Freelancer accounting in Odoo: a Belgian starter guide

Accounting for freelancers in Belgium: simplify your administration with Odoo

Bookkeeping as a Belgian freelancer is often more demanding than the work itself. Between VAT returns, expense notes, invoices and admin obligations, it is easy to lose track. Fortunately, Odoo accounting provides an integrated solution tailored to self-employed professionals and freelancers.

In this guide you will discover how to start with Odoo accounting as a Belgian freelancer, which features will be most valuable to you, and how to set up a professional accounting system in just a few hours—without becoming an accountant.

Why choose Odoo as a Belgian freelancer?

Many freelancers begin with Excel and end up in chaos. What you need is a tool that:

1. Automatically records invoices and expenses
2. Calculates VAT according to Belgian rules
3. Provides clear cash flow and tax insights
4. Scales as your business grows

Odoo combines all these features into one user-friendly platform—from project tracking and invoicing to automatic VAT reports.

Step-by-step: how to start Odoo accounting as a freelancer

1. Activate and configure the accounting module

Install the Accounting app. Set the country to Belgium for built-in VAT rules and reports. Select self-employed without staff for a streamlined setup.

2. Add your clients and services

Under Sales > Customers, add your clients. In Products, define your hourly services or packages. Assign VAT (usually 21 %) and indicate whether the client is taxable. Odoo handles the rest.

3. Create your first invoice

In Sales > Invoices, generate your first invoice. Odoo auto-populates VAT details, bank account, and structured reference for Belgian payments. Send as PDF or email. Odoo 18 supports Peppol e‑invoicing.

4. Record expenses and receipts

Add vendor bills or personal expenses via Purchases. Enter manually or use AI-recognition. With a bank link (e.g., KBC or Belfius), transactions sync automatically. Match expenses to VAT codes, projects, or clients.

5. Monitor cash flow and manage VAT

Your dashboard shows outstanding invoices, incoming payments, and expected expenses. Use Reports > Tax Returns to generate your quarterly VAT filing overview with one click.
Say goodbye to Excel error.

Why accounting for freelancers doesn’t have to be hard

Many freelancers fear bookkeeping because it seems complicated. With Odoo you get:

1. Fully digital invoicing
2. VAT calculation per Belgian law
3. Up-to-date cash flow reporting
4. Bank connections for automation
5. A scalable solution that grows with your business

Whether you are a designer, consultant, marketer, or IT specialist, Odoo Accounting supports your freelance activity efficiently.

Automate your admin with Bodoo

Good accounting is essential for your professional reputation and financial stability. With Odoo, Belgian freelancers gain control without extra hassle.
At Bodoo we help self-employed starters configure Odoo correctly, so your accounting runs automatically and you can focus on clients.