Holded
All-in-one business management for SMBs.
About Holded
Holded runs accounting, invoicing, payroll, HR, inventory, and project tracking from a single database, meaning a sales invoice updates stock levels, project costs, and financial reports without a manual sync step. For a 5-to-50-person European business, that eliminates the spreadsheet bridges most firms build between their accounting software and everything else. EU VAT rules, multi-currency, and SEPA payment workflows are built in rather than patched on, which matters if you're filing in Spain, Germany, or the Netherlands and tired of bending a US-built platform to fit. The tool fits product-based SMBs the best: a small distributor or manufacturer who needs inventory costing tied directly to P&L without paying for a separate ERP. Service firms get time tracking and project profitability reports that feed into invoicing automatically. Where it falls short: the CRM and HR modules are thin compared to dedicated tools. If you already run HubSpot and Personio, Holded's versions of those features won't replace them, and you'll end up with data fragmentation anyway. Reporting customization is limited — you get what Holded pre-builds, and creating non-standard management reports requires exporting to a spreadsheet. Customer support response times draw consistent complaints from users outside Spain.
Best for
European SMBs wanting affordable all-in-one business management
Key Features
- Automated invoice generation and tracking
- Real-time financial reporting across all business modules
- Integrated inventory management with accounting sync
- Multi-currency accounting for international businesses
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Single data model means an invoice, a stock movement, and a project expense all update the same ledger instantly — no import/export between modules
- EU VAT and SEPA payment processing built natively, not via a third-party plugin, covering Spanish SII electronic invoicing requirements out of the box
- Multi-currency accounting handles revaluation and FX gains/losses automatically, useful for European firms billing in GBP, USD, and EUR simultaneously
- Project profitability flows directly into invoicing: log hours or costs against a project and generate a client invoice from the same screen
- Inventory costing methods (FIFO, weighted average) sync with the accounting module in real time, giving accurate COGS without a separate stock system
- Stripe and PayPal payment links embed in outbound invoices, reducing average debtor days without chasing clients manually
- Pricing sits below Sage or SAP Business One for comparable all-in-one coverage, making it accessible for firms under 20 employees
Cons
- Free plan does not exist — Holded offers a 14-day trial only, so you must commit to paid before fully evaluating it against your existing stack
- Reporting is rigid: you cannot build custom P&L structures or segment reports by dimensions beyond what Holded pre-defines without exporting to Excel
- HR and payroll modules cover basics but lack the depth of dedicated payroll tools — firms with complex commission structures or multi-country payroll will hit walls quickly
- CRM functionality is rudimentary; if your firm already uses a real CRM, running a parallel contact database in Holded creates more confusion than it solves
- English-language support is slower and thinner than Spanish-language support — non-Spanish firms often report 48-plus hour response times on tickets
- Migrating out is painful: Holded's data export formats require significant cleanup before they import cleanly into Xero or QuickBooks if you ever switch
Ledger Brief Take
While most accounting-focused platforms bolt on other business functions as afterthoughts, Holded builds from a genuine all-in-one foundation that treats accounting, HR, and project management as equal citizens. The European focus isn't just marketing—it's built with EU compliance and workflows in mind, making it a stronger alternative to forcing American platforms into European business practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions accountants ask about Holded.
How does Holded pricing work and what does the entry tier actually include?
Holded charges a monthly subscription starting around 29 EUR per month for the basic plan, which covers accounting, invoicing, and basic inventory. HR, payroll, and advanced project modules cost more and are sold as add-ons or higher tiers. There is no permanent free plan — only a 14-day trial. Pricing is published on their site and is not quote-based.
Does Holded integrate with QuickBooks or Xero?
No direct integration exists with QuickBooks or Xero. Holded is designed to replace those tools, not sit alongside them. It connects to Stripe, PayPal, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and Zapier, which covers most peripheral workflow automation. If you need a two-way sync with an existing accounting platform, Holded is not the right pick.
Is Holded suitable for non-European businesses?
Technically usable outside Europe, but the advantage disappears. EU VAT, SEPA, and SII compliance are the strongest reasons to choose Holded over QuickBooks or Xero. A US or UK firm that does not deal with EU tax rules would not benefit from those features and would find reporting and payroll coverage thinner than category leaders in their own market.
How does Holded compare to Sage for a European SMB?
Holded costs significantly less than Sage 200 or Sage X3 and covers comparable ground for firms under 50 employees. Sage has deeper reporting customization, stronger multi-entity consolidation, and longer UK/EU accountant familiarity. Holded wins on price and interface speed. Sage wins if your accountant already knows it or you need complex intercompany accounting.
Where is Holded data stored and is it GDPR compliant?
Holded stores data on EU-based servers and states GDPR compliance in its data processing terms. For firms handling sensitive client or employee data, review their Data Processing Agreement before signing up — it is available on request. Holded is headquartered in Barcelona, which places it under Spanish and EU data protection jurisdiction.
Can an accountant or bookkeeper access Holded on behalf of a client?
Yes. Holded supports accountant access through user permissions, allowing an external bookkeeper to log in with defined read or edit rights. There is no dedicated accountant partner program comparable to Xero's or QuickBooks' partner networks, which means you won't get discounted client licenses or dedicated partner support through a formal channel.