The best invoicing software for short-term rentals to know about

DIY management n’a plus sa place dans un secteur devenu concurrentiel et fortement régulé. La facturation, autrefois simple formalité, est désormais un enjeu stratégique mêlant conformité, relation client et performance. Entre taxe de séjour, statut LMNP, risques de basculement en para-hôtellerie ou obligations fiscales, la gestion manuelle — souvent via Excel — n’est plus seulement chronophage : elle devient risquée, voire illégale.

Looking for a billing software for short-term rentals therefore comes down to choosing a true PMS capable of automating flows, ensuring compliance, and simplifying an ever more demanding accounting.

This guide outlines the legal framework, compares eight market solutions, and presents alternatives to help each professional choose a tool not for its price, but for the protection and value it brings.

The usefulness of a billing software for your short-term rental

Invoicing in short-term rentals is not optional: it is a legal obligation and a marker of professionalism.

Billing: obligation and opportunity

• B2C : invoice only if the customer requests it.
• B2B : invoicing mandatory in all cases.

The corporate market — seminars, business travel — requires impeccable invoices. Without a reliable tool, it’s impossible to attract this clientele. Note: an individual without a SIRET cannot issue an invoice, only receipts. Invoicing therefore implies a status (LMNP, micro-enterprise, or company).

VAT and tourist tax: the real challenge

The difficulty lies not in the invoice, but in the taxes :

• VAT: the LMNP exemption is dropped as soon as three para-hotel services are provided (breakfast, cleaning during stay, linen refreshed, reception). Many switch without realizing it and become liable for the 10% rate.
• Tourist tax: varies by night, guest, and rating; collected by platforms but to be managed by yourself for direct bookings.

A software must be able to handle these variations automatically.

Why Excel has become dangerous

As soon as a manager becomes VAT-liable, Excel and Word become illegal: the anti-fraud law requires certified software guaranteeing immutability and traceability. Even without VAT, manual management multiplies errors, wastes time and complicates advances, deposits and owner reports.

The benefits of dedicated software

A PMS centralizes reservations, communication, invoicing and taxes. Connected to platforms, it prevents double bookings, automates owner statements, calculates commissions and fees, and brings transparency and professionalism. In short: a billing software is no longer a luxury, but a tool for compliance, efficiency and growth.

Top 8 des logiciels de gestion avec fonction de facturation

The market analysis confirms it: the "customer invoicing" function is no longer sold as a standalone software. It is now an essential and integrated component of Property Management Systems (PMS) and of the Channel Managers. Searching for a "billing software" today equates to searching for a PMS.

Our comparative analysis does not simply list tools. It assesses the robustness, automation and compliance of their invoicing module for the French market, particularly on the hard points of VAT and tourist tax.

Tableau comparatif : Functionnalités clés de facturation des PMS

This table summarizes the invoicing capabilities of the major solutions operating in France. The choice of a tool will depend on the fit between these features and the manager’s business model (Independent vs. Concierge service).

Logiciel	Business Model Cible	Gestion Niveaux TVA (0%, 10%...)	Gestion Taxe de Séjour	Facturation Client (Auto)	Rapports Propriétaires (Auto)	Conformité France (Point Fort)
Smoobu	Indépendants, Petits Gérants	Yes (Configurable)	Yes (Configurable)	Yes	No (Basic module)	Simplicity, Numbering
Lodgify + Faakiir	Concierge services	Yes (Advanced)	Yes	Yes	Yes (Specialized)	French concierge-specific
Amenitiz	Hotels, Gîtes, Independents	Yes	Yes (Dedicated reports)	Yes	No	Tourist Tax Reports
Eviivo	Hotels, Residences	Yes (Advanced)	Yes	Yes	Yes (Advanced)	Accounting rigor (Deferred revenue)
Superhote	Indépendants, Concierge services	Yes (Basic)	Yes (CSV export)	Yes	Yes (Basic)	Automation, FR market
Elloha	Gîtes, Chambres d'hôtes	Yes (Advanced)	Yes	Yes (POS)	No	Compliance with Anti-Fraud Law (Cash)
Holidu	Indépendants (Service model)	Managed by Holidu	Managed by Holidu	Yes (Service included)	Yes (Service included)	Zero-hassle service
Hostfully	Managers (International)	Yes (Configurable)	Yes (Configurable)	Yes	Yes (Advanced)	Power of payments

Analyses détaillées des 8 solutions de facturation

1. Smoobu : La simplicité pour les indépendants

Smoobu is a PMS/Channel Manager of German origin, very popular in Europe for its simplicity and efficiency. It includes a native comprehensive invoicing system.

