Haufe-Lexware

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.

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

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

• Business software
• Compliance management
• Tax software
• Professional training
• Legal information

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, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Subscriptions: Subscription-based software products including Lexware (accounting, tax, and personnel software for businesses and tax advisors), serving the German-speaking markets
2. Training and Education Services: Haufe Akademie provides professional training and development programs, compliance college solutions, and in-house training services
3. 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

Core 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

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct 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

• Facebookfacebook.com/haufe.group.careers
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/haufe-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/haufe.group
• Xx.com/HG_Jobs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A2 records

Investments3 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Haufe-Lexware