Invoicing software for plumbers

When you decide to go self-employed as a plumber, you have to go through administrative formalities that are more or less demanding depending on the legal structure you choose. In every case, you need to keep meticulous accounts to meet legal requirements, but also to keep your books up to date and make sure every job is invoiced and then paid. Invoicing software for plumbers is designed to make this task easier. It lets you automate certain operations, check that outstanding invoices are actually settled, and avoid spending your evenings on bookkeeping after a day spent on jobs.

The broad scope of the plumbing and heating trade

To choose the best invoicing software for your business, you need to make sure it’s suited to your company. In France, there are close to 45,000 plumbing businesses, the vast majority of which are micro-businesses.

Unless you plan to start with a large structure and many employees, you’ll launch your plumbing business as a craft business, meaning fewer than 10 employees. Beyond that, you move into commercial business territory.

You then have a choice between two business activity codes (APE):

1. 43.22A Installation of heating and air conditioning equipment;

2. 43.23B Installation of water and gas systems in all premises.

You can offer general plumbing services or specialize: installing and maintaining heat pumps, air conditioning units or heat pump water heaters, heating systems, work on new builds, work on renovations, maintenance jobs, and so on.

You can work directly with your clients, but you can also set up subcontracting arrangements with builders on new construction, real estate agents for renovations, property management companies, and so on.

Your bookkeeping will be the same whether you work with private individuals or professionals, and regardless of your specialization. Indeed, for private clients, you’re not required to issue an invoice for services under €25, which is unlikely in plumbing. Nor are you required to invoice if your client doesn’t ask for it, which is equally unlikely. Clients systematically require written proof of your work, so they can keep a record of it.

Invoicing is the foundation of your bookkeeping, and any invoicing software will offer this feature. You then need to check that it supports your business’s legal structure.

Which legal structure for your plumbing business?

The legal structure you choose is crucial for your business. It determines your liability, your accounting obligations, your taxation, your social security coverage, and so on. Your plumbing invoicing software must offer features suited to your status, since you’ll need to provide different documents to the tax authorities depending on your choice.

The micro-entrepreneur scheme is poorly suited to the plumbing trade

The micro-entrepreneur (sole trader) scheme is the simplest status, letting you set up with minimal formalities and bookkeeping reduced to a bare minimum. However, it’s not well suited to the plumbing trade, since it doesn’t allow you to deduct your expenses. As a result, your travel costs and the purchase of materials can’t be included in your accounts.

The legal status for an independent plumber working alone or with a spouse

If you’re starting out on your own, possibly with your spouse, you can choose between four legal structures: sole proprietorship (EI), EIRL, EURL and SASU. Software like Bizyness handles invoicing for your plumbing jobs and supports each of these statuses.

The table below summarizes the main features of each business form.

Independent plumbers going into partnership

If you want to team up with other plumbers, the most popular business forms are the SARL and the SAS. In that case, you’ll need to agree with your partners on the choice of an invoicing app for plumbers.

The advantage of choosing professional accounting software is having a cloud-based space that gives you access wherever you are. This lets you share information with your partners with full transparency. Data is processed in real time, which makes running the business easier.

The table below summarizes the key points of each status, SAS and SARL.

The plumber’s tax regime managed by invoicing software

Besides invoicing, your software needs to handle your tax filings, the form of which depends on your legal status. If you operate as a sole proprietorship, you’re automatically subject to income tax (IR). If you opt for an EURL or EIRL, you can choose between income tax (IR) or corporate tax (IS). Finally, for a SASU, SARL or SAS, you’re subject to corporate tax (IS) but can opt for income tax (IR) for a maximum of 5 financial years.

Choosing invoicing software for plumbers

The ideal way to choose your plumbing accounting software is to take advantage of a free trial period. This lets you make sure the accounting interface is compatible with your legal status and that it offers features and options that make your life easier. They should let you easily manage your business and guarantee compliance with the law so you stay in good standing with the tax authorities.

With Bizyness’s plumbing invoicing software, you get a free 15-day trial period, without having to register your credit card number. You get access to all the features and the chance to test the options. These are designed to customize your documents and guarantee your credibility with your clients, save you time thanks in particular to automation settings, and keep you compliant with the tax authorities.