Given the electronic invoicing reform taking effect soon, some businesses are considering switching their billing software. In this article, we discuss why a business might want to change systems, the best times to do so, and the key steps to a successful transition.

Key takeaways

• Switching billing software is both a business strategy and a practical response to the electronic invoicing reform. Compliant systems are required to generate electronic invoices in standardised formats and communicate with approved platforms (PAs) or Chorus Pro.
  
• Some periods are better than others for migrating to new billing software, including slow business cycles and the start of the fiscal year. The goal is to reduce the disruptive effects of switching on the business.
  
• Switching billing software requires meticulous planning. Businesses must establish a precise timeline for the changeover, choose a replacement platform, prepare to export legacy billing records, and train users on the new program.
  

Why do businesses switch billing software?

Businesses might switch billing software because of internal factors, such as inefficiency, or external factors, such as a change in law.

Migrating to a different tool gives businesses a chance to improve invoicing processes and their teams’ daily work. A replacement system might offer efficient, innovative features that current software lacks, modernise processes, and provide a simpler, more intuitive interface. Businesses might also switch software to improve operational efficiency.

Sometimes, a software change becomes necessary as operations expand. Businesses entering additional markets, growing their customer base, or adding new products and services often see invoice volumes increase. They might choose to move to a different system to ensure continuity.

Another reason to change systems is the electronic invoicing reform. Beginning 1 September 2026, French businesses subject to value-added tax (VAT) must be able to receive business-to-business (B2B) invoices electronically. The law applies the electronic invoicing requirement gradually: starting 1 September for large and intermediate-sized enterprises and 1 September 2027 for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and very small enterprises.

Billing software must issue invoices in standardised formats, including Factur-X, Universal Business Language (UBL), and Cross Industry Invoice (CII). It also needs to interface with PAs—formerly called partner dematerialisation platforms (PDPs)—or Chorus Pro, which transmits electronic invoices.

When is the best time to switch billing software?

The ideal windows to switch billing software are during quieter periods and at the beginning of the fiscal year. This helps minimise disruption. It also provides enough time to work through any issues. Seasonal businesses need to switch during the slow season.

Businesses with steady year-round activity need to switch their software at the start of the fiscal year. That way, all invoices from the same Accounting period are stored in the same system, making accounting easier.

Whether a business changes systems in a quieter period or at the beginning of the fiscal year, the process can be long, tricky, and involve multiple teams. Businesses need to plan out the transition in advance and follow a precise timeline. An accountant can offer advice. The software’s customer service team or an experienced Developer can help ensure sensitive data transfers successfully and securely.

How do businesses switch billing software?

Switching billing software involves several important steps, from initial planning to launch:

Planning

First, identify the business’s needs and determine its budget. Does the business want software-as-a-service (SaaS)? How many users will there be? Consider the business size and its industry’s unique needs. Establish a timeline for the system launch.

Choosing software

Conduct a thorough market study and evaluate the options that meet the business’s needs. Compare costs and features and evaluate the customer and technical support offered. Choose a system that is compatible with existing tools (including accounting software) and compliant with tax rules.

If possible, test the new software before committing. Send test invoices and dunning letters, evaluate reporting options and invoice-tracking tools, and test exchanges with the PAs. This will help guide the decision and ensure the platform is reliable.

Stripe Billing is a Payments infrastructure for managing billing cycles from end to end. It handles traditional subscriptions and usage-based billing, and it collects payments automatically. Its partner app, Billit, a PA registered with the French government, allows businesses to send electronic invoices directly from Stripe, securely and without writing a single line of code. Billit is available from the Stripe App Marketplace.

Preparing data

Verify that your current billing software can export data. This feature collates information into digital files, preserving details such as customer and supplier lists, invoice and quote histories, VAT rates applied, preferred Payment methods, and due dates.

Launching

Configure the new software and import the data from the previous system. Train teams on how to use the platform. Give them time to adapt.

How Stripe Billing can help

Stripe Billing lets you bill and manage customers however you want – from simple recurring billing to usage-based billing and sales-negotiated contracts. Start accepting recurring payments globally in minutes – no code required – or build a custom integration using the API.

Stripe Billing can help you:

• Offer flexible pricing: Respond to user demand faster with flexible pricing models, including usage-based, tiered, flat-fee plus overage and more. Support for coupons, free trials, prorations and add-ons is built-in.

• Expand globally: Increase conversion by offering customers' preferred payment methods. Stripe supports 125+ local payment methods and 130+ currencies.

• Increase Revenue and reduce churn: Improve Revenue Capture and reduce involuntary churn with Smart Retries and recovery workflow automations. Stripe recovery tools helped users recover over US$8.2 billion in Revenue in 2025.

• Boost efficiency: Use Stripe's modular tax, revenue reporting and data tools to consolidate multiple revenue systems into one. Easily integrate with third-party software.

Learn more about Stripe Billing or get started today.

FAQs on switching billing software