Small budget and few receipts
Norman has a free basic plan and affordable tiers. If you have very few receipts and book yourself, you pay less with the software than for a service.
Norman Finance Alternative
Norman Finance Alternative: Hand Over Your Accounting Completely Instead of Booking It Yourself
Norman Finance is a digital accounting app in which you post your receipts yourself with AI support. In addition, Norman offers a tax advisory service in which an appointed tax advisor reviews and files the returns, but only for a clearly defined target group. Buchführungsheld takes the other approach: you upload your receipts, certified bookkeepers record everything, prepare the advance VAT return (UStVA) and deliver finished reports. Here you can see the differences and when switching is worthwhile.
Updated: August 2026. Other providers' prices are non-binding and subject to change.
Buchführungsheld
April done
- Receipts uploaded12 receipts, April
- Booked by prosreviewed and posted to accounts
- USt-Voranmeldung300 €, vom Finanzamt eingezogen
Umsatz24.500 €
Gewinn6.200 €
Norman Finance and Buchführungsheld in a direct comparison
AI accounting for self-booking with conditional tax advice versus full-service accounting. The Buchführungsheld column is highlighted, and the values are deliberately kept honest.
| Criterion | Norman Finance | Buchführungsheld |
|---|---|---|
| Core principle | AI app, you post yourself, tax advisor files for eligible clients | Full service, certified bookkeepers book for you |
| Who does the ongoing booking | you, with the AI autopilot as support | certified bookkeepers on the team |
| Time spent per month | less than software alone, but you review and book yourself | about 15 to 30 minutes, uploading receipts |
| Target group of the tax advisory service | narrowly defined, with conditions depending on the legal form | businesses of all sectors and legal forms |
| Corporations (GmbH, UG) | new companies only, balance sheet total below 1 million euros, no loans, no real estate, securities or crypto | no such restrictions, ongoing accounting for corporations |
| Industries | e-commerce, construction and cleaning currently not served | e-commerce, trades and other sectors also supported |
| Booking requirement | the entire financial year must be booked in Norman | takeover possible on an ongoing basis and mid-year |
| Tax return and annual financial statements | included in the tax advisory service, for eligible clients | ongoing accounting, annual financial statements and tax return via the partner firm or your own tax advisor |
| Scope of schedules (personal) | only Anlage G, S, N including partner Anlage N, additional ones for a surcharge | focus on business accounting, tax return via the firm |
| Bank connection | bank sync required | upload bank statements or use a bank connection, the team allocates them |
| Preliminary VAT return | automated, included in the appropriate plan | prepared and filed for you |
| DATEV compatibility | focus on its own system and ELSTER | DATEV-compatible collaboration and export |
| Price per month | software free, 9 or 21 euros; tax advice 24 to 74 euros, plus VAT | from €49 (full service including booking) |
| Contract commitment | annual billing saves several monthly fees | cancellable monthly |
As of: August 2026. Norman Finance is free as a basic app; the software plans regularly cost 9 euros (Klein) and 21 euros (Pro) per month, each plus VAT. The tax advisory service is around 24 euros (Kleinunternehmer), 41 euros (Start), 58 euros (Pro) and 74 euros (Max) per month, plus VAT, under the stated conditions depending on legal form and industry. With annual billing the fee is reduced. As of August 2026, please verify with the provider. Buchführungsheld prices are subject to 19 percent value-added tax and are aimed exclusively at business owners.
Example calculation: booking yourself with AI versus handing over your accounting
Example: a solo self-employed person with around 25 receipts per month and an assumed hourly rate of 80 euros.
Booking yourself with Norman
- Norman tax advice Start41 €
- Own time approx. 1.5 hrs x 80 €120 €
Total per monthapprox. 161 €
Mit Buchführungsheld
- Buchführungsheld Starter, 25 receipts included49 €
- your own time approx. 0.5 hrs x €8040 €
Total per month89 €
Calculated savings: around 70 euros per month, mainly through saved own time.
Example calculation with assumed time values. For Norman, the Start tax advisory plan at 41 euros is used; the AI automation can reduce the time required, but you still review and book yourself. Prices as of August 2026, please verify with the provider. The actual time required depends on the number of receipts and your routine.
When Norman Finance is the better choice
To be honest, there are cases in which Norman suits you better.
Newly founded GmbH that meets all conditions
If your corporation is newly founded, runs fully digitally, stays below 1 million euros in balance sheet total and manages without loans, real estate, securities or crypto, Norman bundles accounting and tax filings affordably in one app.
You want to book yourself with AI
If you enjoy posting yourself and want to use an AI autopilot while doing so, Norman gives you the right tools with bank sync and automatic pre-posting.
From Norman to Buchführungsheld in three steps
The switch is straightforward, your data won't be lost.
1
Initial consultation and review of receipts
In a short, free consultation, we look at your previous accounting and clarify which plan suits you.
2
Transfer your data from Norman
You export your bookings and receipts from Norman, for example as a DATEV or CSV file. We take over the ongoing accounting seamlessly, even mid-year.
3
Upload receipts, we post them
From now on, you upload receipts via app or browser. Your bookkeepers record everything, prepare the advance VAT return (UStVA) and deliver monthly reports.
More comparisons
See how Buchführungsheld stacks up against other providers and approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions: Norman Finance and Buchführungsheld
Answers about switching, data transfer, costs and conditions.
Is Buchführungsheld a Norman Finance alternative?
They solve the task differently. Norman is an AI accounting app in which you book yourself, with a tax advisory service for a clearly defined target group. Buchführungsheld is an accounting service in which certified bookkeepers handle your ongoing accounting for you, regardless of sector and legal form.
Who is Norman's tax advisory service not suitable for?
Norman only offers its tax advisory service under certain conditions. Corporations must be newly founded, stay below 1 million euros in balance sheet total and manage without loans, real estate, securities or crypto. For personal returns, only Anlage G, S and N are covered. The e-commerce, construction and cleaning sectors are currently not served. Buchführungsheld supports these cases.
Can I transfer my data from Norman?
Yes. You export your bookings and receipts from Norman, for example as a DATEV or CSV file. Buchführungsheld takes over the ongoing accounting and continues to work DATEV-compatibly, even mid-year.
What does Buchführungsheld cost compared to Norman?
Norman's basic app is free, the software plans cost a regular 9 and 21 euros per month, and the tax advisory service costs 24 to 74 euros per month, each plus VAT (as of August 2026, please verify with the provider). Buchführungsheld starts at 49 euros per month, in return for which certified bookkeepers take over the ongoing booking that you do yourself with Norman. What pays off depends primarily on your time investment and your sector.
Does my entire financial year already have to be booked?
For Norman's tax advisory service, one condition is that the entire financial year is booked in Norman. Buchführungsheld can take over the accounting mid-year as well, so you do not have to wait or retroactively book everything yourself.
Do I also need a tax advisor?
For the annual financial statements and the tax return, you continue to work with your tax advisor or use Buchführungsheld's partner firm. Buchführungsheld delivers the continuously posted data in a DATEV-compatible format, so that your tax advisor can get started right away.
Is my bookkeeping GDPR- and GoBD-compliant?
Yes. Buchführungsheld processes all data in a DSGVO- and GoBD-compliant manner 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.