E-Rechnung StartklarRequest service
For small businesses, trades, agencies and freelancers invoicing in Germany

German e-invoicing set up for 2027, before January gets stressful

Since 2025 every business in Germany must be able to receive e-invoices. From 1 January 2027 businesses with more than €800,000 turnover in the previous year must issue their domestic B2B invoices as e-invoices, everyone else from 2028. E-Rechnung Startklar checks whether and when you are affected, sets up receiving, converts your invoice template to XRechnung or ZUGFeRD and tests both. Paid once, no subscription.

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  • A clear answer on when the issuing obligation applies to you, based on last year's turnover and your customers.
  • Your current invoicing software converted, or a free tool set up when that is enough; we do not sell software.
  • Every test invoice checked with a validator and sent to real recipients before the obligation starts.
No card needed to requestDelivered within 2 business daysPay once, no subscription
Test and handoverTest invoices validated and sent to three of your…
1 Jan 2027

According to the German Finance Ministry's guidance, businesses with more than €800,000 prior-year turnover must issue e-invoices from 1 January 2027, smaller businesses from 1 January 2028.

Source: newsletter.pwc.de
Since 2025

The obligation to be able to receive e-invoices has applied to all businesses since 1 January 2025, with no transition period.

Source: kostenlose-erechnung.de
€250

Exempt from the obligation are, among others, small-amount invoices up to €250 and travel tickets.

Source: kostenlose-erechnung.de
Why now

A PDF by email will soon not count as an invoice, and the switch keeps slipping

Since 1 January 2025 every business in Germany must be able to receive and process e-invoices in XRechnung or ZUGFeRD format. From 1 January 2027 businesses with total turnover above €800,000 in the previous year must also issue their domestic B2B invoices as e-invoices; for smaller businesses the issuing obligation starts on 1 January 2028. A plain PDF is then no longer a valid invoice.

Many small businesses put the switch off because it is unclear what exactly to do: is the current program enough, is a new one needed, how does an XRechnung get from the inbox into the books, and how do you even read one? Discovering in the first week of January that customers reject your invoices means waiting for your money.

E-Rechnung Startklar does the setup in two business days for a fixed price. We are not a software vendor and take no commission: we use what you already have and recommend free tools where they are enough. We work in English or German, which helps foreign companies with a German entity.

Without it

  • Switching on your own: Free: there are guides, free creation and viewing tools and validation portals, mostly in German. Allow several hours…
  • New invoicing software: Many programs now produce e-invoices out of the box. If yours does, we tell you straight away. Switching only makes…
  • Your tax adviser: The right choice if your adviser offers the setup and has time before year end. Many are fully booked right now; we…

With E-Rechnung Startklar

  • A clear answer on when the issuing obligation applies to you, based on last year's turnover and your customers.
  • Your current invoicing software converted, or a free tool set up when that is enough; we do not sell software.
  • Every test invoice checked with a validator and sent to real recipients before the obligation starts.
  • Obligation check
  • Receiving set up
How it works

How it works

  1. 1

    Short questionnaire

    Legal form, last year's turnover, invoicing software, who does your bookkeeping, how many invoices you issue and receive per month, and whether you have public-sector customers. Five minutes.

  2. 2

    Check and plan

    Within one business day: when the issuing obligation applies to you, whether your software can produce e-invoices, and which steps are needed. You approve the plan.

  3. 3

    Setup over screen share

    Receiving inbox and an XRechnung viewer, forwarding to your bookkeeper or tax adviser, invoice template converted to ZUGFeRD or XRechnung. You stay logged in; we guide.

  4. 4

    Test and handover

    Test invoices validated and sent to three of your customers, a test e-invoice received and filed, plus a one-page summary for your records.

What it does

Features

Obligation check

Whether and when the issuing obligation applies to you, based on prior-year turnover, with notes on exemptions such as small-amount invoices and consumer sales. In writing, for your files.

Receiving set up

A fixed address for incoming e-invoices, a viewer that makes XRechnung files readable, and automatic forwarding to your bookkeeper or tax adviser.

Invoice template converted

Your current software switched to ZUGFeRD or XRechnung with every mandatory field in the right place. If it cannot do it, we set up a free or low-cost tool.

Every template validated

Each test invoice checked with a recognised validator. Errors are fixed before a real invoice goes out.

Customer file prepared

Invoice email addresses and, for public-sector customers, Leitweg-IDs added to your customer records so invoices reach the right recipient (Ready for 2027 plan).

Compliant archiving

Setup and guidance so incoming and outgoing e-invoices are kept unaltered in their original format under German bookkeeping rules (GoBD), not only as printed PDFs.

One-page summary

What was set up, where invoices arrive, who receives them and what applies from when. For you, your team and your tax adviser.

