E-Invoicing: You Don't Need Your Accountant's Software

The Freedom to Choose Your E-Invoicing Solution

With Germany's e-invoicing obligation taking effect in 2025 under the Wachstumschancengesetz (Growth Opportunities Act), many accountants and tax advisors are recommending specific software to their clients. While their intentions may be good, it is important to understand one fundamental truth: you have the freedom to choose.

Peppol is an open, interoperable network. Any certified software can communicate with any other certified solution. This is the foundational principle of electronic invoicing in Europe, and it applies fully here.

Whether your accountant uses a popular tax platform, a cloud-based management tool, or any other system, you are not obligated to use the same platform. Your e-invoices will reach them regardless of which tool you use, as long as both solutions comply with the EN 16931 standard.

Why Your Accountant Recommends a Specific Software

Tax advisors often suggest a particular e-invoicing solution for understandable reasons:

• They are already familiar with the system and its workflows
• It simplifies their own internal processes
• Some vendors offer referral commissions or partnership agreements
• They prefer a unified ecosystem for all their clients

These reasons make sense from the accountant's perspective, but they do not necessarily align with what is best for your business. Your needs as a business owner are different from those of a tax professional.

Common Problems with Imposed Software

Complicated User Interfaces

Many accounting platforms are built for bookkeepers and tax professionals, not for entrepreneurs. The interfaces are cluttered with features you will never need, making simple tasks like sending or receiving an invoice unnecessarily complex. As a business owner, you need a tool that is intuitive and efficient.

Hidden Costs

Some providers attract customers with low introductory prices, but the real costs emerge later:

• Per-invoice fees that add up quickly
• Limited monthly quotas with expensive overages
• Essential features locked behind premium tiers
• Price increases after the initial contract period
• Exit fees or data migration charges

Lack of Responsive Support

Large platforms serve thousands of customers with minimal support teams. When you encounter a problem during tax season or a critical deadline, you may wait days or even weeks for meaningful assistance. For a small or medium-sized business, this can be a serious operational risk.

Vendor Lock-In

Once you commit to a platform, switching can be difficult. Your data, workflows, and integrations become tied to one vendor. This dependency gives the provider leverage to increase prices or reduce service quality without consequence.

The Alternative: Peppol Box + Flexina Sync

With Peppol Box, you maintain your independence while staying fully compliant with local e-invoicing regulations:

• Simple interface - works like an email inbox, no accounting knowledge required
• Transparent pricing - starting from €5/month with no hidden fees
• All formats supported - XRechnung, ZUGFeRD 2.x, UBL, and more
• Responsive support - real people who answer your questions promptly
• Secure European hosting - your invoices are stored with encryption in Europe, GDPR-compliant

Your Accountant Gets Everything Automatically

Flexina Sync is a free tool that lets your accountant automatically retrieve your invoices from Peppol Box. It is 100% free for your accountant and works with four retrieval methods:

• Accounting software export - direct import into your tax advisor's preferred platform, including all popular domestic solutions
• Email forwarding - automatic dispatch of invoices to your accountant's inbox
• Download portal - centralized access for your tax advisor
• Folder synchronization - automatic delivery to designated folders

Your accountant does not need to learn any new software. You do not need to use their software. Everyone wins.

How It Works in Practice

1. You use Peppol Box to send and receive your e-invoices
2. Invoices are securely stored in your encrypted European-hosted account
3. Flexina Sync transfers everything to your accountant in their preferred format
4. Your accountant imports the data into whichever accounting software they use

No manual handovers. No spreadsheets. No lost receipts. The entire process is automated and reliable.

Paper Receipts? Flexina Scan Has You Covered

Not all your documents are digital yet. For paper invoices and receipts, the free Flexina Scan app provides a simple solution:

• Scan receipts and invoices with your smartphone camera
• Automatic upload to your Peppol Box account
• Everything in one place for your accountant
• Available on both iOS and Android

Your Choice, Your Freedom

The e-invoicing obligation is an opportunity to modernize your business processes. It should not force you into expensive or complicated software that does not serve your needs.

With Peppol Box, you get:

• Full control over your invoicing process
• Transparent pricing starting from €5/month
• Automatic delivery to your accountant at no extra cost
• Compatibility with all major accounting programs on the market
• Compliance with XRechnung, ZUGFeRD, and EN 16931 standards