Few receipts, tight budget
If you only have a handful of receipts per month and watch your budget, the pure software fee is cheaper than a service, as long as you put in the time to book it yourself.
Do it yourself or hand it over
Do your bookkeeping yourself or hand it off? The honest comparison
You can do your bookkeeping yourself with software or hand it off entirely. Doing it yourself, you only pay the software fee, but you invest your own time and carry the risk of errors. With Buchführungsheld you just upload receipts, certified bookkeepers post everything and prepare the preliminary VAT return. Here you can see honestly when each path pays off.
Updated: July 2026. Prices of other providers are non-binding and subject to change.
Buchführungsheld
April done
- Receipts uploaded12 receipts, April
- Booked by prosgeprüft und kontiert
- USt-Voranmeldung300 €, vom Finanzamt eingezogen
Umsatz24.500 €
Gewinn6.200 €
Doing it yourself and Buchführungsheld compared side by side
Doing it yourself with software versus full-service bookkeeping. The Buchführungsheld column is highlighted, and the values are deliberately kept honest.
| Criterion | Do it yourself | Buchführungsheld |
|---|---|---|
| Core principle | You do the bookkeeping yourself with software | Full service, bookkeepers post for you |
| Time spent per month | several hours for capturing and coding | about 15 to 30 minutes, uploading receipts |
| Receipt capture | you enter and code the accounts yourself, often with receipt scanning | you upload, the team posts |
| Invoice creation (invoicing) | available depending on the software, you write them yourself | in preparation, available soon |
| Preliminary VAT return | you create and submit it yourself via ELSTER | prepared and filed for you |
| Ongoing posting | manually by you | by certified bookkeepers |
| Expertise required | Basic knowledge of categorization and tax law | no need, the team knows the rules |
| Error risk and liability | up to you, since you do the posting yourself | Bookings by professionals, a verified process |
| DATEV compatibility | available as an export depending on the software | DATEV-compatible collaboration and export |
| Support | Software support, help center, community | personal bookkeepers, support based in Germany |
| Price per month | approx. 10 to 35 euros software fee (please verify) | from €49 (full service including booking) |
| Contract commitment | depending on the software, often an annual subscription | cancelable monthly |
As of July 2026. The cost of doing it yourself consists of the software fee, usually around 10 to 35 euros per month depending on the provider and plan, plus your own working time. These ranges are guideline values, as of July 2026, please check with the respective provider. Buchführungsheld prices are plus 19 percent VAT and are intended exclusively for businesses.
Sample calculation: doing your own bookkeeping vs. handing it off
Example: a solo self-employed person with around 25 receipts per month and an assumed entrepreneur's hourly rate of €80.
Do it yourself with software
- Bookkeeping software (approx., please verify)approx. 20 €
- your own time approx. 3.5 hrs x €80280 €
Total per monthapprox. 300 €
Mit Buchführungsheld
- Buchführungsheld Starter, 25 receipts included49 €
- your own time approx. 0.5 hrs x €8040 €
Total per month89 €
Calculated savings: around €210 per month, mainly from the time you save.
Sample calculation with assumed time values. The software fee of approx. €20 is a guide value, as of July 2026, please check with the respective provider. The actual time required depends on the number of receipts and your routine. Those with fewer receipts and more practice come out significantly cheaper doing it themselves.
When doing it yourself is the better choice
Honestly, there are cases where doing your bookkeeping yourself is the better option.
You like doing the bookkeeping yourself
If you enjoy bookkeeping, have a routine and want to check every entry yourself, software gives you the right tools and full control.
You have the time to spare
If your schedule allows it and bookkeeping doesn't keep you from your business, your own working time can be cheaper than a fixed-price service.
From doing it yourself to Buchführungsheld in three steps
The switch is straightforward, your data won't be lost.
1
Initial consultation and reviewing receipts
In a short, free call, we take a look at your current bookkeeping and clarify which plan fits you.
2
Import data from your software
You export your previous entries and receipts from your software, for example as a DATEV or CSV file. We take over the ongoing bookkeeping seamlessly.
3
Upload receipts, we post them
From now on, you upload receipts via app or browser. Your accountants book everything, prepare the VAT return, and deliver monthly reports.
More comparisons
See how Buchführungsheld stacks up against other providers and approaches.
FAQ: Doing it yourself and Buchführungsheld
Answers about costs, data migration, time investment, and cancellation.
Is it worth doing your bookkeeping yourself?
It depends on you. If you have few receipts, are experienced with account assignment, and can find the time, doing it yourself with software is cheaper per month. If you'd rather put your time into your business or want to avoid mistakes, a bookkeeping service like Buchführungsheld from 49 euros per month is often the better fit.
Can I bring over my data from my software?
Yes. You export your entries and receipts from your current software, for example as a DATEV or CSV file. Buchführungsheld takes over the ongoing bookkeeping and continues to work in a DATEV-compatible way.
What does doing it yourself cost compared to Buchführungsheld?
Doing it yourself, you only pay the software fee, usually around €10 to €35 per month (as of July 2026, please check with the provider), plus your own working time. Buchführungsheld starts at €49 per month, and in return certified bookkeepers take over the work you would otherwise do yourself. What pays off depends mainly on how much time you spend.
How much time do I save by handing off my bookkeeping?
Doing it yourself quickly adds up to several hours a month depending on the number of receipts. With Buchführungsheld, you just upload your receipts, which usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. The team handles the rest.
Can I also write invoices with Buchführungsheld?
Invoicing is in preparation at Buchführungsheld and coming soon. Today the focus is on complete bookkeeping: you upload receipts and outgoing invoices, and the team posts everything. If you want to write invoices in the same tool right away, invoicing software is currently the faster choice.
Do I need a tax advisor on top of this?
For the annual financial statements and tax return, you continue working with your tax advisor. Buchführungsheld delivers the continuously categorized data in DATEV-compatible form, so your tax advisor can jump right in.
Is my bookkeeping GDPR- and GoBD-compliant?
Yes. Buchführungsheld processes all data in a GDPR- and GoBD-compliant way in data centers in Germany.
Hand off your bookkeeping
Hand off your bookkeeping instead of posting it yourself
Upload your receipts, and certified bookkeepers take care of the rest. At a flat rate from 49 euros per month, cancelable monthly. Try it free for 7 days.