Accounting and invoicing for cloud kitchens
A kitchen without a dining room, brands only in the delivery portal, several concepts under one roof: a cloud kitchen earns through platforms and pays commission. Saldiqo separates the brands by cost centre, records portal statements and shows which brand really earns money after commission and goods.
What comes up for cloud kitchens
Several brands, one kitchen
Burgers, bowls and pasta from the same kitchen have their own prices and goods. The result per brand matters.
Portal commission
Each portal keeps a commission. The statement contains orders, commission and credits.
Company orders
Offices order lunch on invoice. That runs outside the portals.
How Saldiqo helps
- Cost centre per brandAssign income, goods and commission per brand.
- Record portal statementsUpload the bank statement and separate receipts per portal, commission as an expense.
- Company orders by invoiceRecurring invoice for regular offices, invoice for single orders.
- Record purchasesSupplier invoices with their due date.
Typical invoice lines
Examples that often appear on invoices in this industry. You set the prices yourself.
- Office lunch, 22 menus, week 45
- Catering platter for a meeting, 12 people
- Delivery, flat fee
- Drinks as ordered
- Deposit for containers
- Monthly lunch subscription
Tax and invoicing in the UK
What applies to invoices in the UK, in short. As of October 2026.
- VAT
- Standard rate 20 %, reduced rate 5 % and zero rate 0 %. Saldiqo calculates each invoice line with the rate you pick.
- VAT registration
- You must register once your taxable turnover passes £90,000 over any 12 months, or you expect to pass it within the next 30 days. You can deregister below £88,000. Until you are registered, your invoices show no VAT, and Saldiqo adds up your 12-month turnover for you.
- What goes on an invoice
- If you are VAT registered: your VAT number, the tax point, unit prices and the VAT total in pounds. A limited company shows its registered name on every invoice, and its company number, registered office and part of the UK on letters, order forms and the website.
- E-invoicing
- There is no mandate today. From April 2029 e-invoicing is planned for all B2B and B2G sales that carry VAT, through Peppol. The exact date and standard are not yet in law, and the government’s roadmap follows with the Budget on 28 October 2026.
- VAT returns
- VAT returns go to HMRC through Making Tax Digital, usually quarterly, due one month and seven days after the period. Saldiqo shows sales and VAT per rate and exports CSV. It does not submit to HMRC, and for Making Tax Digital you need software recognised by HMRC.
- Record keeping
- Keep VAT records for 6 years.
- Late payment
- Statutory interest on late business payments is the Bank Rate (3.75 % in the second half of 2026) plus 8 points, so 11.75 %. On top comes fixed compensation of £40, £70 or £100, depending on the amount owed (under £1,000, from £1,000, from £10,000). Consumers have no statutory interest.
- Getting paid
- Your sort code and account number are on every invoice. Customers pay by Faster Payments or Bacs, and banks check the account name with Confirmation of Payee. There is no QR standard in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Can I evaluate brands separately?
Yes, with cost centres per brand.
How do I record portal commission?
You upload the bank statement. The receipts are income, and you record the commission as an expense.
Do cloud kitchens in the UK have to charge VAT?
Only once they are VAT registered. Registration is required when taxable turnover passes £90,000 over any 12 months, or is expected to within the next 30 days. Below that you may register voluntarily. If you are not registered, you must not show VAT on your invoices.
Do cloud kitchens in the UK need e-invoicing?
Not today. A mandate for B2B and B2G sales with VAT is planned from April 2029, and the details were still open as of October 2026. You can keep sending PDF invoices for now.
How long should cloud kitchens keep invoices?
Keep VAT records for 6 years. You can store receipts digitally in Saldiqo. The legal duty to keep records stays with you.
Try Saldiqo for free
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As of October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice, without guarantee. For your case ask your tax adviser.