Accounting and invoicing for ice cream parlours

Summer season, scoops at the counter, ice cream cakes to order, delivery to cafés: an ice cream parlour earns the money for the whole year in a few months. Saldiqo writes invoices for cakes, catering and bulk buyers, records milk, sugar and cones and shows how the season went.

Updated: 16 October 2026

What comes up for ice cream parlours

Two months for twelve

Most of the turnover falls into the warm months. Winter is time for order and planning.

Cakes and catering

Ice cream cakes and ice cream catering are pre-ordered. A deposit secures date and purchase.

Supply

Cafés, hotels and restaurants buy ice cream in tubs and want an invoice with a delivery note.

How Saldiqo helps

Quote and depositCake or catering as a quote, deposit invoice, final invoice.
Delivery note and invoiceFor bulk buyers delivery note and invoice from the same job.
Season in viewReport per period and cost centre.
Capture receiptsMilk, sugar, cones and packaging by phone photo.

Typical invoice lines

Examples that often appear on invoices in this industry. You set the prices yourself.

Ice cream cake, 12 people, as requested
Ice cream catering for a wedding, 80 people
Delivery of ice cream tubs, 5 litres, as per delivery note
Cones and accessories as per receipt
Deposit for transport tubs
Deposit 30 % on order

Tax and invoicing in Germany

What applies to invoices in Germany, in short. As of October 2026.

VAT: Standard rate 19 %, reduced rate 7 %. Which rate applies to which supply depends on the case. Saldiqo calculates each invoice line with the rate you pick.
Small business scheme: Under section 19 of the VAT Act (UStG) you charge no VAT as long as your turnover was at most €25,000 last year and is at most €100,000 this year. Saldiqo shows how much room is left and adds the note to your invoice.
Mandatory details: Under section 14 UStG every invoice shows a tax number or VAT ID, a consecutive invoice number, the date of supply and the recipient. Saldiqo checks this before you finalise an invoice. Small invoices up to €250 gross need fewer details.
E-invoicing: All businesses have had to be able to receive e-invoices since 1 January 2025. Issuing becomes mandatory from 2027 if last year’s turnover was above €800,000, and from 2028 for domestic business-to-business sales in all cases. Small businesses under section 19 are exempt. Saldiqo creates XRechnung and ZUGFeRD.
VAT return: The advance VAT return goes to the tax office through ELSTER, by the 10th after the end of the period. You file monthly if last year’s VAT was above €9,000 and quarterly above €2,000. Saldiqo provides the figures; you file in ELSTER or through your tax adviser.
Record keeping: Keep invoices and accounting vouchers for 8 years, books for 10 years and business letters for 6 years. The period starts at the end of the calendar year.
Late payment: In the second half of 2026 the default interest rate is 10.52 % between businesses and 6.52 % towards consumers, plus a €40 flat fee that applies to businesses only. Saldiqo has reminder levels with deadlines and fees.
Getting paid: Every invoice carries a GiroCode (EPC QR) that customers scan with their banking app. You match payments by uploading the bank statement as CSV or CAMT.
Tax adviser: Cash-basis profit calculation (EÜR), a DATEV export and a separate login for your tax adviser are built in.

Frequently asked questions

Does Saldiqo replace the till?

No. Saldiqo is not a till system. Sales at the counter belong in a till that meets the rules of your country.

Can I compare season and off-season?

Yes. The report shows income and expenses per period.

Do ice cream parlours in Germany have to charge VAT?

Yes, unless they qualify as small businesses under section 19 UStG. That applies when turnover was at most €25,000 last year and is at most €100,000 this year. The limit is hard: VAT is due on the sale that takes you over it.

Do ice cream parlours in Germany need e-invoicing?

Every business must be able to receive e-invoices since 2025. Issuing is mandatory from 2027 if last year’s turnover was above €800,000, and from 2028 for domestic business-to-business sales in general. Small businesses, invoices up to €250 and tickets are exempt. Private customers still get a normal invoice.

How long do ice cream parlours have to keep invoices?

Invoices and vouchers for 8 years, books for 10 years and business letters for 6 years, counted from the end of the calendar year. You can store receipts digitally in Saldiqo. The legal duty to keep records and to document your procedures stays with you.

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As of October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice, without guarantee. For your case ask your tax adviser.