Managing your finances as a self-employed hairdresser or beautician in Germany comes with its own set of challenges: mixed income (services + product sales), VAT rules, cash payments, and many deductible professional expenses.
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With Accountable, you can simplify your bookkeeping and stay compliant – without losing time you\u2019d rather spend with your clients.<\/p>\n
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This practical guide answers the most common questions we receive from German self-employed beauty professionals and helps you get the most out of the app.<\/p>\n
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\u2705 Beauty & hairdressing specific accounting basics<\/b><\/p>\n How to encode your revenue<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Cash payments and daily turnover<\/p>\n<\/li>\n VAT in Germany (subject to VAT or small business owner)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Transport<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Training & certifications<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \u2705 List of deductibles and categories to use<\/b><\/p>\n Typical deductions for hairdressers & beauticians<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Sharing costs with collaborators or salon partners<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \u2705 FAQ<\/b><\/p>\n \n By following this guide, you\u2019ll save time, avoid common mistakes, and keep your accounting accurate – while focusing on what really matters: your clients and your craft.<\/b> \u2702\ufe0f\u2728<\/p>\n \n \ud83c\udf1f Prefer following a webinar?<\/b> Pre-register now<\/a> to receive all the details live from a tax coach!<\/p>\n \n As a self-employed hairdresser or beautician, your income usually comes from services, product sales, or a mix of both.<\/p>\n \n Group your daily revenue<\/b> A cash register<\/p>\n<\/li>\n A POS system<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Or a simple sales journal<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n You can group transactions per day or week<\/b> instead of entering every single client separately.<\/p>\n \n Go to the green \u201cRevenue\u201d screen<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Click \u201cAdd another revenue\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n No client names are required (ideal for cash-based businesses)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Group multiple payments together (daily or weekly)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n We also have a step-by-step-guide for you: <\/p>\n \ud83d\udcc2 How to properly record your cash income in Accountable<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n \n \ud83d\udca1 Tip:<\/b><\/p>\n Haircuts, treatments, styling, beauty services \u2192 Service income (Category: Sales of Services)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Haircare products, cosmetics \u2192 Product sales (Category: Sale of goods – may be VAT-liable)<\/p>\n \n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n If you:<\/p>\n Rent a chair in a salon<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Or receive a percentage of turnover from a salon owner<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n You should:<\/p>\n Create an invoice for your share of the income<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Use the salon as your customer<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Clearly indicate the agreed percentage or fixed amount<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n This ensures your income is fully justifiable in case of a tax audit.<\/p>\n \n Many self-employed hairdressers and beauticians in Germany fall under the Kleinunternehmerregelung (\u00a719 UStG).<\/p>\n This means:<\/p>\n You do not charge VAT (USt) on your invoices<\/p>\n<\/li>\n You do not submit VAT declarations<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Your turnover must stay below the legal threshold (of \u20ac25.000)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n In Accountable:<\/b><\/p>\n Go to Settings > Taxes<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Select Kleinunternehmer if applicable<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \u26a0\ufe0f Important:<\/b><\/p>\n You still pay VAT on your purchases<\/p>\n<\/li>\n You cannot reclaim VAT<\/p>\n<\/li>\n VAT paid becomes part of your deductible business expense<\/p>\n \n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n If you exceed the Kleinunternehmer thresholds or opt out voluntarily:<\/p>\n You must charge 19% VAT (or 7% where applicable)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Submit VAT declarations and VAT pre submissions<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Accountable helps you manage both situations correctly.<\/p>\n \n You can only deduct an allowance for the kilometres you drive to the workspace and for business trips: <\/p>\n Commuter allowance (trips to your workplace)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Mileage allowance (business trips)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n You can deduct:<\/p>\n Fuel<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Insurance<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Maintenance & repairs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Depreciation<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Parking fees<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Deductibility depends on:<\/b><\/p>\n Professional use percentage<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Vehicle ownership type (1%-Rule or mileage log)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n In Accountable:<\/b><\/p>\n Add your vehicle<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Record each expense<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Indicate professional use<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Check out our article: <\/p>\n \ud83d\udcc2 How can I deduct my car expenses?<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n \n If you use a bicycle for business:<\/p>\n Deduct actual expenses (repairs, accessories, depreciation)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Keep proof of professional use<\/p>\n \n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Tickets and subscriptions used for business purposes are deductible under: \n As a beauty professional, staying up to date is essential and fully deductible.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget to include:<\/b><\/p>\n Hairdressing or beauty courses<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Hygiene certifications<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Trade fairs & workshops<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Online trainings<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Associated costs:<\/b><\/p>\n Transport<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Meals (meal allowance > \ud83d\udcc2 How to deduct your travel expenses?