If you're setting up as a self-employed freelancer (zzp'er) in the Netherlands, one of the first practical decisions you'll face is which accounting software to use for invoicing and bookkeeping. The Dutch market has dozens of providers, each with slightly different plans, pricing and automation. Comparing accounting software for freelancers in the Netherlands gets a lot simpler once you know what actually differs between packages, and where software stops being enough on its own.
A quick look at the main options
| Software | Starting from (excl. VAT) | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| e-Boekhouden.nl | around €9.95/month | Cheapest entry option, limited number of bookings on the base plan |
| Moneybird | around €3 to €41/month | Price scales with the number of bank transactions per month |
| Jortt | free to around €35/month | Free starter plan available, paid tiers automate more |
| SnelStart | around €20.50 to €51.50/month | More extensive package, more common among growing businesses with staff |
Prices change often and plans get updated, so always check the current rates on the provider's own site before you commit.
What actually differs between these packages
On paper, most Dutch accounting tools look the same: they send invoices, prepare your VAT return, scan receipts, and connect to your business bank account. The real differences only show up once you're using the software day to day:
- How many bookings or transactions are included. Several providers charge more once you pass a certain number of bank transactions per month, even if the feature set stays identical.
- How much is actually automated. Some software recognizes invoices and matches them to transactions on its own, others need more manual entry.
- VAT return: prepared or filed. Most packages get your figures ready for a VAT return, but you still submit it yourself to the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax authority).
- Bank and invoicing integrations. Useful if you already bank with a specific provider or sell through a particular platform, less relevant if you're still choosing.
Where software leaves you on your own
Accounting software keeps your numbers organized, but it doesn't judge them. Whether you're applying the right VAT scheme, which deductions apply to your specific situation, and whether a purchase is timed well for tax purposes: that's still on you to figure out, or on someone who checks it for you. If you're a freelancer sending a handful of simple invoices, that's manageable on your own. As your revenue grows, or you start dealing with more than one VAT rate, or you're weighing whether to convert your sole proprietorship into a bv, the gap between software that collects numbers and someone who also reviews and advises on them gets a lot wider, often at the exact moment you have the least time to research it yourself.
One of our clients, who runs a delivery business, ran into exactly that: he started out managing everything in accounting software himself, then switched to a dedicated bookkeeper on a friend's recommendation once it became clear that figuring everything out alone was costing more time than his growing business could spare.
You don't have to choose between software and a bookkeeper
At Sophy &Co. we use smart software behind the scenes too, it's part of how we can offer full service for roughly 60% of the price of a traditional bookkeeper. The difference is that you never have to operate that software yourself: you share your incoming and outgoing invoices with us, and your dedicated bookkeeper handles the rest, from bookkeeping to VAT filing. For freelancers who are still stuck comparing software packages, that's research time you get back entirely, clients regularly tell us they save up to 10 hours a month they used to spend on admin. You can see what that looks like in practice on our services page.
New to the Netherlands? At Sophy &Co. we support expat founders well before the paperwork is even filed, not only once a company already exists. Book a call and we'll talk you through what setting up and running a business here actually involves, in plain English.
Our team is woman-led and proudly LGBTQIA-friendly, with both women and men among our bookkeepers. Between us we speak English, Dutch, Italian, Chinese, Spanish, Papiamento, German, and some French and Polish, so you can explain your situation in the language you're most comfortable in, and we can also connect you with trusted partners, banks, lawyers and notaries, plus other expats who've been through the same process.
Frequently asked questions
Can I run my freelance business without accounting software at all? Technically yes, some freelancers still track everything in a spreadsheet. It works fine with very few invoices, but becomes error-prone and time-consuming fast as your revenue grows.
Is free accounting software enough for a freelancer? For very low revenue and few transactions, a free starter plan can be enough. Once your invoice or transaction volume grows, you'll typically hit the limits of the free tier quickly.
Should I switch from software to a bookkeeper once my business grows? Not necessarily a hard switch, but worth reconsidering. With more revenue, staff, or more complex VAT situations, a bookkeeper who actually reviews your numbers usually saves more time and stress than continuing to figure it out in software alone.
Can a bookkeeper work with the software I already use? At Sophy &Co. we work through our own systems, so you don't need to buy or maintain separate software yourself. Get in touch to talk through what switching would look like for your situation.
For the official Dutch bookkeeping requirements, see the Belastingdienst on administration obligations, and for the basics of registering and running a business in the Netherlands, check the KVK on business administration.