• Billing module analysis : Smoobu allows creating customizable invoice templates (logo, footer). The user can configure different tax rates (VAT) and apply them to reservations. Invoices can be generated and sent to travelers. The system also handles credit notes and payment tracking (paid/unpaid).
• Compliance and numbering : A strong point for compliance is automatic sequential numbering. The system assigns the number "1", then "2", and so on, ensuring chronology. The user can reset this counter, which requires discipline, but the basic functionality is present.
• Positioning : It’s the all-in-one solution ideal for the LMNP owner who manages a portfolio of a few properties, who needs to generate compliant PDF invoices for direct bookings, but who does not have the accounting complexity of a concierge (managing owner commissions).

2. Lodgify + Faakiir : Le duo le plus pointu pour les conciergeries françaises

Lodgify is a powerful PMS, known for its website builder and direct booking engine. While it has native accounting features, its real asset for the French market lies in its deep integration with Faakiir.

• Faakiir integration analysis : Faakiir is a billing software specifically designed for French concierge services. The integration allows Faakiir to automatically retrieve all reservation data (amounts, dates, channel) from Lodgify.
• Key features : This solution solves the most complex problem: not client invoicing, but owner invoicing. Faakiir automates the generation of Airbnb invoices detailed for owners, calculating commissions, adding concierge fees, cleaning fees, and other additional charges. It also handles invoicing for external providers (such as cleaning teams).
• Compliance : The system is designed for French taxation. It handles VAT on commissions and automatically applies the required legal mentions, such as "VAT not applicable, Article 293 B of the CGI" for micro-entrepreneurs.
• Positioning : This is the most sophisticated and specialized solution for a growing concierge service. It turns a complex accounting obligation into a smooth, automated process.

3. Amenitiz : Gestion intégrée de la taxe de séjour

Amenitiz is an all-in-one solution (PMS, Channel Manager, website creator) highly valued by independent hoteliers and guest houses in France. Its billing module is automated, but its distinctive strength is its granular management of the tourist tax.

• Tax module analysis : Amenitiz’s PMS lets managers create and configure their tourist tax directly in the system, whether calculated as a fixed amount (€) or as a percentage (%).
• Management and reporting : The tax is then automatically added to reservations. The most important feature is the ability to extract dedicated tourist tax reports. This greatly simplifies periodic declarations to local authorities.
• Limitations and transparency : Amenitiz notes that this report is an "estimate." The reason is that some OTAs (booking platforms) manage tax collection opacity, and the PMS cannot always extract this data with certainty. The general charges report also excludes the tourist tax for clarity.
• Positioning : Amenitiz is a leading solution for French managers looking to automate the notoriously complex and time-consuming task of tourist tax declarations.

4. Eviivo : Le spécialiste de la conformité comptable

Eviivo, très implanté au Royaume-Uni et en Europe, se positionne sur le segment de la rigueur comptable. La plateforme va au-delà de la simple facturation pour s'adresser aux gestionnaires ayant des obligations de reporting financier strict.

• Analyse du module comptable : Le "Payment Manager" d'Eviivo gère la sécurité et l'automatisation des paiements. Mais c'est le "Performance Manager" qui offre une intégration comptable poussée (connexions natives avec Xero, QuickBooks, et exports CSV).
• Gestion avancée des revenus : Eviivo est l'un des seuls acteurs à communiquer activement sur des concepts comptables avancés. Leurs analyses portent sur la gestion du revenu différé ("deferred revenue"). Ils expliquent la nécessité de comptabiliser les acomptes et prépaiements en tant que passif (une dette envers le client) et non en revenu immédiat (ce que font à tort de nombreux gestionnaires).
• Positionnement : Eviivo parle le langage des experts-comptables. C'est la solution de choix pour les hôtels indépendants, les résidences de tourisme ou les grands gestionnaires qui doivent produire des états financiers exacts et auditables, et garantir une comptabilité conforme aux règles de l'art.

5. Superhote : Le challenger français automatisé

Superhote is a French PMS that has built its reputation on advanced automation of rental management.

• Analyse du module de facturation : The platform includes a dedicated module to automate sending guest invoices. A demonstration illustrates the simplicity: the manager clicks on the reservation, can modify traveler information if needed, and clicks "send".
• Gestion fiscale : The system manages the links between payment (via Stripe) and invoicing. It also includes management of the tourist tax, allowing configuration of additional taxes and exporting data in CSV format for declarations.
• Limites : A public evolution request suggests that managing multiple VAT rates (for example, one rate for the rental, another for catering services) is not yet as advanced as some competitors, forcing the user to use an external tool for complex cases.
• Positionnement : Superhote est une excellente solution "plug-and-play" pour les gestionnaires LCD et conciergeries ciblant le marché français. Elle offre un très haut niveau d'automatisation pour les tâches courantes, y compris la facturation client et la gestion de la taxe de séjour.

6. Elloha : L'atout "conformité" (Système de Caisse Certifié)

Elloha is a French player that stands out from its competitors. It offers not only a PMS, but a true integrated POS cash register system.