<\/a><\/b>)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Tools or equipment required for training<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \ud83d\udca1 Tip to maximise deductions:<\/b><\/p>\n Training fee \u2192 Category: Professional Training <\/p>\n<\/li>\n Food \u2192 Category: Canteen & reception<\/p>\n \n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Deductible expenses lower your taxable income, meaning:<\/p>\n You pay less income tax<\/p>\n<\/li>\n You keep more cash for your business<\/p>\n<\/li>\n You can reinvest in better tools, products, or training<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Here are common expenses and how to encode them in Accountable:<\/p>\n Item<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n Category<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Professional clothing (aprons, gloves, protective wear)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Office supplies<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Hairdressing tools (scissors, clippers, brushes, lamps)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Machines & tools<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Beauty products used on clients<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Raw material<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Retail products for sale<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Goods for resell (Goods and Materials)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Training & certifications<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Training <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Booking software \/ POS system<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Software subscription<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n E-invoicing software (Accountable)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Software subscription<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Salon furniture (chairs, mirrors, trolleys)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Shop furniture<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Professional liability insurance<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Business insurance<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Other business insurance<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Business insurance<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Website, social media ads<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Marketing <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Trade associations & memberships<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Membership fees<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Renting a chair<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Subcontracting<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n If you share:<\/p>\n A salon space<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Equipment<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Utilities<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n You can:<\/p>\n Pay the expense yourself<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Invoice your collaborator for their share<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Your collaborator can then deduct their part correctly.<\/p>\n \n For most self-employed hairdressers and beauticians – especially those under the Kleinunternehmerregelung – the Bookkeeping-Plan<\/b> is usually sufficient.<\/p>\n \n If you are subject to VAT, we recommend the Taxes-Plan.<\/b><\/p>\n \n Check out our article: <\/p>\n \ud83d\udcc2 I’m not sure which plan to go for, what is the difference?<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n \n For cash payments, a daily or weekly turnover record is usually sufficient. Business clients<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Collaborations<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Salon agreements<\/p>\n \n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Yes! Accountable is ideal for part-time self-employment and side businesses, as well as full-time self-employment.<\/p>\n \n Then you may be a mixed taxpayer:<\/p>\n Services (haircuts, treatments)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Product sales (VAT-liable)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n These must be clearly separated in your accounting and VAT handling.<\/p>\n \n You can still use Accountable to create invoices for your GmbH, but please be aware of the following:<\/p>\n No tax declaration submission<\/b>: Accountable does not support the submission of tax declarations for GmbH entities.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Different Accounting and Tax Requirements<\/b>: GmbHs have different accounting and tax obligations compared to sole proprietorships.<\/p>\n \n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n No problem, you can enter your profession manually in the app in your settings > personal details. <\/p>\n \n \ud83d\udca1 Want to make the most of Accountable as a self-employed hairdresser or beautician?<\/b><\/p>\n Join our upcoming webinar, where we\u2019ll:<\/p>\n Walk you through the app<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Explain VAT & deductions<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Answer your profession-specific questions<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \ud83d\udc49 Pre-register now<\/a> and get all the insights you need!<\/b><\/p>\n \n\n
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\n\ud83d\udcc8 <\/b>1. Beauty & hairdressing specific accounting basics<\/h2>\n
How to manage your income:<\/h3>\n
Keep track of your daily turnover using:<\/p>\n\n
Encoding in Accountable:<\/h3>\n
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\n\ud83e\ude91 2. Renting a chair or working in a salon<\/h2>\n
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\n\ud83d\udcca <\/b>3. VAT in Germany: what you need to know<\/h2>\n
What is the Kleinunternehmerregelung (small business owner)?<\/h3>\n
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\nIf you are subject to VAT<\/h3>\n
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\n\ud83d\udee3\ufe0f <\/b>4. Transport<\/h2>\n
\ud83d\ude97 Private car<\/h3>\n
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\ud83d\ude97 Business car <\/h3>\n
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\n\ud83d\udeb2 Bicycle<\/h3>\n
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\n\ud83d\ude95 Public transport & taxis<\/h3>\n
\u200bTravel > Other travel costs<\/b><\/p>\n
\n\ud83c\udf93 <\/b>5. Training & certifications<\/h2>\n
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\n\ud83d\udcb5 <\/b>6. Deductions for hairdressers & beauticians<\/h2>\n
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\n\ud83e\udd1d <\/b>7. Sharing costs with a collaborator<\/h2>\n
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\n\u2753<\/b>8. FAQ<\/h2>\n
\ud83d\udcad Which Accountable subscription should I choose?<\/h2>\n
\n\ud83d\udcad Do I need to issue invoices for every client?<\/h2>\n
Invoices are required mainly for:<\/p>\n\n
\n\ud83d\udcad Can I use Accountable if I\u2019m self-employed part-time?<\/h2>\n
\n\ud83d\udcad What if I sell products and services?<\/h2>\n
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\n\ud83d\udcad What if I operate as a GmbH?<\/h2>\n
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\n\ud83d\udcad What if my exact profession isn\u2019t listed?<\/h2>\n
\nWebinar pre-registration<\/h2>\n
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