Haufe-Lexware
Haufe Group SE is a privately held German B2B provider of integrated business and workplace solutions, delivering accounting, tax, HR, and legal compliance software (Haufe-Lexware), professional training (Haufe Akademie), and publishing content to SMEs, tax advisors, and HR/legal professionals across German-speaking markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1934
- HeadquartersFreiburg, Germany
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Haufe-Lexware does
Haufe Group SE, headquartered in Freiburg, Germany, is a privately held B2B provider of integrated business and workplace solutions serving German-speaking markets since 1934. The company combines three business lines — content/publishing, software, and professional training — under a unified group structure with 1,001-5,000 employees and wholly-owned subsidiaries in Germany, Spain, and Romania. Its core product surface is the Haufe-Lexware suite, which delivers accounting, tax, HR, and legal compliance software for SMEs, tax advisors, HR professionals, and legal professionals, complemented by Haufe Akademie for compliance and professional training, Smartsteuer for consumer/SMB tax preparation, Semigator for seminar booking, and Compliance College as a digital compliance training module. The technology stack is centered on digital business software with proprietary compliance management infrastructure and electronic invoicing systems supporting European standards (EN 16931, XRechnung, ZUGFeRD 2.x, PEPPOL/Traffiqx transmission).
The business model is primarily subscription-based software licensing for Lexware and Smartsteuer, augmented by recurring content and publishing revenue from Rudolf Haufe Verlag, Schäffer-Poeschel Verlag, and Verlag für Controlling Wissen, and professional services revenue from Haufe Akademie (training programs, compliance college, in-house consulting). Distribution is sales-led via direct digital channels, the Haufe Service Center, and a multi-channel marketing presence (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, XING, blog, newsletter); pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company is governed as a European Aktiengesellschaft (SE) with CEO Birte Hackenjos and CFO Harald Wagner serving as Managing Directors since 2020, and Alexander Laqua as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Strategic positioning emphasizes digital transformation of the workplace, German regulatory compliance (including LkSG supply chain due diligence), and sustainability.
Haufe-Lexware firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Haufe-Lexware
- Legal name
- Haufe Group SE
- Website
- https://haufegroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1934
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Haufe Group SE is a privately held German B2B provider of integrated business and workplace solutions, delivering accounting, tax, HR, and legal compliance software (Haufe-Lexware), professional training (Haufe Akademie), and publishing content to SMEs, tax advisors, and HR/legal professionals across German-speaking markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Haufe-Lexware industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Business Software (Accounting, Tax, HR & Compliance)
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132), Software Publishers (51321), Software Publishers (513210), Document Preparation Services (561410)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Legal & Governance Professional Development (EDAGANAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Legal Practice Management & Case Management (BPAEAPAC), eDiscovery, Litigation Support & Legal Hold (BPAEAPAE)
Keywords
Where Haufe-Lexware is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Freiburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Haufe-Lexware business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software Subscriptions: Subscription-based software products including Lexware (accounting, tax, and personnel software for businesses and tax advisors), serving the German-speaking markets
- Training and Education Services: Haufe Akademie provides professional training and development programs, compliance college solutions, and in-house training services
- Publishing and Content: Publishing division including Rudolf Haufe Verlag, Schäffer-Poeschel Verlag, and Verlag für Controlling Wissen providing professional content and legal information services
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Haufe-Lexware product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Haufe-Lexware provides a comprehensive business software suite covering accounting, tax preparation, HR/personnel management, legal information, and compliance tools for German-speaking businesses and professionals. The offering is complemented by Haufe Akademie professional training, publishing houses (Rudolf Haufe Verlag, Schäffer-Poeschel Verlag, Verlag für Controlling Wissen), and complementary digital services such as Smartsteuer (consumer tax software), Semigator (seminar booking), Compliance College, and Haufe Group Secure E-Mail.
