In this guide
If you have not registered your business yet, start with the complete ZZP guide for expats and the KvK registration walkthrough.
💡 Looking for a banking comparison? Read Best banking for expats in the Netherlands 2026.
What your bookkeeping has to do
The Belastingdienst pages we checked set rules on what you keep, not on which software you use:
- Keep your administration for 7 years. Basic data, such as your debtor and creditor administration, your sales and purchase administration and the general ledger, must always be kept for 7 years. Data on real estate must be kept for 10 years (Belastingdienst).
- Keep a record of your hours if you claim a deduction that depends on them, such as the urencriterium and the zelfstandigenaftrek (Belastingdienst).
- Use the correct BTW rate: 21% as the standard rate, 9% as the reduced rate for goods and services such as food, books and water, and 0% for international business and a few other cases (Belastingdienst).
- KOR: entrepreneurs established in the Netherlands with no more than €20,000 turnover in a calendar year can use the small business scheme. You then do not charge BTW and normally do not file BTW returns, but you cannot deduct BTW. You must deregister immediately once your turnover goes above €20,000 (Belastingdienst).
- Zelfstandigenaftrek: in 2026 it is €1,200 if you meet the urencriterium, which usually means at least 1,225 hours on your business in the calendar year (Belastingdienst).
Software can help with invoices, BTW figures and records, but you remain responsible for your return. Check the output before you file. See our tax guide for freelancers in the Netherlands for what you owe and when.
Five tools compared
The table shows the plans and prices on each vendor’s own website when we checked on 6 and 7 October 2026 (Shine on 14 October 2026). Prices change, and vendors run promotions, so confirm on the vendor site.
| Tool | Entry price for a freelancer | Free trial | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moneybird | Start €15 per month (yearly plan) or €18 (monthly plan) | 60 days | Start has 20 bank transactions per month and no bank connection |
| Exact Online | Essentials €49 per month | 30 days | Plus €99, Professional €159 and Premium €299 per month |
| e-Boekhouden | ZZP package €9.95 per month, €4.98 for the first 12 months | Free to try | Starters get 15 months free |
| Jortt | ZZP €21.95 per month (€19.95 with a yearly plan) | 30 days | Jortt Starter is free but has no bookkeeping |
| Shine | Free €0; Start €11 per month (€9 with a yearly plan) | 30 days on Start and Plus | Free has unlimited invoices and quotes and 1 bank connection; VAT submission from Start |
1. Moneybird
Moneybird (moneybird.nl) has four paid packages that differ in the number of bank transactions per month, users and bank connections. You do not pay extra for functions such as sending invoices.
| Package | Yearly plan | Monthly plan | Limits per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact | €3 | €4 | 1 sales invoice, 3 incoming documents, 5 bank transactions, 1 user, no bank connections, no BTW return |
| Start | €15 | €18 | 20 bank transactions, 1 user, no bank connections |
| Groei | €29 | €35 | 50 bank transactions, 5 users, 5 bank connections |
| Compleet | €41 | €49 | Unlimited transactions, users and bank connections |
New administrations get a 60-day free trial with all functions. Moneybird also offers a payment account as an add-on, free for the first 12 months and €7 per month after that. If you want your bank transactions to be connected automatically, you need at least the Groei package. Check Moneybird’s own page for the current limits.
2. Exact Online
Exact (exact.com) offers four plans for its bookkeeping software: Essentials at €49 per month (1 user, 1 administration, 1 bank connection, 25 sales invoices, with BTW and ICP returns), Plus at €99, Professional at €159 and Premium at €299 per month. There is a 30-day free trial. It is a larger product than a solo freelancer usually needs, and its price reflects that. It can make sense if your business grows, if you hire people, or if your accountant works in Exact. Ask your accountant which software they prefer.
3. e-Boekhouden
e-Boekhouden (e-boekhouden.nl) has three packages for entrepreneurs: ZZP at €9.95 per month, Standaard at €14.50 and Standaard + Factureren at €24.00 per month. The first 12 months are discounted, for example €4.98 per month for the ZZP package. Starters get 15 months free, and you can try it without obligation. Its website is in Dutch, so test the interface and support in the trial before you commit.
4. Jortt
Jortt (jortt.nl) has four plans. Jortt Starter is free and covers invoices, quotes, hours and e-invoices through Peppol, but no bookkeeping. For bookkeeping you choose jortt ZZP at €21.95 per month (€19.95 per month on a yearly plan), jortt MKB at €29.95 (€27.95) or jortt Plus at €39.95 (€37.95). Prices are per company and exclude BTW. jortt ZZP includes a free bank connection and a checked BTW return, and the free bunq account is part of the offer. Jortt offers a welcome deal: 30 days free, then 3 months at €9.95 per month. Check Jortt’s own page for the full list of what each plan includes.
