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Accounting and invoicing for creators

Brands pay with money, with products or with both. Platforms pay commissions, brands book videos with usage rights, and the gear wants to be written off. Saldiqo writes your invoices, shows what is paid and lets you record what you received in return.

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What comes up for creators

Many clients, small amounts

A video for one brand, a package for the next, commissions from platforms in between. Every job needs its invoice and every payment has to be matched to a job.

Money and products

Brands send products, sometimes instead of money, sometimes on top. The package is part of the payment, and you should record what it was worth.

Usage rights and packages

One video, three variants, raw footage, use as an ad for six months: brands buy more than footage, and the invoice should show it.

Gear and expenses

Camera, lights, microphone, computer, software and travel are business costs that add up over the year.

How Saldiqo helps

  • Invoice with scopeYou create videos, variants, usage rights and raw footage as lines. The brand sees what it pays for.
  • Deposit before productionFrom the quote you create the deposit invoice. The final invoice deducts it.
  • Record payment in kindIf you got a product instead of money, you write the invoice as usual, state product and value in the description and mark it paid with the payment method other.
  • Match paymentsUpload the bank statement or platform payout, and Saldiqo suggests the matching invoice.
  • Receipts from the shootPhotograph the receipt with your phone and capture it as an expense, including props and travel.

Typical invoice lines

Examples that often appear on invoices in this industry. You set the prices yourself.

  • Video, 30 seconds, vertical, concept and production
  • Two extra variants with a different hook
  • Usage rights for paid ads, six months
  • Raw footage and project files
  • Payment in kind: product package worth 180
  • Deposit 50 % before production starts

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

How do I treat free products?

Products you receive from brands in return for content usually count as income at their value for tax. How you treat them in your case, you clear with your tax adviser. In Saldiqo you record product and value in the invoice.

Can I invoice brands abroad?

Yes. For businesses in other EU countries you choose the tax type reverse charge. For brands outside the EU you clear with your tax adviser which rule applies.

Do I need a business registration as a creator?

That depends on your country and your activity. Saldiqo writes invoices and calculates, but does not replace advice on registration.

Do creators 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 creators 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 creators 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

Write invoices, match payments, collect receipts and send reminders: free and without a trial period.

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As of October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice, without guarantee. For your case ask your tax adviser.