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Accounting and invoicing for interior furnishers

Curtains, sun protection, upholstery, flooring and wall design: interior furnishers sell fabrics and accessories, sew and fit. Saldiqo writes quotes with fabric by the metre and fitting, issues a deposit on made-to-measure work and records fabric and accessory invoices per job.

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What comes up for interior furnishers

Goods, making and fitting

Fabric by the metre, sewing by the hour, fitting as a flat fee: an invoice has many price types.

Made to measure with a deposit

Fabrics are ordered and cut. The deposit covers the purchase.

Contract customers

Hotels, practices and offices order larger quantities and pay on terms.

How Saldiqo helps

  • Quote with fabric by the metreFabric, making and fitting as items with quantity.
  • Deposit on orderFrom the quote you create the deposit invoice.
  • Material per jobRecord fabric and accessory invoices and assign them.
  • Contract customers with payment termsContacts with a payment term and reminder.

Typical invoice lines

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

  • Curtain fabric, by the metre, 18 metres
  • Sewing curtains, hours
  • Fitting rails and hangers
  • Pleated blind made to measure, each
  • Upholstery work armchair, re-covering
  • Deposit 50 % on order

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 fabric by the metre and making?

You create fabrics as items with a price per metre and making as an item with hours. Both appear as separate lines.

Can I bill deposits for made-to-measure work?

Yes. The quote becomes the deposit invoice, and the final invoice deducts it.

Do interior furnishers 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 interior furnishers 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 interior furnishers 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.