lexoffice

What lexoffice does

Lexoffice (rebranded to Lexware Office in 2025) is a German cloud-based accounting and business-management software company headquartered in Freiburg and operating as a subsidiary of the Haufe Group. It serves freelancers, sole proprietors, and small-to-medium businesses (KKU up to 10 employees, KMU up to 50 employees) in the DACH region, with 400,000+ paying customers and a connected ecosystem of 50,000+ German tax advisors (Steuerberater) using its free Steuerberater-Zugang. The platform automates the full accounting lifecycle — invoicing, e-invoicing (EN 16931 / ZUGFeRD / XRechnung), receipt capture, bank reconciliation, EÜR/GuV generation, ELSTER tax filing, DATEV data exchange with tax advisors, and an optional Lohn & Gehalt payroll module — and exposes a public API and 150+ third-party integrations including PayPal and Shopify.

The product is delivered as multi-tenant SaaS accessible via web browser and native iOS/Android apps, with computer-vision-based receipt scanning and automated booking proposals as the primary AI-adjacent features. Revenue is generated through tiered monthly subscriptions (S €7.90, M €12.90, L €21.90, XL €32.90 net/month) plus optional add-ons (payroll, business banking), supported by a 30-day free trial and 50% promotional pricing for the first three months. Distribution is product-led and self-serve via the lexware.de website, mobile app stores, and an indirect channel through 50,000+ tax advisors who recommend the platform to clients — there is no apparent physical retail or reseller channel. The company holds TÜV, GoBD, GDPR, and "Made in Germany" certifications, and has been recognized as a Testsieger by Chip (2025 and 2026), PCgo, PC Magazin, Business IT, and the ntv Deutscher Servicepreis 2026.

Name

lexoffice

Legal name

Lexware Office (Lexware)

Website

https://lexoffice.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lexoffice (now Lexware Office) is a German cloud-based accounting and business-management SaaS for freelancers, sole proprietors, and SMBs up to 50 employees, offering invoicing, e-invoicing, bank reconciliation, DATEV/ELSTER tax workflows, and payroll across tiered subscriptions, with 400,000+ customers and 50,000+ connected tax advisors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cloud Accounting Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210), Payroll Services (541214), Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (5412)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374)

akta.pro primary industry

Bill Pay, Invoicing & Payables Platforms (BPAMAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Payroll Software & Payroll-as-a-Service (SaaS) (BPACAIAB), Software/SaaS Subscriptions (Consumer & Prosumer) (CRAFAIAB), Human Capital Management (HCM) & Payroll Platforms (HDAEAEAJ), Government & Public Sector ACH (Tax, Benefits, Collections) (FSAMAGAH)

Keywords

• Cloud accounting software
• Small business accounting
• E-invoicing solutions
• Tax compliance software
• Payroll management

Headquarters

HQ city

Freiburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Subscription Software Licenses: Tiered subscription model (S, M, L, XL) providing cloud-based accounting software access. Monthly billing with annual payment options. Add-on modules for payroll (Lohn & Gehalt) available separately. Base plans include core accounting features with higher tiers adding advanced capabilities like EÜR, multi-user access, and tax filing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cloud-based accounting SaaS for German freelancers and small businesses, providing automated bookkeeping, e-invoicing, multibanking reconciliation, OCR receipt capture, and integrated ELSTER tax filing. Delivered as a tiered subscription product (S, M, L, XL) with an optional payroll add-on module and native DATEV integration for tax advisor (Steuerberater) data exchange.

Product overview

Lexware Office (formerly lexoffice) is a cloud-based all-in-one business management platform for freelancers, self-employed, and small-to-medium businesses in Germany. The core offering consists of tiered software versions (S, M, L, XL ranging from €7.90 to €32.90/month) that provide accounting, invoicing, order management, document processing, and banking. Optional add-ons include the Lohn & Gehalt payroll module and the Lexware Geschäftskonto business account. The platform connects with over 150 partner extensions for e-commerce, time tracking, and travel expenses, as well as native integrations with DATEV (for tax advisors), ELSTER (for tax authorities), and smartsteuer (for tax returns). A mobile app provides receipt scanning and on-the-go access. The software is web-based (accessible on any OS via browser) with dedicated iOS and Android applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lexware Office (Cloud) Cloud-based accounting and bookkeeping SaaS for German freelancers, sole proprietors, and small businesses. Features automated bank reconciliation (multibanking), OCR-based receipt capture, electronic invoicing, VAT return submission via ELSTER, and DATEV data exchange with tax advisors. Available in four subscription tiers (S, M, L, XL) from €7.90 to €32.90 per month, with companion iOS and Android mobile apps.
• Lexware Office Lohn & Gehalt Optional payroll add-on module for the Lexware Office cloud platform, enabling small business customers to run payroll directly within the same environment as their bookkeeping, with automated tax and social security calculations compliant with German payroll regulations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 90% faster quote/invoice creation compared to Word & Excel
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and parent.

