E-invoicing for hotels
Hotel e-invoicing: create ZUGFeRD, receive XRechnung
STRYK turns the invoice your hotel has issued into a checked Factur-X/ZUGFeRD file, and accepts XRechnung and Factur-X from your suppliers.
- Factur-X/ZUGFeRD checked against EN 16931
- Receive XRechnung and Factur-X
- First Factur-X invoice in the free trial
In short
An e-invoice is an invoice with structured data that software can read without retyping it. A plain PDF file does not qualify. STRYK creates a checked Factur-X/ZUGFeRD document from finalised invoices and sends it by email. STRYK accepts incoming XRechnung and Factur-X files as supplier invoices. STRYK does not create an XRechnung as an outgoing format.
Updated
Where e-invoicing gets stuck in a hotel
Under Germany's phased obligation, e-invoices reach reception and the back office, often before anyone knows how to read or create them.
- Today
The accounts department of a corporate client returns your invoice for three nights: their system cannot read a PDF file. You retype the invoice in a second program and send it again.
With STRYKSTRYK creates a Factur-X/ZUGFeRD file from the issued invoice and checks it beforehand against the European standard EN 16931. The file goes to the recipient by email.
Read more - Today
Your beverage supplier emails an XRechnung as an XML file. On the reception PC it opens as a wall of text, and nobody knows whether the amounts and the tax rate are right.
With STRYKSTRYK accepts XRechnung (UBL and CII) and Factur-X as supplier invoices. Nobody has to copy amounts and the tax rate out of a wall of text.
Read more - Today
You are not sure from when your hotel must issue e-invoices, or whether the invoice to a private guest counts. Every answer sounds different.
With STRYKThe questions on this page place the deadlines for Germany in context, with the legal reference and the status date. In STRYK the e-invoice is created in the same place as the invoice, without a second program.
Read more
An invoicing day with corporate guests and suppliers
A sample day in a 25-room hotel where corporate guests arrive on weekdays and an external accountant does the bookkeeping.
Process a supplier invoice
Overnight, an XRechnung from the laundry service arrived by email. You upload the file as a supplier invoice in STRYK instead of opening the XML file on the front desk PC. On request, the document goes to your accountant with the next monthly handover.
Check-out of a corporate guest
A guest checks out of room 12 after three nights. At check-out, open items such as minibar charges go onto the invoice. You issue the invoice, and after that it cannot be changed.
Create the Factur-X file
You create the e-invoice for the finalised invoice. STRYK checks it against EN 16931 and assembles the file and the PDF. Only a checked file can be sent.
Send to the company
The invoice goes by email to the accounts department of the corporate client. There, staff open the PDF, and their software reads the embedded data itself.
Correct with a credit note
The corporate client reports a wrong stay period. You do not change an issued invoice; you correct it with a cancellation or a credit note. The corrected invoice gets its own file.
End-of-day close
The hotel-wide end-of-day close flags open items and invoice drafts. Before going off shift, the night porter sees what is still missing on invoices before morning.
What STRYK offers for e-invoices in a hotel
Outgoing and incoming invoices, plus correction and the handover to your accountant.
Factur-X/ZUGFeRD for outgoing invoices
STRYK creates a Factur-X/ZUGFeRD document from an issued invoice. Before creation, the document is checked against EN 16931. The PDF of the invoice is available in 18 document languages, with your hotel logo.
Read moreInvoices cannot be changed once issued
An issued invoice stays as it is. You correct an error with a cancellation or a credit note. This way the file you sent always matches what is in the books.
Read moreReceiving XRechnung and Factur-X
STRYK receives XRechnung in the UBL and CII formats, and Factur-X for your supplier invoices. The data is then structured, instead of staying in the inbox as an XML file.
Read moreHandover to the accountant
Each month your accountant receives a journal as DATEV, BMD, CSV or Excel, with a document pack on request. Outgoing invoices and incoming documents are then in one place.
