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Accounting and invoicing for SEO consultants

Audit, strategy, monthly care and workshops: a freelance SEO consultant sells knowledge and time, often with a retainer and training. Saldiqo creates monthly invoices, re-invoices tools and copy and shows per client how much time the care really costs.

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What comes up for SEO consultants

Project and retainer

An audit is a project, the care afterwards a retainer.

Tools and licences

Analysis tools run monthly and are sometimes re-invoiced.

Workshops

Training for teams are jobs of their own with a headcount.

How Saldiqo helps

  • Audit with a depositQuote, deposit, final invoice.
  • Retainer as a recurring invoiceMonthly on schedule.
  • Time tracking per clientEvaluate effort.
  • Workshops by invoiceParticipants and duration as lines.

Typical invoice lines

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

  • SEO audit, report and action plan
  • Monthly care November, 12 hours
  • Keyword research workshop, half a day
  • Tool licence re-invoiced as per receipt
  • Content briefing, 4 articles
  • Reporting and strategy call

Tax and invoicing in Ireland

What applies to invoices in Ireland, in short. As of October 2026.

VAT
Standard rate 23 %, reduced rates 13.5 % and 9 %, 4.8 % for livestock, and 0 %. Since 1 July 2026 a 9 % rate applies to restaurants, catering, hot takeaway food and hairdressing, excluding alcohol and soft drinks.
VAT registration
Registration is required above €42,500 a year for services and above €85,000 for goods, if at least 90 % of turnover comes from goods. Saldiqo leaves VAT off your invoices while you are below the threshold and shows how much room is left.
What goes on an invoice
Registered businesses show their VAT number. Sole traders and partnerships providing services show their tax reference number, or their full name and address, on invoices and receipts of €7 or more (section 885 TCA). Companies show their name, CRO number and registered office, and directors’ details on letters, order forms and the website.
Invoice timing
Issue a VAT invoice within 15 days after the end of the month in which the supply took place.
E-invoicing
From 1 November 2028 every business must be able to receive e-invoices. Issuing is phased in: first for suppliers to large corporates, from November 2029 for businesses trading B2B within the EU, and from 1 July 2030 under the EU VAT in the Digital Age rules. A PDF does not count as an e-invoice, and the technical specifications are not yet published.
VAT returns
VAT3 returns are filed every two months through ROS, by the 19th of the following month, or the 23rd when you file online through ROS. Saldiqo does not file returns, your accountant or ROS does.
Record keeping
Keep records for 6 years, longer while a review is open.
Late payment
Interest on late business payments is the ECB main refinancing rate (2.40 % in the second half of 2026) plus 8 points, so 10.40 %, plus fixed compensation of €40, €70 or €100 depending on the amount owed.
Getting paid
IBAN and BIC are on every invoice, plus a SEPA QR code (EPC) for banking apps that can read it.

Frequently asked questions

Can I separate audit and care?

Yes. The audit runs as a project, the care as a recurring invoice.

How do I re-invoice tools?

You record the receipt as an expense with a cost centre and re-invoice it as a line.

Do SEO consultants in Ireland have to charge VAT?

Once they are registered, yes. Registration is required from the sale that takes turnover over €42,500 a year for services or €85,000 for goods, where at least 90 % of turnover comes from goods. Below those limits Saldiqo leaves VAT off your invoices.

Do SEO consultants in Ireland need e-invoicing?

Not yet. From 1 November 2028 every business must be able to receive e-invoices. The duty to issue them phases in from the same date for suppliers to large corporates and later for more businesses. PDF invoices do not count as e-invoices.

How long should SEO consultants keep invoices?

Keep records for 6 years, longer while a review is open. You can store receipts digitally in Saldiqo. The legal duty to keep records stays with you.

Try Saldiqo for free

Write invoices, match payments, collect receipts and send reminders: free and without a trial period.

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As of October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice, without guarantee. For your case ask your tax adviser.