A look inside

A look inside

What you get: the working view and the delivery report.

The working viewWithin one business day: when the issuing obligation applies to you, whether your software can produce e-invoices, and which steps are…
Your delivery reportWe confirm your request within one business day; most businesses are ready after one appointment.
Built for

Who it's for

Foreign companies with a German entity

A German GmbH or branch run from abroad, where German-language guidance and tax-adviser queues slow everything down. We work in English.

Trades and small limited companies

Invoices from Word, Excel or an older program, many business customers, and no patience for format debates.

Agencies, consultants and freelancers

Customers already asking for e-invoices, and the question of whether the obligation starts in 2027 or 2028.

Tax advisers and bookkeeping services

Several clients switched at once on the Tax office plan, with an overview of who is ready.

Works with

Plans

Pricing

One-time prices per business, paid once after we confirm by email. No subscription and no commission on software: if a recommended program is paid, you pay its provider directly. Prices exclude VAT. Founding customer pricing applies to early-access orders.

Check & receive

€29 one-time

Clarity and compliant receiving

  • Written obligation check
  • Receiving address and viewer
  • Forwarding to your bookkeeper
  • Test e-invoice received
  • Summary
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Recommended

Ready for 2027

€79 one-time

Receive and issue, tested before the deadline

  • Everything in Check & receive
  • Invoice template in ZUGFeRD or XRechnung
  • Every template validated
  • Test invoices sent to 3 of your customers
  • Customer file with invoice addresses and Leitweg-IDs (up to 100)
  • Compliant archiving set up
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Tax office

€249 one-time

Tax advisers and groups of companies

  • Up to 5 clients (€45 per extra client)
  • Everything in Ready for 2027 for each client
  • Appointments booked directly with clients
  • Readiness overview
  • Priority slots before year end
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Compared with the alternatives

Switching on your own
Free: there are guides, free creation and viewing tools and validation portals, mostly in German. Allow several hours for research, setup and testing; E-Rechnung Startklar shortens it to one appointment.
New invoicing software
Many programs now produce e-invoices out of the box. If yours does, we tell you straight away. Switching only makes sense when the current program cannot do it.
Your tax adviser
The right choice if your adviser offers the setup and has time before year end. Many are fully booked right now; we also work on behalf of tax advisers.

What changed

  • According to the German Finance Ministry's guidance, businesses with more than €800,000 prior-year turnover must issue e-invoices from 1 January 2027, smaller businesses from 1 January 2028. Source: newsletter.pwc.de
  • The obligation to be able to receive e-invoices has applied to all businesses since 1 January 2025, with no transition period. Source: kostenlose-erechnung.de
  • Exempt from the obligation are, among others, small-amount invoices up to €250 and travel tickets. Source: kostenlose-erechnung.de
Getting started

From request to ready

We confirm your request within one business day; most businesses are ready after one appointment.

  1. Day 1: You fill in the 5-minute questionnaire; we confirm the price by email.
  2. Day 2: Obligation check and plan; you approve.
  3. Day 2–3: Setup over screen share, validation and test sends.
  4. Day 3: Summary for your records and your tax adviser.

Security and data

  • We store no passwords: logins are done by you over screen share or with temporary access you delete afterwards.
  • Invoices run only through your own software and mailboxes; after the setup we have no access.
  • Questionnaire details are stored encrypted and deleted 90 days after completion, or sooner on request.
  • Only the people working on your order can access it, and every access is logged.

Questions

When do I have to issue e-invoices?

From 1 January 2027 if your total turnover in the previous year was above €800,000, otherwise from 1 January 2028. You have had to be able to receive e-invoices since 1 January 2025. The obligation covers domestic invoices between businesses.

I am a small business under the German small-business VAT scheme. Does this apply?

Small businesses must still be able to receive e-invoices. Exemptions apply to issuing for businesses under the small-business scheme; if in doubt, have your tax adviser confirm your case. We set up receiving either way.

Is a PDF no longer enough?

A plain PDF is not an e-invoice. Structured formats such as XRechnung or ZUGFeRD are required; with ZUGFeRD the structured invoice is embedded in a PDF that people can still read.

Do I need to buy new software?

Usually not. Many programs already produce e-invoices, and free tools exist for low volumes. We only recommend a switch when there is no other way, and we take no commission.

Do you need my login details?

No. We work over screen share while you are logged in, or with temporary access you delete afterwards.

How long does it take?

You get the check and plan within one business day; the setup is usually one 60 to 90 minute appointment within two business days.

Is this tax advice?

No. E-Rechnung Startklar is a technical setup service. Tax questions about your business belong with your tax adviser.

Ready when you are

Tell us about your setup. We confirm by email and get you running within 2 business days.

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