The Invoice Problem: Getting Paid as a Freelancer Before You’re Ready to Set Up a Company

The Setup

Not every freelancer is running a six-figure operation. Many are just starting out, working part-time, or picking up one or two projects a month alongside other commitments. The income is real, the work is real, but the volume does not yet justify the cost and complexity of setting up a registered company.

Then a client asks for an invoice. A proper one, with a business name, a registration number, maybe a VAT ID. The kind that goes through their accounts payable system without questions.

The freelancer does not have any of that. And they should not have to.

The Problem With “Just Register a Company”

The standard advice is simple: set up a company, get a VAT number, issue invoices. But for a freelancer earning €400 one month and €900 the next, that advice ignores the real costs involved.

1.   Company registration costs money up front. Depending on the country, incorporation fees, notary costs, and legal requirements can run to several hundred euros before a single invoice is issued. For a freelancer earning irregularly, that is a significant barrier.
2.   Registered companies have ongoing obligations. Annual filings, accountant fees, VAT returns, and compliance reporting do not pause because business is slow. The administrative burden of running a company can easily exceed the value of small, one-off projects.
3.   Tax thresholds make it unnecessary. In many countries, individuals can earn below a certain threshold before VAT registration or company formation becomes legally required. A freelancer earning €6,000 a year does not need a company. But they still need to get paid.
4.   Timing does not always allow it. A client needs an invoice this week. Company registration takes weeks or months in many jurisdictions. Waiting is not an option when payment is on the line.

Why They Chose Remotify

Remotify exists precisely for this gap. It is the infrastructure that lets a freelancer operate professionally, invoice compliantly, and receive payment, without needing a registered company of their own.

A compliant invoice, without a company. Remotify is registered in Estonia as an EU entity. When a freelancer invoices through Remotify, the client receives a fully compliant invoice from a registered business. The freelancer’s name does not need to appear on a company register anywhere.

Works for any project size. Whether the invoice is for €300 or €3,000, Remotify handles it the same way. There is no minimum project size, no commitment to ongoing volume. A freelancer can use it once and never again, or every month.

No setup fees, no monthly costs. Remotify charges a small fee on each transaction. There is no subscription, no registration cost, and no obligation. The freelancer pays only when they get paid.

Payment reaches them quickly. Once the client transfers the funds, Remotify processes the payment and sends it to the freelancer. No waiting for bank reconciliation cycles, no unexplained delays.

What This Means for Freelancers

The barrier to getting paid should not be higher than the barrier to doing good work. For most freelancers early in their careers, or working at a volume that does not justify a company, that barrier is the invoice requirement.

Remotify removes it.

No company registration required — the freelancer invoices through Remotify’s EU entity.

No ongoing compliance obligations — no annual filings, no VAT returns, no accountant fees.

No minimum income threshold — works for one project a month or ten.

Full payment received — the client’s invoice requirement is met, the freelancer gets paid.

When the freelancer’s income grows to a point where setting up a company makes sense, they can make that decision on their own terms. Until then, Remotify handles the infrastructure so they can focus on the work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to earn a minimum amount to use Remotify?

No. Remotify works for any project size. Whether you are invoicing €200 or €2,000, the process is the same.

Will my client know I am not a registered company?

Your client receives an invoice from Remotify’s EU-registered entity. It is fully compliant and processes through their accounts payable system without issues.

Am I still responsible for my own taxes?

Yes. Remotify handles invoicing and payment facilitation. You remain responsible for declaring your income according to the tax rules in your country. Remotify does not replace personal tax reporting.

Can I use Remotify for one project and stop?

Yes. There is no subscription or ongoing commitment. You can use it for a single invoice or on a regular basis. There are no setup fees and no monthly charges.

What does it cost?

Remotify charges a small fee on the net invoice amount. No hidden charges, no setup fees. You see exactly what you will receive before you send the invoice.