Office clearance costs depend on floor area, IT share and disposal effort – not invented per-desk flat rates. This guide explains what office clearance covers, gives soft CHF orientation within this site's disposal band, outlines process and data protection for files and hard drives, and helps with broom-clean handback to the landlord.
What counts as office clearance?
Office clearance means emptying business premises on move-out, relocation or business closure: office furniture, IT equipment, files, kitchen and break-room inventory. Unlike an ongoing office move, the aim is not to rebuild everything at a new site but to leave the old space empty and hand it back broom-clean to the landlord.
- Furniture: desks, chairs, shelving, meeting tables, partition walls.
- IT: computers, monitors, servers, printers – data protection and proper disposal matter.
- Files: check retention duties under Swiss law and sector rules before destroying anything.
- Kitchen/break room: empty fridge, crockery, coffee machines.
- Decoration, carpets, stored materials and leftover stock.
If you are planning a strategic relocation rather than only clearing out, see the guide Planning an office move. For the wider business move picture, see Planning a business relocation.
Office clearance costs: orientation by area and scope
Office clearance costs cannot be usefully shown as flat per-desk prices – volume, IT share, floors, special waste and night or weekend work drive the quote. On this site, disposal and clearance sit in a CHF 200–1,500 band; small office clearances may fall within it, while larger spaces with IT disposal and file shredding often sit above.
Orientation: office clearance by size (soft bands)
| Scope | Guide price (CHF) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Small office / up to ca. 50 m² | ca. 800–1,500 | Upper part of the clearance band |
| Medium office / ca. 50–150 m² | individual quote | IT, files and floors decide |
| Large office / 150 m²+ | individual quote | Often several days; night work possible |
| IT disposal / file shredding only | quote separately | Clarify data protection and proof |
<!-- VERIFY --> Small-office bands derive from this site's CHF 200–1,500 disposal/clearance range; medium and large spaces often exceed it clearly. There are no binding unit prices on the business move and office move pillar pages – get an individual offer after a walk-through.
Professional office clearance coordinates disposal, recycling and broom-clean handover from one provider. For pure disposal services, see also Disposal.
Process and timeline
- Inventory: what stays, what moves with you, what is disposed of?
- Disposal plan: e-waste, file shredding, furniture, leftover stock.
- Scheduling: often outside office hours or at weekends.
- Execution: dismantling, removal, disposal, cleaning to broom-clean if agreed.
- Handback to landlord with protocol and photo documentation.
IT shutdown and server room clearance should be aligned early with IT – not left to the last day. Plan notice periods for phone, internet and utilities in parallel with the clearance date.
Handback to the landlord
The lease defines the condition in which the space must be returned. Broom-clean is the usual standard: empty, no rubbish, no major dirt – not a full refurbishment. Document damage to walls, floors or fittings before handover and clarify with the landlord if needed.
- Hand over keys and access cards together.
- Photos of empty rooms for your records.
- Protocol with landlord or caretaker – date and signature.
- Settle open bills (power, service charges) up to handover day.
Data protection: disposing of hard drives and files properly
During office clearance, data must not end up unchecked in a container on hard drives, USB sticks or paper files. Businesses fall under data protection law (FADP) and sector-specific retention periods. Hard drives should be certified destroyed or wiped; files via a recognised shredding service.
- Inventory all IT devices with serial numbers before disposal.
- Back up critical data before deletion – if still needed.
- Request destruction certificates for files and media.
- No employee or customer data in general waste containers.
Further links: Office clearance, Planning an office move, Planning a business relocation, Disposal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can office clearance happen outside office hours?
Yes – that is common so day-to-day operations are not disrupted. Night and weekend slots are possible but may be reflected in the quote. Plan access, keys and lift booking early with the building owner.
What does office clearance cost per square metre?
Flat CHF prices per m² are rarely meaningful because furniture density, IT and access vary widely. Small offices up to ca. 50 m² often orient around CHF 800–1,500; larger spaces need an individual quote after inspection.
Who is responsible for file shredding?
The business as data owner – not the disposal provider alone. Use a supplier with destruction proof and document which files and media were destroyed when. Observe retention duties under Swiss law.
Do I have to dismantle furniture myself?
That depends on the quote. Many clearance firms handle dismantling and removal. Clarify upfront whether partition walls, fitted furniture or kitchen units are included or billed separately.
What is the difference between office clearance and an office move?
In an office move, inventory goes to a new site and is set up again. Office clearance empties the old space and returns it to the landlord – focused on disposal, data protection and broom-clean handover, not transport to a successor site.