Accounting and invoicing for scaffolders

Erection and dismantling, hire period, safety nets and weather protection: scaffolders bill erection, standing time in weeks and dismantling separately. Saldiqo shows erection and dismantling as separate lines, creates hire invoices on schedule and shows which scaffolds are still up and not yet paid.

Updated: 16 October 2026

What comes up for scaffolders

Three services in one

Erection, hire and dismantling have separate prices and arise at different times.

Extended standing time

Sites are delayed. Every further week is revenue that keeps running until the scaffold comes down.

Clients are often tradespeople

Roofers, painters and building firms order the scaffold. Reverse charge for construction may apply.

How Saldiqo helps

Erection and dismantling as linesPer square metre or flat fee, with acceptance date.
Hire as a recurring invoiceSaldiqo creates the weekly or monthly hire on schedule until the scaffold is down.
Reverse chargeFor jobs for building firms you choose the tax type reverse charge.
Open scaffolds in viewAfter the bank statement you see which clients have not paid yet.

Typical invoice lines

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

Erect scaffold, 240 square metres of facade
Hire, weeks 3 to 6
Dismantling and removal
Weather protection sheeting, square metres
Safety net, running metres
Stage invoice 50 % on erection

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

Can I bill the standing time automatically?

Yes. A recurring invoice creates the hire on a fixed date. You stop the series on dismantling.

Does the reverse charge apply to scaffolding?

Scaffolding for businesses that provide construction services themselves can count as a construction service. You clear that case by case with your tax adviser.

Do scaffolders 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 scaffolders 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 scaffolders 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.