How much does e-invoicing cost for the self-employed in Belgium?
E-invoicing is mandatory, but what does it actually cost? Many self-employed professionals fear a large additional expense, but the reality is more modest — and there is even a tax incentive that partially pays back the investment.
What do you need?
To be able to e-invoice, you need one thing: invoicing software connected to the Peppol network. The software handles everything — Peppol registration, creating invoices in the correct format, sending and receiving.
You do not need any extra hardware, your own server or technical knowledge.
What does invoicing software cost?
Most tools for Belgian self-employed professionals work with a monthly subscription. Prices vary depending on the features you need:
Basic plans (invoicing only): from approximately €3 to €10 per month. Sufficient for anyone who simply wants to send and receive invoices via Peppol.
Extended plans (with bank sync, reminders, integrations): between €9 and €20 per month. Including bank synchronisation, automatic payment reminders, quotations and integration with your accounting package.
Professional plans (teams, automation): between €20 and €50 per month, depending on the number of users and the complexity.
For most solo self-employed professionals, a plan between €9 and €15 per month is more than sufficient.
Do you also pay per invoice?
With most tools, no. You pay a fixed monthly amount regardless of how many invoices you send. This is convenient if you invoice frequently — the cost per invoice decreases the more you send.
Some tools have a limit on the basic plan — for example, a maximum of 20 invoices per month — and only charge more if you exceed that. Check this with the tool you choose.
Is there a tax incentive?
Yes, and it is a nice bonus. For income years 2024 through 2027, self-employed professionals and small businesses are entitled to an enhanced tax deduction of 120% on subscriptions to Peppol-compatible invoicing software.
In concrete terms: if you pay €108 per year (€9 per month), you may deduct €129.60 from your taxable income. Depending on your tax bracket, this saves you a few euros per year — not a fortune, but a free bonus on something you need anyway.
Cleero: transparent pricing
Cleero offers three plans for Belgian self-employed professionals and small businesses:
- Go: €3 per month — unlimited Peppol sending and receiving, up to 20 clients
- Flow: €9 per month — unlimited clients, bank synchronisation, payment reminders, quotations
- Grow: €14 per month — recurring invoices, automatic payment matching, team members
All plans are exclusive of VAT and can be cancelled monthly. Start free — three months free for new users, no credit card required.
In summary
E-invoicing costs between €3 and €20 per month for self-employed professionals, depending on your needs. With the 120% tax deduction, you recover part of the cost through your taxes. The investment is minimal for something that is legally required and also saves you a great deal of manual work.