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PDF invoice or checked e-invoice
The difference shows in the recipient's back office and in yours, as soon as an error occurs.
| Task | PDF from a Word template | Factur-X from STRYK |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice to a corporate client | Word or PDF template, often sent back by the recipient if their system cannot read it. | Factur-X/ZUGFeRD from the issued invoice, checked against EN 16931, sent by email. |
| Supplier invoice as XRechnung | XML file with no program to read it; amounts are typed into the journal by hand. | Received as a supplier invoice in STRYK, handed over to your accountant with the monthly journal. |
| Correction after sending | New file under the same number, later disputes in the correspondence. | Cancellation or credit note; the corrected invoice gets its own file. |
| Invoice language for guests and companies | Maintain a template per language yourself. | PDF in 18 document languages with the hotel logo. |
| Handover to the accountant | Documents by email, folder or USB stick. | Monthly journal as DATEV, BMD, CSV or Excel, with a document pack on request. |
One price that grows with your property
The e-invoice is part of the core invoicing features. The core price has no revenue commission, and the number of users is unlimited. For online payments through STRYK, a platform fee of 1.9% applies, plus the costs of the payment provider. Costs for your email address and third-party services may apply in addition.
Pricing in detail€59 base fee + €6 per room or unit per month
Example with 25 rooms€209per month
- 14-day free trial
- No setup fee
- Personal onboarding
Net prices, annual billing. 20% off the base fee in the first contract year.
How to prepare your hotel for e-invoices
What to do before the first e-invoice, in this order.
Clarify the obligation and who it affects
Note which invoices go to companies and which go to private guests. Ask your accountant from when your business must issue e-invoices.
Collect the company recipient details
For your ten most frequent corporate clients, check that the address, the invoice recipient and the email address of their accounts department are complete.
Import invoice data and test it
We guide the import of your guests, corporate clients and bookings from CSV, XLSX or ZIP. A test run shows beforehand which company has an incomplete address.
Walk through the first e-invoice
Create an invoice for a corporate client, send it to your own address, and ask your accountant to look at the file.
Frequently asked questions
From when must my hotel issue e-invoices?
In Germany, at the latest from 1 January 2028, for invoices to other businesses in Germany. Every business has had to be able to receive e-invoices since 1 January 2025. If your total turnover in the previous year exceeded 800,000 euros, the transition period already ends on 1 January 2027 (§ 27 para. 38 UStG, status October 2026). This is guidance and does not replace tax advice.
Does the e-invoice obligation also apply to private guests?
No, there is no obligation to issue e-invoices to private individuals. The obligation covers invoices to businesses, such as corporate clients and business travellers. Small-amount invoices up to 250 euros gross are exempt in Germany (§ 33 UStDV). An overnight stay with breakfast is often below that amount, a corporate stay of several nights usually above it.
Is ZUGFeRD the same as XRechnung?
No. ZUGFeRD is a PDF with embedded invoice data and is technically the same as the French Factur-X. An XRechnung is a pure XML file with no visual layout. STRYK creates Factur-X/ZUGFeRD and receives both formats, but accepts XRechnung only as an incoming invoice.
How do I receive e-invoices from suppliers in STRYK?
You upload the document as a supplier invoice in STRYK. The formats XRechnung (UBL and CII) and Factur-X are accepted. With the document pack of the monthly handover, your accountant also receives these documents. How your suppliers send the files is something you agree with them.
Can STRYK deliver e-invoices via Peppol?
No. STRYK sends the Factur-X file by email and has no Peppol delivery. This also applies to Austria, where sending by email is possible only with restrictions. Check in advance whether your corporate client accepts receipt by email.
How do I correct an e-invoice that the customer rejects?
With a cancellation or a credit note. An issued invoice cannot be changed in STRYK, even if the file has already been sent. For the new invoice, you create a separate Factur-X file.
Create a first Factur-X invoice in the test
We set up STRYK with your data and go through the first Factur-X invoice with you. To start, send a request for the 14-day trial.