Accounting and invoicing for service businesses
Caretaking, removals, courier, repairs: service businesses bill jobs, often by the hour and often for companies and private customers at once. Saldiqo writes the invoice from the time, reminds late customers and shows what is still open at month end.
What comes up for service businesses
Jobs between two appointments
The invoice is often written in the evening or on the road. It has to be quick and right the first time.
Private and business
Private customers pay at once or not at all, companies on terms. Both need different invoice details and deadlines.
Vehicle and material
Fuel, tools, material and repairs run constantly and have to be captured as expenses.
Payment behaviour
Small amounts are quickly forgotten. Whoever does not follow up regularly gives away turnover.
How Saldiqo helps
- Invoice from recorded timeRecord hours with start and stop and create the invoice line from them.
- Regulars with recurring invoicesYou bill fixed jobs with a recurring invoice on schedule.
- Receipts from the vehiclePhotograph the receipt with your phone and capture it as an expense.
- Remind with one clickPayment reminder and reminder levels with deadlines, straight from the open invoice.
Typical invoice lines
Examples that often appear on invoices in this industry. You set the prices yourself.
- On-site job, hours
- Call-out charge
- Material as per receipt
- Monthly flat fee for care, November
- Weekend surcharge
- Disposal
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 bill by the hour?
Yes. You record time and create the invoice line from it.
How do I remind late customers?
From the open invoice you send a payment reminder with one click and later the reminder levels with a deadline.
Do service businesses 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 service businesses 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 service businesses 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.
Start for freeThis page for other countries
Niches in this industry
More industries
As of October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice, without guarantee. For your case ask your tax adviser.