Accounting and invoicing for dog boarding kennels
Overnight stays in the holidays, day care during the week, pick-up service and extras: a boarding kennel has bookings with deposits and peaks in summer and at Christmas. Saldiqo issues deposits, writes final invoices after the stay and bills day care monthly.
What comes up for dog boarding kennels
Bookings with a deposit
Holiday places are booked out months ahead. The deposit secures the place and belongs on the final invoice.
Day care on subscription
Regulars bring their dog on fixed days. The invoice comes monthly.
Cancellations and extensions
Bookings are cancelled or extended. Every change needs a clean correction.
How Saldiqo helps
- Deposit and final invoiceFrom the booking you create the deposit. The final invoice deducts it.
- Day care as a recurring invoiceMonthly invoice on schedule.
- Credit note on cancellationLinked to the deposit.
- ExtrasPick-up service, medication and grooming as lines.
Typical invoice lines
Examples that often appear on invoices in this industry. You set the prices yourself.
- Boarding, 10 nights, dog
- Day care, November, 3 days a week
- Pick-up service, flat fee
- Medication administration, day
- Deposit 30 % on booking
- Credit note: cancellation of 3 nights
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 bill holiday bookings with a deposit?
With a deposit invoice on booking and a final invoice after the stay.
How do I handle cancellations?
With a credit note to the deposit if you pay it back, otherwise as a cancellation fee.
Do dog boarding kennels 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 dog boarding kennels 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 dog boarding kennels keep invoices?
Keep VAT records for 6 years. You can store receipts digitally in Saldiqo. The legal duty to keep records stays with you.
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As of October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice, without guarantee. For your case ask your tax adviser.