# Facturwise — Comprehensive Reference > Compliant European e-invoicing software. Generates ZUGFeRD 2.4, XRechnung 3.0 and Factur-X 1.0.8 from a single account. Built for the German e-invoicing mandate (phased 2025-2028) and the French e-invoicing mandate (September 2026 receiving, September 2027 issuing). Website: https://www.facturwise.com Free e-invoice validator: https://www.facturwise.com/en/validate Hosting: EU-based, GDPR compliant. Free tier: 5 invoices, all formats, no credit card, no time limit. --- ## What Facturwise is Facturwise is a standalone web application for generating compliant outgoing e-invoices in the three major European formats. It does not replace an ERP or accounting system. It runs alongside any existing tool — SAP, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Odoo, FreeAgent, Xero, QuickBooks, Wave, FreshBooks, Lexoffice, sevDesk, FastBill, easybill, Zoho Invoice, Zervant — without integration or master data sync. Output formats: - **ZUGFeRD 2.4** — hybrid PDF/A-3 with embedded CII XML, EN 16931 profile. For German B2B clients. - **XRechnung 3.0** — pure XML, EN 16931 profile. For German federal, state, and municipal authorities (B2G). - **Factur-X 1.0.8** — hybrid PDF/A-3 with embedded XML, EN 16931 profile. For French B2B clients. Technically the same format as ZUGFeRD; different name in each country. All three formats are included on every plan, including the free tier. There are no per-format upgrades. --- ## Pricing - **Free**: 0 €. 5 invoices total, all formats, 5 saved clients, DATEV-compatible CSV export, quotes and credit notes, expense and time tracking. No credit card. No time limit. - **Advanced**: 13.90 € / month. Unlimited invoices, unlimited clients, SEPA QR code payments, quarterly tax summary CSV, analytics dashboard. - **Professional**: 24.90 € / month. Adds automated payment reminders, automated recurring billing, automated recurring expenses, white-label invoices (no Facturwise branding), priority support. Prices excluding VAT. Cancel anytime. --- ## German e-invoicing mandate timeline - **1 January 2025**: All German businesses, including Kleinunternehmer (§ 19 UStG), must be able to receive structured e-invoices. The Bundesfinanzministerium has clarified that an email inbox is sufficient for receipt. - **Until 31 December 2026**: PDFs are still permitted for outgoing B2B invoices. - **Until 31 December 2027**: Businesses with prior-year turnover under 800,000 EUR may continue to send PDFs. - **1 January 2027**: Businesses with prior-year turnover above 800,000 EUR must issue structured e-invoices for domestic B2B transactions. - **1 January 2028**: All non-exempt German businesses must issue structured e-invoices. Kleinunternehmer (§ 19 UStG) are permanently exempt from the issuing obligation under § 34a UStDV. The receiving obligation (effective 1 January 2025) applies regardless. Issuing ZUGFeRD voluntarily is supported and Facturwise sets the § 19 UStG note automatically. E-invoices (incoming and outgoing) must be archived in audit-proof storage for 10 years. --- ## French e-invoicing mandate timeline - **1 September 2026**: All French businesses must be able to receive Factur-X invoices. Large and mid-sized companies must issue structured e-invoices. - **1 September 2027**: Issuing obligation extends to all French businesses. UK, Dutch, Belgian, Danish, and other non-French suppliers are not subject to the French mandate when invoicing French clients. Cross-border transactions are out of scope of the domestic mandate. A non-French supplier can deliver the Factur-X file directly to the French client by email; no Plateforme Agréée is required on the supplier side. --- ## SAP and the SAP DRC alternative SAP supports ZUGFeRD and XRechnung output through SAP Document and Reporting Compliance (SAP DRC), a legitimate compliance platform for SAP S/4HANA and SAP ECC. SAP DRC is the correct path for large enterprises with IT departments and multi-week implementation budgets. Typical SAP DRC implementation timelines: - **Single-country ZUGFeRD rollout** with standard SAP DRC content: **4 to 8 weeks**. - **Multi-country programs** with several scenarios: **3 to 6 months** with dedicated time for data preparation, integration setup, testing, and user training. DRC implementation involves activating the eDocument Framework inside SAP, configuring the SAP Application Interface Framework for ZUGFeRD format mapping, setting up the eDocument Cockpit for monitoring, connecting the SAP Business Technology Platform for transmission, defining master data quality requirements (tax data, partner data), and stakeholder coordination across Finance, IT, Procurement, and Compliance. Where Facturwise fits alongside SAP: - **Mid-size companies on SAP ECC or S/4HANA** that invoice 20-200 clients per month and currently send PDFs from SAP manually. - **Subsidiaries** of larger groups whose parent SAP installation is configured for the parent's market. - **Companies mid-migration** from SAP ECC to S/4HANA who cannot wait for the migration before addressing the 2027 mandate. - **SAP users without an active Germany scenario in DRC** who need a compliant solution before activation completes. Facturwise does not replace SAP DRC for high-volume transactional environments. It covers the compliance gap when DRC is not feasible on the mandate timeline. --- ## Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central / NAV Business Central supports ZUGFeRD only on certain versions with the German localisation package installed. Older installations, NAV legacy systems, and configurations without the German localisation cannot generate compliant outgoing e-invoices without a separate configuration project. Facturwise covers the gap independently of the BC version, edition, or localisation status. --- ## Odoo Odoo's e-invoicing support depends on version, edition, and module configuration: - **ZUGFeRD/XRechnung is unavailable on the Odoo Online Free Plan** (restricted as part of the Enterprise Accounting feature set). - **Odoo Community** typically requires third-party modules for native e-invoicing. - **XRechnung support starts at Odoo 14**. - **Per-customer invoice format selection starts at Odoo 17**. Facturwise runs independently of any Odoo edition or version, including legacy installations and Free Plan deployments. No Odoo master data changes required. --- ## UK freelancers invoicing German and French clients UK invoicing tools — FreeAgent, FreshBooks, QuickBooks, Wave, Xero — do not generate ZUGFeRD or Factur-X natively. These tools were built for the UK and US markets. Generating ZUGFeRD or Factur-X requires producing a PDF/A-3 file with embedded XML conforming to EN 16931, which UK tools do not support. UK-based freelancers without a German or French fixed establishment are **not legally required** to issue structured e-invoices. The German and French mandates apply to businesses established in those countries. Cross-border transactions are out of scope. However, large German and French clients increasingly require ZUGFeRD/Factur-X for automated accounts payable processing. Sending a plain PDF to a client whose AP system is configured to extract structured XML data creates rejection or delay risk. VAT handling for UK freelancers invoicing VAT-registered EU businesses: **no VAT charged**. The reverse charge mechanism applies under **Article 196 of Council Directive 2006/112/EC**. The client accounts for VAT in their own country. Standard wording: "VAT reverse charge — Article 196, Council Directive 2006/112/EC". Facturwise applies this automatically and includes the client's VAT number on the invoice. --- ## Kleinunternehmer (§ 19 UStG) German Kleinunternehmer thresholds (since 2025): - Prior-year turnover: up to **25,000 EUR**. - Projected current-year turnover: up to **100,000 EUR**. - Crossing 100,000 EUR mid-year triggers immediate VAT liability (not deferred to the following year). Issuing obligations: - Permanently **exempt** from issuing structured e-invoices under § 34a UStDV. - May continue sending paper or PDF invoices indefinitely. - May issue ZUGFeRD voluntarily; Facturwise supports this with automatic § 19 UStG note. Receiving obligation: - Applies from 1 January 2025, **including Kleinunternehmer**, no exception. - E-invoices must be archived in audit-proof storage for 10 years. A valid Kleinunternehmer invoice must: - Include all standard § 14 UStG fields. - Include the § 19 UStG exemption note (e.g., "Gemäß § 19 UStG wird keine Umsatzsteuer berechnet."). - **Not include a VAT rate or VAT amount.