or tick “I offer my services” in My profile if you already have one. Complete your introduction, languages and town: you get 3 free credits, then 2 more for a complete profile. You can also publish up to 3 listings to be contacted directly.

Open a job, state your price and write a message presenting your experience and what’s included. Each reply uses one credit from your balance; replying to a client who wrote to you from your listing is free. The chat with the client opens right away.

The client gets a reminder after 5 days. If the job is cancelled, if the client declines your reply, or if it expires after 30 days without a decision, your credit is returned automatically. If you withdraw your reply yourself, the credit stays used.

Packs range from 5 to 40 credits, with no expiry as long as your account exists. You earn one credit for every job closed with 4 stars or more, and 3 credits per referred colleague on their first purchase. An unused pack can be cancelled within 14 days; credits aren’t refundable in cash.

When the work is done, click “Mark the job as finished” on the job page. The client confirms by reviewing you; you can then review the client and reply publicly to their review. The chat is deleted at closing, so note what you need beforehand.

No, you work as a self-employed person: you set your prices, register with the AHV/AVS and declare your income yourself. You need a valid permit for self-employment in Switzerland. We recommend professional liability insurance. Our guide “Becoming an independent provider” details the steps.