5. Shine
Shine (shine.co) calls itself “the financial co-pilot for small businesses” and brings invoicing, quotes, bookkeeping and payroll together in one place. Besides its Dutch site it has an English-language version for the Netherlands (shine.co/en-nl). You connect Shine to your business bank account; Shine says it is compatible with most Dutch banks. There are three plans (per month, excluding VAT):
| Plan | Monthly plan | Yearly plan | Selected limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | €0 | €0 | Unlimited invoices and quotes, 5 contacts, 1 bank connection, 1 user |
| Start | €11 | €9 | 30 contacts, 3 bank connections, VAT submission, manual payment reminders |
| Plus | €25 | €20 | Unlimited contacts, 5 bank connections, 2 users, recurring invoices, invoices in foreign currencies, automatic payment reminders, phone support on weekdays (09:00–21:00) |
Start and Plus come with a 30-day free trial. Shine’s plan comparison lists invoices in English in all three plans. According to Shine, you submit your VAT return directly to the Belastingdienst from the platform and get automatic reminders before the quarterly deadline; that VAT submission is part of Start and Plus. A payment link on the invoice via Stripe is available in every plan, and Shine says additional fees apply. Check Shine’s plans page for the full list of what each plan includes.
How to choose
- Do you need automatic bank connections? Compare the bank connection limits. Moneybird Start has none, Jortt ZZP includes one, and Shine’s Free plan includes one (Start three).
- How many transactions do you have? Moneybird limits them per package.
- Does your accountant use a specific program? Ask before you choose.
- How much Dutch can you handle? Test the interface and the support in the free trial. Shine has an English-language version of its Dutch website.
Banking for your business
Keeping business money separate from private money makes your administration simpler. See our guide to Dutch business bank accounts for freelancers. Options that expats often look at include Bunq for a Dutch IBAN and Wise for money in other currencies. This page contains affiliate links: if you use them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Check with your accounting software which banks it can connect to.
Check Wise for business payments →
When to ask a boekhouder
Software handles the daily bookkeeping. It does not replace tax advice. A boekhouder or tax adviser can help when your situation is complicated, for example if you have clients in other countries, employees, a BV structure, or if you want to use the 30% ruling. For help finding a professional, see the guide to best tax advisors for expats in the Netherlands.
Setting up your software
- Enter your business details: your KvK number, BTW number, business name, address and bank account number.
- Connect your bank account, if your package allows it, or import transactions manually.
- Set up your invoice template and check the invoice requirements on the Belastingdienst website. Send yourself a test invoice first.
- Create expense categories that match what you actually spend.
- Check your BTW return deadlines on the Belastingdienst website and put them in your calendar.
Related guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Belastingdienst require a specific accounting program?
The Belastingdienst pages we checked set rules for what you keep, not for which program you use. You must keep your administration for 7 years, and basic data such as your debtor and creditor administration, sales and purchase administration and general ledger always for 7 years. If you claim deductions that depend on hours, such as the urencriterium and the zelfstandigenaftrek, keep a record of the hours you spend on the business (Belastingdienst).
What is the KOR and do I still need accounting software if I qualify?
The KOR (kleineondernemersregeling) is open to entrepreneurs established in the Netherlands with no more than EUR 20,000 turnover in a calendar year. With the KOR you do not charge BTW, you do not put BTW on invoices and you normally do not file BTW returns, but you cannot deduct BTW. You must deregister immediately once your turnover goes above EUR 20,000 (Belastingdienst). You still need to keep an administration, and software can help with invoices and your income tax figures.
What are the Dutch BTW rates?
The standard rate is 21%. A reduced rate of 9% applies to goods and services such as food, books and water. The rate is 0% for international business and a few other cases (Belastingdienst). Check which rate applies to your service before you invoice.
What are the zelfstandigenaftrek and the urencriterium?
In 2026 the zelfstandigenaftrek is EUR 1,200 if you meet the urencriterium and had not reached AOW age at the start of the year. You usually meet the urencriterium if you spend at least 1,225 hours on your business in the calendar year (Belastingdienst). A starter can get an additional startersaftrek of EUR 2,123 under conditions.
Do I have to use a Dutch-language program?
The Belastingdienst does not set a language for your software. Most vendor sites we checked are in Dutch. Shine also has an English-language version of its Dutch website (shine.co/en-nl), and its plan comparison lists invoices in English in all plans. Test the interface and the support in the free trial to see whether it suits your level of Dutch before you pay.