** Charging VAT by mistake on a Kleinunternehmer invoice triggers a tax liability for the unjustly charged amount even though the supplier is exempt. Facturwise's Kleinunternehmer mode prevents the VAT-rate field from being entered and sets the exemption note automatically. A Kleinunternehmer-Identifikationsnummer (introduced 2025) is also acceptable as the supplier identifier on the invoice in place of the standard Steuernummer or USt-IdNr. --- ## Mandatory invoice fields ### Germany (§ 14 UStG, § 34a UStDV) - Supplier full name and address. - Customer full name and address. - Customer VAT ID (USt-IdNr., format `DE` + 9 digits). - Supplier tax number (Steuernummer) or VAT ID. For Kleinunternehmer: Steuernummer or Kleinunternehmer-ID. - Sequential invoice number. - Invoice date. - Service date or service period if different from invoice date. - Description of services or goods. - Net amount. - VAT rate and amount, OR for Kleinunternehmer the § 19 UStG exemption note. ### France - Supplier full name and address. - Customer full name and address. - Customer French VAT ID (format `FR` + 11 characters). - Customer SIREN (9 digits) or SIRET (14 digits = SIREN + 5-digit establishment code). From 2026 increasingly required for Factur-X processing. - Supplier VAT ID if VAT-registered. - Sequential invoice number. - Invoice date. - **Payment due date** (required under French commercial law). - **Late payment penalty rate** (required under French commercial law). Standard rate: 3× the French legal interest rate. - Description of services. - Net amount. - For cross-border B2B: reverse charge wording (Article 196, Council Directive 2006/112/EC). --- ## Public-sector invoicing (B2G) ### Germany Federal, state, and municipal authorities require **XRechnung 3.0** in pure XML. Routing via the **Leitweg-ID** (provided by the customer). Facturwise generates XRechnung from the same account as ZUGFeRD; no separate portal required. ### France Ministries, municipalities, hospitals, and public universities receive invoices through **Chorus Pro**, France's B2G portal. Chorus Pro accepts Factur-X format. The customer provides routing codes — Service Exécutant, Engagement Juridique, or SIRET — for correct delivery. UK and other non-French suppliers can submit to Chorus Pro directly. --- ## Free e-invoice validator URL: https://www.facturwise.com/en/validate (German: /de/validate, French: /fr/validate) Validates EN 16931 compliance field by field for ZUGFeRD, Factur-X and XRechnung. Upload a PDF or XML and get an instant report. **No account or registration required.** Works on invoices from any source — not limited to Facturwise output. --- ## DATEV export A DATEV-compatible CSV export is included on every plan, including the free tier. Output covers all invoices created in Facturwise. The DATEV format is the standard exchange format used by German tax advisors (Steuerberater) and is read directly by DATEV accounting systems. No new bookkeeping workflow required for users with an existing accountant. --- ## Currencies and languages - **30+ currencies** for invoice amounts. - **22 invoice output languages** (the document language; the format remains EN 16931 standard). - **Interface languages**: English, German, French (full applications); Dutch, Polish, Czech, Danish, Slovak (public landing pages). --- ## Hosting and compliance - EU-based data hosting. - GDPR compliant. - 0% transaction fees on SEPA payments processed via SEPA QR codes. --- ## What Facturwise is not - **Not an ERP**. Does not handle