Taxes
Collecting and keeping business records in Germany without chaos
A practical German guide to receipts, e-invoices, GoBD, retention periods and an orderly filing routine.
Guide
Practical guides for self-employed professionals in Germany.
Quotes
Quote and invoice in Germany: what is the difference?
A quote proposes work and terms; an invoice bills for a supply or service. Learn when a contract forms, what an invoice needs and the German e-invoice rules.
Business and costs
High fuel prices: what self-employed people can do now
Rising fuel costs squeeze mobile businesses. Learn how to plan trips, keep fuel receipts and price customer travel into your work.
Office organisation
Digital office software for small businesses: Which features really help?
A practical way to assess quotes, e-invoices, payment reconciliation, records, privacy and exports for a small business operating in Germany.
Taxes
Business expenses: what self-employed people should document
A guide to German business expenses: eligible costs, proof, private use, input VAT and how long to keep records.
Invoices
Writing an invoice in Germany: required details explained
What must a German invoice contain in 2026? A practical checklist covering the €250 rule, small-business exemption and e-invoice deadlines.
Taxes
German GoBD explained: practical record-keeping for small businesses
A practical guide to German GoBD: records, e-invoices, corrections, process documentation and current retention periods for small businesses.
Taxes
Missed a deadline with the German tax office? What to do
What to do after missing a German tax filing, payment or objection deadline: the correct remedy, key time limits and a practical checklist.
Office organisation
Weekly planning for self-employed people: method and checklist
Plan deadlines, priorities, work blocks and buffers in six steps, with a practical service-provider example and checklist.
Quotes
Writing a quote in Germany: structure, wording and mistakes
How do you write a clear and practical quote in Germany? Binding effect, B2B/B2C prices, wording, checklist and common mistakes.
Invoices
Invoicing German public authorities: what matters for XRechnung
Create an XRechnung for a German authority: Leitweg-ID, mandatory fields, OZG-RE, validation, submission, rejection and retention.
Office organisation
Organising documents digitally: receipts, invoices, contracts and authority letters
A practical German filing system for accounting documents, invoices, contracts and authority letters, including retention, e-invoicing, GDPR and a checklist.
Taxes
German EÜR explained: income, expenses and filing
What is Germany’s EÜR, who may use it, and how are income, expenses, VAT and depreciation handled? An official-source-based step-by-step guide.
Invoices
XRechnung and ZUGFeRD explained simply
Understand XRechnung and ZUGFeRD: differences, current versions, profiles, German B2B and B2G rules, validation and retention.
Taxes
German VAT for self-employed people, simply explained
How German VAT, input tax, the small-business scheme, advance returns and e‑invoices work, including the current thresholds and deadlines.
Invoices
E-invoicing in Germany: What small businesses should prepare now
Since 2025, businesses must be able to receive e-invoices. Understand the 2026 deadlines, exceptions, formats and practical preparation steps.
Taxes
Year-end accounts for German sole proprietors: EÜR or balance sheet?
When is an EÜR enough? German bookkeeping duties, tax returns, deadlines and a practical founder checklist.
Invoices
Cash-register receipt, payment receipt or invoice: what is the difference?
What does each German business document prove? Understand the €250 rule, invoice particulars, 2026 E-invoicing transition and eight-year retention.
Taxes
ELSTER for Self-Employed People: A Simple Getting-Started Guide
ELSTER is the online portal of the German tax administration. Self-employed people use it to apply for a tax number, submit tax data electronically, and send important forms to the tax office.
Invoices
What to do when a customer does not pay
A clear process for overdue invoices: verify when payment is due, send a written demand, assess default and interest correctly, and act in time.
Multilingual resources
50 Essential German Terms for Self-Employed People, Explained
Learn 50 essential German terms for self-employed people, with clear English explanations of tax, invoicing, business and bureaucracy.
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