sevDesk
An accounting solution for freelancers and small businesses, for: invoices, receipts, and easy tax reporting without needing tax expertise.
sevDesk is cloud-based accounting software from Offenburg for freelancers and small businesses. Invoices, receipts, VAT pre-registration – everything runs in your browser, no accounting knowledge required. The e-invoicing mandate from 2025 is also covered.
In everyday use, you photograph incoming invoices, the software recognizes amounts and suggests entries, the VAT pre-registration goes to ELSTER with a click, and your accounting firm receives the DATEV export. Its strength is the price, starting in the single-digit euro range per month.
Lexware Office (formerly lexoffice) is its most direct competitor and feels more polished for banking and payroll; DATEV is the professional league once your accounting firm takes over the process. sevDesk's weaknesses: support and stability receive mixed reviews, and it becomes restrictive as company complexity grows.
Ideal for founders, freelancers, and small GmbHs who handle their own bookkeeping and are budget-conscious. For medium-sized businesses or those with close ties to an accounting firm, DATEV is often the only way to go.
Functions
- AI-powered document recognition that learns with use
- Receive and send e-invoices (mandatory since 2025)
- Entry-level plan in the single-digit euro range per month
- Servers in Germany and GoBD certification
- Integrations with Shopify, PayPal, and common banks
Core Functions
- Write invoices and quotes, GoBD-compliant
- Receipt capture by photo with automatic recognition
- Online banking reconciliation with payment allocation
- Income/Expense Statement and VAT advance return directly via ELSTER
- DATEV export for your tax firm
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