We have investigated the magnetic properties of submicron soft magnetic cylindrical nanodots using an analytical model as well as three dimensional numerical finite element simulations. A detailed comparison of the magnetic vortex state shows the differences between these two models. It appears that the magnetic surface charges play a crucial role in the equilibrium magnetization distribution especially for shifted vortices. In addition magnetic volume charges, which arise from a radial component of the magnetization, have been found. Finally, the magnetic phase diagram for soft magnetic particles with varying aspect ratio is presented.