How to choose Peppol software: an 8-point buyer's checklist

With B2B e-invoicing going mandatory across the EU, every invoicing tool suddenly claims to be "Peppol-ready". Some genuinely are; some just export a file you still have to upload somewhere. Here's how to tell them apart.

1. Does it SEND and RECEIVE?

The mandates are two-way. You must accept supplier invoices as well as send your own. A tool that only exports outbound files leaves you non-compliant on inbound. Ask for the inbox.

2. Is it a real Access Point (or connected to one)?

"Peppol-ready" should mean it puts documents on the network for you — not that it gives you XML to hand to a third party. Confirm it handles delivery end to end and looks up recipients on the network.

3. Does it validate before sending?

EN 16931 / BIS 3.0 rejections are the main friction. Good software checks the mandatory fields and business rules before you send and tells you what's wrong in plain language — ideally with a preview of the exact document.

4. Does it handle your country's specifics?

• Belgium — enterprise number under scheme 0208, structured communication.
• France — SIREN under scheme 0225, French CIUS + mandatory statements,

e-reporting, mandate/PDP. See French e-invoicing requirements.

• Others — Italy SDI, Germany XRechnung, etc.

One tool that adapts per destination beats five country tools.

5. Credit notes and corrections

You can't edit a sent Peppol invoice — you issue a credit note. Make sure the tool does credit notes natively.

6. Registration and onboarding

Registering as a participant should be guided, not a support ticket. In some countries (France) it includes a mandate/verification step — the tool should walk you through it.

7. Does it fit the rest of your workflow?

Peppol is one step. The best outcome is invoicing + expenses + VAT + payments in one place, so a received Peppol invoice becomes an expense in a click and your VAT return isn't a separate scramble.

8. Honest pricing

Watch for "Peppol" locked behind the top tier, or per-document fees that balloon. Check what the free/entry plans actually include.

The checklist

□ Sends AND receives (real inbox)
□ Delivers over the network, looks up recipients
□ Validates mandatory fields + rules before sending
□ Handles your country's scheme + specifics
□ Native credit notes
□ Guided registration (incl. mandate where required)
□ Integrated with expenses / VAT / payments
□ Transparent pricing

Where Eurobillr fits

Eurobillr ticks all eight: structured Peppol send and receive, recipient lookup and pre-send validation with XML preview, country-aware handling (Belgium 0208, France 0225 + CIUS + e-reporting), native credit notes, guided registration, and invoicing/expenses/VAT/payments in one workspace. See free Peppol invoicing software for where the free plan lands, or the pricing page.