Accounting and invoicing for carpentry firms

Roof truss, timber frame, carport, extension: carpentry firms tie large amounts of timber and hours to a job and bill in stages. Saldiqo issues stage invoices on timber order and fitting, runs the final invoice and assigns timber and crane invoices to the job.

Updated: 16 October 2026

What comes up for carpentry firms

High material value

Structural timber, insulation and fittings make up a large part of the price and have to be pre-financed.

Crane and third-party services

Crane, structural design and scaffolding come from third parties and are often re-invoiced.

Fitting time

Fitting at height, weather and dates make effort hard to predict, so exact time tracking is useful.

How Saldiqo helps

Stage invoices on timber order and fittingQuote, stage invoices by section, final invoice.
Re-invoice third-party servicesRecord crane, design and scaffolding as expenses and re-invoice them.
Time trackingRecord fitting time per job and evaluate it.
Cost centre per projectEvaluate material, time and invoices per project.

Typical invoice lines

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

Roof truss cutting and raising, flat fee
Timber frame wall, square metres
Crane use re-invoiced as per receipt
Fitting, hour
Structural timber as per delivery note
Stage invoice 30 % on timber 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

How do I pre-finance timber purchases?

With a stage invoice on timber order, straight from the quote.

Can I re-invoice crane and design?

Yes. You record the invoice as an expense with the job’s cost centre and re-invoice it as a line.

Do carpentry firms 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 carpentry firms 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 carpentry firms 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.