• Maximum legal compliance : The "elloha POS" app is specifically designed to comply with the 2018 anti-fraud law. It is mandatory for all professionals who process payments (on-site or online) and are VAT liable. Elloha allows creating compliant receipts, managing counter sales, and producing end-of-day cash closings (Z).
• Tax management : Beyond the "cash register" aspect, the platform robustly handles invoicing. It allows configuring taxes (VAT) and automatically includes the legal mention "Article 293 B" for non-taxpayers. It also handles tourist tax configuration and dedicated exports.
• Positioning : It is the most secure option from a legal standpoint for gîtes, chambres d'hôtes, campsites or small hotels. It covers both online bookings and on-site sales (breakfasts, bar, additional services), while guaranteeing tax compliance that few other PMS can claim.

7. Holidu : Le service de facturation "tout compris"

Holidu (which acquired Bookiply) operates under a different model. It is not a pure Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), but a service model where a team supports the owner in distribution and revenue optimization.

• Analyse du module de facturation : In this model, invoicing is part of the service. Holidu provides a feature called "Automated payments and invoicing". The owner does not need to configure templates or VAT rates; they simply find all their invoices, organized and compliant, in their Holidu account.
• Positionnement : It is the "zero hassle" solution. It is ideal for the owner who wants to delegate all technical and administrative management, including invoicing, to an expert partner, for a commission on bookings.

8. Hostfully : La puissance des paiements et des rapports propriétaires

Hostfully is a leading American PMS, known for its power and flexibility. Its strengths lie in automating payments and financial reports for owners.

• Analyse du module de paiement : Hostfully handles payment collection in a very robust way, with integration of more than 25 payment options (Stripe, PayPal, but also Google Pay, Apple Pay, etc.). It excels at automating payment requests, deposits and security deposits.
• Rapports Propriétaires : Like the Faakiir integration for Lodgify, Hostfully has a native, very powerful module to generate detailed financial reports for owners.
• Nuances pour le marché français : Being an American solution, its configuration for France-specific tax compliance (managing the different VAT regimes, legal mentions) may be less intuitive and less "out-of-the-box" than European (Eviivo) or French (Elloha, Superhote) solutions.
• Positionnement : It is a platform of choice for large-scale managers, whose activity is international, and for whom the effectiveness of payment collection is more critical than specific compliance with French VAT.

Les alternatives aux PMS : Solutions manuelles et plugins WordPress

For managers who do not wish or cannot yet invest in a full PMS, alternatives exist. They range from manual management (risky) to targeted software solutions (plugins, accounting tools).

La gestion “à la main” : pour qui et quels risques ?

The manual invoicing (Word, Excel, PDF) is only suitable for a very limited profile: a single LMNP micro-BIC owner, not VAT liable, with very few bookings.

Beyond that, the risks are major :

• Légal : method is immediately illegal as soon as VAT applies.
• Opérationnel : time-consuming, frequent errors, no ability to scale.
• Conformité : high likelihood of errors on the tourist tax, advances or invoice numbering.

In short: viable only for very small volumes, dangerous for all others.

L'option "Réservation Directe" : Focus sur les plugins WordPress

For managers looking to maximize direct bookings to avoid OTA commissions, a personal WordPress site is a common solution. The "billing software" then takes the form of a booking plugin.

HBook : Le standard de facto pour la location

It is crucial not to confuse reservation booking plugins with appointment booking plugins (for hairdressers, coaches) with stay management plugins. Tools like Amelia or Bookly are not suitable for night rental, occupancy calendar management or seasonal pricing, though they are sometimes used.

The reference plugin for vacation rental on WordPress is HBook.

• Feature analysis : HBook is not a simple calendar; it is a mini-PMS. It handles seasonal pricing (rates by day, by duration). It handles fees and taxes, allowing configuration of VAT and tourist tax. It handles payments (deposits or full) via native integrations with Stripe and PayPal.
• Billing functionality : Its key feature is generating PDF invoices. Once the booking is confirmed (manually or automatically), HBook can generate an invoice and automatically attach it to confirmation emails.
• Business model : Its major strength is its price. It is a one-time payment (about $59), with no monthly subscription, making it the most cost-effective solution for a manager investing in their own website.

L'option "Fiscalité" : Ne pas confondre facturation client et déclaration comptable

A persistent confusion: tools like Indy, Jedeclaremonmeuble or LMNP.ai are not customer invoicing software. They are accounting and tax declaration solutions. They come after operational management, using income and expenses to calculate depreciation and produce the tax pack (2031, 2033, FEC). They are the next step in the process, not the invoicing tool.

Conclusion : Analyse et Recommandations de l'expert

The choice of a tool is no longer dictated by comfort or design, but by the complexity of the business model (Independent vs. Concierge) and the level of tax compliance required (VAT-exempt, parahôtellerie 10%, or anti-fraud law for on-site sales).