Akaunting Review: Free Open-Source Accounting Software for Small Business

Akaunting is a streamlined, open-source accounting platform designed for small businesses and freelancers. It focuses on core financial tasks—income tracking, expenses, invoicing, and budgeting—without the clutter of unnecessary features. Built on Laravel, Vue.js, and Tailwind CSS with a RESTful API, it is ready for immediate deployment. If you need expanded functionality, you can add modules as your business grows. The system supports multiple users and languages, and there are no recurring fees if you choose to self-host.

The core system is built on the Laravel PHP framework, with additional functionality managed through a modular package system.

Server Requirements

• PHP: 8.1 or newer
• Database: MariaDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQLite
• Web Server: Apache, Nginx, or IIS
• Extensions: Standard PHP extensions (the installer will verify these during setup)

Quick Install

1. Ensure Composer and NPM are installed on your system.

2. Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/akaunting/akaunting.git

3. Install dependencies: composer install; npm install; npm run dev

4. Run the Akaunting installer:

   php artisan install --db-name="akaunting" --db-username="root" --db-password="pass" --admin-email="[email protected]" --admin-password="password123"
   

5. (Optional) Seed the database with sample data: php artisan sample-data:seed

Core Modules at a Glance

Banking and Expenses Monitor bank and credit card accounts, synchronize statements, and record transactions. You can also manage vendor relationships and set up recurring bills.

CRM and Contacts Manage clients and companies while tracking deals and opportunities, eliminating the need for a separate CRM subscription.

Professional Bookkeeping A full double-entry system featuring a chart of accounts, manual journals, and a general ledger. This is a comprehensive accounting tool, not just a simple transaction log.

Payroll and Personnel Manage employee records, define salary structures, process payroll, and generate payslips.

Data Portability Import and export client lists, transactions, bank feeds, and your chart of accounts via CSV files.

Inventory Management Track products and services, organize them into groups, and manage variants such as size or color.

Invoicing and Estimates Create and send professional invoices, track their status, and accept payments. The system also supports automated recurring billing.

Project Management Create projects, set specific billing rates, and break down work into manageable tasks.

Financial Reporting Generate detailed summaries, including expense breakdowns, income snapshots, and side-by-side profit and loss comparisons.

System Configuration Customize company profiles, localization settings, invoice templates, and tax rates.

Access Control Invite team members and define granular permissions. You can assign specific roles, such as granting an accountant read-only access to your records.

By self-hosting Akaunting, you maintain full ownership of your data and control over all software upgrades. For businesses that require professional financial management without the burden of a monthly SaaS subscription, Akaunting provides a robust, private solution.