Product overview
Haufe Group operates as a B2B provider of integrated business and workplace solutions, offering content, software, and training. The core product is Haufe-Lexware, a comprehensive business software suite providing legal information, tax solutions, and compliance tools. The portfolio includes Haufe Akademie (professional training), Smartsteuer (tax preparation), and Semigator (seminar booking), all unified under the Haufe Group umbrella. The ecosystem is complemented by specialized solutions like Compliance College for digital compliance training and Haufe Group Secure E-Mail for encrypted communications. The company is headquartered in Freiburg, Germany.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Haufe Compliance College: An integrated digital solution for compliance training from Haufe Akademie.
- Haufe Akademie
- Haufe Group Ventures
- Haufe Service Center
- Haufe-Lexware Secure E-Mail
Companies that use Haufe-Lexware
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Haufe-Lexware technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Haufe-Lexware partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Haufe-Lexware competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DATEV: German cooperative-owned provider of accounting, tax, and ERP software for tax advisors, auditors, and SMBs. Most direct competitor to Haufe-Lexware in the German tax/accountant channel.
- Buhl Data Service: German SMB-focused software publisher behind WISO Steuer, tax, and accounting products. Competes with Smartsteuer and Lexware for end-consumer and freelancer tax/accounting workflows.
- Addison (Addison One Accounting): German accounting and ERP software for SMBs and tax advisors; an established DATEV/Haufe-Lexware alternative in the German Mittelstand channel.
- Cegos Group: International corporate training and compliance learning provider comparable to Haufe Akademie, including digital compliance and in-house training offerings.
Broad incumbents
- Wolters Kluwer: Global professional information, software, and compliance services group with strong tax, legal, and audit products. Comparable through Schäffer-Poeschel and Haufe legal publishing businesses.
- Sage Group: Global SMB accounting, payroll, and HR software provider with a meaningful German presence (Sage HR, Sage 50). Competes with Lexware across accounting and personnel software.
- LexisNexis: Global legal, regulatory, and compliance information provider. Comparable to Haufe's legal information services and compliance content portfolio.
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central: Mid-market ERP and business management suite from Microsoft, increasingly targeting German SMBs with localized finance and HR functionality adjacent to Lexware.
- Springer Nature / Springer Fachmedien: German-language professional and academic publisher with overlapping tax, law, and HR professional content; comparable to Haufe Verlag and Schäffer-Poeschel.
Emerging players
- Haufe competitor: SevDesk: Cloud-native German SMB accounting and invoicing platform; pressures Haufe-Lexware on UX and pricing in the freelancer/SMB segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Haufe-Lexware social profiles
Digital presenceHaufe-Lexware financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Haufe-Lexware leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Haufe-Lexware subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries11 records
Haufe-Lexware funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Haufe-Lexware M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Haufe-Lexware
What does Haufe-Lexware do?
Haufe-Lexware provides a comprehensive business software suite covering accounting, tax preparation, HR/personnel management, legal information, and compliance tools for German-speaking businesses and professionals. The offering is complemented by Haufe Akademie professional training, publishing houses (Rudolf Haufe Verlag, Schäffer-Poeschel Verlag, Verlag für Controlling Wissen), and complementary digital services such as Smartsteuer (consumer tax software), Semigator (seminar booking), Compliance College, and Haufe Group Secure E-Mail.
Is Haufe-Lexware a public or private company?
Haufe-Lexware is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Haufe-Lexware founded?
Haufe-Lexware was founded in 1934. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Haufe-Lexware based?
Haufe-Lexware is headquartered in Freiburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Haufe-Lexware make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Software Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are training and Education Services and publishing and Content.
Who are Haufe-Lexware's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DATEV, Buhl Data Service, Addison (Addison One Accounting) and Cegos Group. Broad incumbents are Wolters Kluwer, Sage Group, LexisNexis, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Springer Nature / Springer Fachmedien. Haufe competitor: SevDesk is listed as an emerging player.
Does Haufe-Lexware have an API?
No public API is recorded for Haufe-Lexware.
What industry is Haufe-Lexware in?
Haufe-Lexware's product category is Business Software (Accounting, Tax, HR & Compliance). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGANAK, Legal & Governance Professional Development, with a secondary code of BPAEAPAC, Legal Practice Management & Case Management. Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.