accounts payable, financial reporting, bookkeeping, bank reconciliation, or VAT preparation. - **Not a replacement for SAP DRC** in high-volume transactional environments. - **Not a French Plateforme Agréée**. Does not transmit invoices through the DGFiP system. Domestic French B2B mandate transactions must use a PA; Facturwise is positioned for cross-border invoicing into France and for invoices outside the domestic mandate scope. --- ## Comparison snapshots Facturwise is comparable to Lexoffice, sevDesk, FastBill, easybill, Zoho Invoice, FreshBooks, Wave, and Zervant. Common differentiators: - All three EN 16931 formats (ZUGFeRD, XRechnung, Factur-X) on the free tier. - Standalone public e-invoice validator (free, no account). - 22 invoice output languages. - DATEV-compatible CSV export on the free tier. - No required ERP integration; runs alongside any existing tool. Detailed comparison pages: https://www.facturwise.com/en/compare --- ## Audience-specific landing pages - ERP users (broad): https://www.facturwise.com/en/solutions/zugferd-outgoing-invoices-erp - SAP users: https://www.facturwise.com/en/solutions/zugferd-sap - Business Central / NAV users: https://www.facturwise.com/en/solutions/zugferd-for-business-central-nav-users - Odoo users: https://www.facturwise.com/en/solutions/zugferd-for-odoo-users - Cross-border DE/FR clients: https://www.facturwise.com/en/solutions/cross-border-einvoicing-german-french-clients - UK freelancers invoicing Germany: https://www.facturwise.com/en/freelancer/invoice-german-clients-from-uk - UK freelancers invoicing France: https://www.facturwise.com/en/freelancer/invoice-french-clients-from-uk - French auto-entrepreneurs (English): https://www.facturwise.com/en/auto-entrepreneur/factur-x-invoicing - Kleinunternehmer (German): https://www.facturwise.com/de/kleinunternehmer/e-rechnung-zugferd - Freiberufler (German): https://www.facturwise.com/de/freiberufler/zugferd-xrechnung - Auto-entrepreneurs (French): https://www.facturwise.com/fr/auto-entrepreneur/factur-x-facturation German equivalents under /de/loesungen/: zugferd-ausgangsrechnungen-erp, zugferd-sap, zugferd-business-central, zugferd-odoo. --- ## Foundational reference articles EN 16931 standard: https://www.facturwise.com/en/blog/en-16931-eu-e-invoicing-standard-explained ZUGFeRD vs XRechnung: https://www.facturwise.com/en/blog/zugferd-vs-xrechnung-difference-explained Factur-X vs Peppol: https://www.facturwise.com/en/blog/facturx-vs-peppol-e-invoicing-comparison Factur-X / ZUGFeRD compliant invoice guide: https://www.facturwise.com/en/blog/facturx-zugferd-compliant-invoice-guide ERP outgoing e-invoicing gap: https://www.facturwise.com/en/blog/erp-outgoing-e-invoicing-gap-zugferd-xrechnung-solution EU e-invoicing complete guide: https://www.facturwise.com/en/blog/e-invoicing-eu-guide EU country deadlines: https://www.facturwise.com/en/blog/e-invoicing-deadlines-eu-country-timeline Mandatory fields Germany: https://www.facturwise.com/en/blog/mandatory-invoice-fields-germany-guide Mandatory fields France: https://www.facturwise.com/en/blog/mandatory-invoice-fields-france-guide VAT thresholds DE/FR: https://www.facturwise.com/en/blog/vat-thresholds-small-business-france-germany-2025-2026 DATEV explained: https://www.facturwise.com/en/blog/datev-accounting-germany-explained Chorus Pro guide: https://www.facturwise.com/en/blog/chorus-pro-invoicing-french-public-sector-guide PPF France guide: https://www.facturwise.com/en/blog/portail-public-de-facturation-ppf-france-guide Reverse charge EU: https://www.facturwise.com/en/blog/vat-reverse-charge-eu-explained Kleinunternehmerregelung: https://www.facturwise.com/en/blog/kleinunternehmerregelung-small-business-vat-exemption-guide ZUGFeRD for non-German speakers: https://www.facturwise.com/en/blog/zugferd-invoice-english-non-german-speaker-guide Validate Factur-X / ZUGFeRD: https://www.facturwise.com/en/blog/validate-facturx-zugferd-invoice German and French versions of all foundational articles available under /de/blog/ and /fr/blog/.