Accounting and invoicing for painters and decorators

Facade, interior painting, wallpapering and varnishing: a painting firm bills by area and hours and supplies material. Saldiqo writes quotes by square metre, issues stage invoices on longer jobs and records paint and material as expenses.

Updated: 16 October 2026

What comes up for painters and decorators

Price by area and effort

Square metres, hours, scaffolding and material: a quote is made of many small numbers that return on the invoice.

Property managers and housing companies

Large clients commission many single jobs and pay on terms, often after inspection.

Private customers who want instalments

On larger jobs private customers like part payments, which should be documented cleanly.

How Saldiqo helps

Quote by areaSquare metre prices and flat fees as items, quantity per job.
Stage and final invoicePart payments from the quote, final invoice deducts them.
Regulars with payment termsProperty managers as contacts with their own payment term and reminders.
Record materialPaint and accessories by phone photo as expenses with a cost centre per job.

Typical invoice lines

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

Interior painting, 85 square metres, two coats
Facade painting including preparation
Wallpapering, woodchip
Scaffolding re-invoiced as per receipt
Paint and material as per delivery note
Stage invoice 30 % at start of work

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.

For painters and decorators in Germany

For work for private persons, customers can claim part of the labour costs for tax if material and labour appear separately on the invoice. In Saldiqo you separate both as lines.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bill by square metre?

Yes. You create the square metre price as an item and enter the quantity per job.

How do I bill property managers?

You create them as contacts, set a payment term and send reminders when they are late.

Do painters and decorators 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 painters and decorators 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 painters and decorators 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.