Getting Started with BizBooks Pro

Welcome! This guide will walk you through everything you need to get up and running in minutes.

Installation

System Requirements

• Operating System: Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
• RAM: 4GB minimum, 8GB recommended
• Storage: 500MB for application, plus space for your data
• Database: PostgreSQL 15 or 16 (installed automatically)

Download & Install

1. Visit bizbooks.pro/download
2. Click Download for Windows
3. Run the installer (BizBooks-Pro-Setup-x.x.x.exe)
4. Follow the setup wizard prompts
5. PostgreSQL will be installed automatically if not present

First Launch

When you first open BizBooks Pro, the Database Setup Wizard will guide you through:

1. Installation Type
   • New Installation - First time setup, creates fresh database
   • Connect to Existing - Join an existing BizBooks Pro database
2. Database Location (for new installations)
   • This Computer - Database runs locally (most common)
   • Network Server - Connect to database on another computer
   • Cloud Server - Connect to cloud-hosted database
3. Connection Test - Verifies everything is working
4. Completion - You're ready to go!

Creating Your First Company

After installation, you'll create your company profile:

Step 1: Company Information

Click Create Company and enter:

• Company Name - Your business name
• Industry - Select your industry type
• Fiscal Year Start - When your accounting year begins
• Currency - Primary currency for your books

Step 2: Chart of Accounts

BizBooks Pro automatically creates a standard chart of accounts based on your industry. You can:

• Use defaults - Get started immediately
• Customize later - Add, edit, or delete accounts as needed

Step 3: Opening Balances (Optional)

If you're migrating from another system:

1. Go to Accounts → Chart of Accounts
2. Click on any account
3. Enter the opening balance as of your start date

Understanding the Interface

Navigation

The left sidebar contains all main sections:

Your First Transactions

Recording Income

Option 1: Simple Sale (No Invoice)

1. Go to Transactions → Journal Entry
2. Debit: Bank Account (increase)
3. Credit: Sales/Income Account (increase)
4. Save

Option 2: Create Invoice First

1. Go to Customers → Select customer → Create Invoice
2. Add line items
3. Save invoice
4. When paid: Receive Payment

Recording Expenses

Option 1: Quick Expense

1. Click Quick Expense on dashboard
2. Select expense category
3. Select payment account (checking, credit card)
4. Enter amount and description
5. Save

Option 2: Write Check

1. Go to Transactions → Write Check
2. Select bank account
3. Enter payee and amount
4. Select expense account
5. Save