• DATEVcoreTechnology or IntegrationDirect integration enabling DATEV-format data exchange between Lexware Office and tax advisor systems. Electronic Pendelakte (electronic file folder) allows encrypted transfer of all accounting data and documents. Over 50,000 tax advisors in Germany use this connection for digital collaboration with clients.
• smartsteuersupportingTechnology or IntegrationIntegration partner for direct EÜR (income-expenditure statement) transfer to smartsteuer's tax filing software. Users can transfer EÜR data with one click and submit tax returns to Finanzamt. Alternative manual transfer to other tax software also supported.
• ELSTERcoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegrated ELSTER module enables direct electronic transmission of VAT advance returns (USt-Voranmeldung) and consolidated reports (Zusammenfassende Meldung) to German tax authorities (Finanzamt).
• 150+ Integration Partners (PayPal, Shopify, DATEV, and 140+ extensions)coreTechnology or IntegrationOver 150 integration partners including PayPal, Shopify, and 140+ smart extensions for online shops, time tracking, travel expenses, and payment processing. Automatic data exchange eliminates manual re-entry and media breaks.
• Haufe GroupparentStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company providing corporate infrastructure, distribution channels, and brand authority in German business software market. Haufe Group is a major German publishing and software group serving the business software market.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• sevDesk: German cloud-based accounting and invoicing platform targeting freelancers, self-employed, and small businesses. Closely comparable in product scope (invoicing, bookkeeping, banking, tax filing) and target SMB segment in Germany.
• Collmex: German cloud-based accounting, invoicing, and CRM platform for SMBs. Comparable offering across bookkeeping, e-invoicing, DATEV integration, and ERP-like features.
• WISO Mein Büro (Buhl Data): German SMB business management suite covering accounting, invoicing, payroll, and tax filing. A strong direct competitor in the freelancer/SMB segment with comparable ELSTER and DATEV connectivity.
• fastbill: German cloud accounting and invoicing software for SMBs and freelancers. Directly competes with Lexware Office on tiered SaaS pricing, DATEV integration, and automated bookkeeping features in the same target market.
• Buchhaltungsbutter (Unternehmerheld): German cloud accounting tool for freelancers and small businesses with DATEV export and automated bookkeeping. Newer entrant competing directly on simplicity and SMB focus.
• Agenda Software (Agenda Online): Established German accounting and business management software for SMBs, tradespeople, and freelancers. Comparable in offering bookkeeping, invoicing, payroll, and DATEV collaboration.

Regional players

• Xero: Global cloud accounting leader for SMBs with comparable subscription pricing and ecosystem of integration partners. Comparable in product design and GTM motion, but operates outside Germany — illustrating the geographic ceiling Lexware Office faces.

Broad incumbents

• DATEV: Dominant German cooperative providing accounting, tax, and ERP software primarily to tax advisors. While more advisor-focused than SMB, its standards and interfaces deeply shape the German accounting ecosystem in which Lexware Office competes.
• Sage (Germany): Global SMB accounting software incumbent with a German portfolio (Sage 50, Sage Business Cloud, Debitoor). Overlaps with Lexware Office across invoicing, bookkeeping, and payroll, but at broader scale and broader product portfolio.

Others

• Lexware (Desktop, Haufe Group): Sibling product line under parent Haufe Group — installed desktop accounting software for German SMBs. Now being unified with Lexware Office under a single brand, but historically the on-premise counterpart to the cloud offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LexOffice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lexware
• Xx.com/lexoffice

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about lexoffice