Getting Started with NkapBooks

Welcome to NkapBooks! This guide will help you get up and running with modern accounting in just a few minutes.

What is NkapBooks?

NkapBooks is a free, open-source accounting software designed for small and medium businesses. It offers:

• Simple, Beautiful Interface - No accounting degree required
• Offline-First - Works without internet, your data stays on your device
• Cross-Platform - Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Double-Entry Accounting - Industry-standard financial tracking
• Point of Sale - Built-in POS for retail businesses

Quick Start

1. Download NkapBooks

Download the latest version for your operating system:

• Download for Windows
• Download for macOS
• Download for Linux

2. Install the Application

chmod +x NkapBooks-*.AppImage
./NkapBooks-*.AppImage

sudo dpkg -i nkapbooks_*.deb

sudo rpm -i nkapbooks-*.rpm

3. Create Your First Company

When you first launch NkapBooks, you'll be greeted with a setup wizard:

1. Company Name - Enter your business name
2. Country - Select your country for tax and currency settings
3. Fiscal Year - Choose when your financial year starts
4. Currency - Confirm your primary currency
5. Chart of Accounts - Select a template that matches your business type

Click Create and you're ready to go!

Your First Steps

Once your company is set up, here are the first things you should do:

Set Up Your Accounts

Navigate to Chart of Accounts and review the default accounts. You can:

• Add new accounts for specific needs
• Rename accounts to match your terminology
• Organize accounts into groups

Add Your Customers

Go to Customers and add your customers:

1. Click + New Customer
2. Enter customer name and details
3. Save the customer record

Create Your First Invoice

Ready to bill a customer?

1. Go to Sales → Invoice
2. Click + New Invoice
3. Select a customer
4. Add line items (products/services)
5. Click Save to save as draft
6. Click Submit when ready to finalize

Next Steps

Now that you're set up, explore these features:

• Creating Invoices - Detailed guide on invoicing
• Point of Sale - Set up your retail counter
• Financial Reports - Understand your business health
• Backup Your Data - Keep your data safe

Getting Help

Stuck? Here's how to get help:

• Documentation - Comprehensive guides and tutorials
• GitHub Discussions - Ask questions and share ideas
• Telegram Group - Chat with the community
• GitHub Issues - Report bugs

Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up your workflow with these shortcuts:

Ready to dive deeper? Check out our complete documentation or explore specific features in the sidebar.