💰 Setup Akaunting — Open-Source Accounting
Deploy Akaunting on Ubuntu with Docker — a free, open-source accounting platform with invoicing, expense tracking, multi-currency support, and financial reporting. No subscription fees, full data ownership.
📦 Resources & Setup Scripts
Grab the automated bash script from GitHub to follow along with the video.
Quick Install:
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mhmdali94/Docker/main/accounting/akaunting/akaunting-ubuntu.sh
chmod +x akaunting-ubuntu.sh
sudo bash akaunting-ubuntu.shTutorial Steps
1 Download & Run the Script
The script installs Docker, starts Akaunting with a MySQL database, and sets up the environment automatically.
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mhmdali94/Docker/main/accounting/akaunting/akaunting-ubuntu.sh
chmod +x akaunting-ubuntu.sh
sudo bash akaunting-ubuntu.sh2 Complete the Setup Wizard
Open your browser and navigate to Akaunting. Run the first-time setup wizard to create your admin account:
http://<your-server-ip>:80803 Create Your First Company
Configure your company name, currency, timezone, and fiscal year start. Akaunting supports multiple companies from a single installation.
4 Start Invoicing
Create customers, add items or services with pricing, then generate professional invoices. Use the App Store to add bank feeds, payroll, or tax modules as you grow.
Ports Used
| Port | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 8080 | Akaunting Web UI |
Overview
Akaunting is a free, open-source web-based accounting software built on Laravel. It covers the core accounting workflow for freelancers and small businesses: invoicing, expense tracking, accounts receivable and payable, bank reconciliation, and financial reporting — all from a clean web UI with no subscription fee. The App Store ecosystem provides optional paid extensions for bank feeds, payroll, tax calculations, and more.
Why Use It
Akaunting replaces paid accounting SaaS subscriptions (QuickBooks Online starts at $30+/month, Xero at $15+/month) with a fully self-hosted solution that keeps your financial data on your own server. For freelancers, agencies, and small businesses in markets where international SaaS billing is inconvenient or expensive, Akaunting delivers the essential accounting workflow — invoicing, expenses, reports — without recurring fees or vendor lock-in.
When You Need It
Who Should Use It
Real Use Cases
Main Features
How to Use After Installation
Security Best Practices
Ports and Firewall Notes
Akaunting runs on port 80 inside the Docker container (mapped to a host port, typically 8080). Never expose this port directly to the internet — proxy through 443 (HTTPS) via Nginx Proxy Manager or Traefik. MySQL runs on port 3306 inside the Docker network and must not be reachable from outside the container network. Only port 443 should be open publicly.
Backup and Maintenance
Common Mistakes
Troubleshooting
Alternatives
Invoice Ninja is the stronger choice if your primary need is client invoicing, time tracking, and payment gateway integration — it has a better client portal and more payment options. ERPNext and Odoo include accounting as part of a full ERP suite, suitable if you also need inventory, HR, or CRM. Wave Accounting is a free cloud option for very small businesses. QuickBooks Online and Xero are the dominant paid SaaS tools with better accountant integrations but cost $15–$80/month.
When Not to Use It
Skip Akaunting if you need enterprise features like automated live bank feeds (requires paid App Store modules), multi-entity consolidation across separate legal entities, or deep payroll processing. Also avoid it if your accountant exclusively works in QuickBooks or Xero since there is no direct compatible export format. For solo freelancers with just a few invoices per month, a free cloud tool like Wave may require less maintenance than a self-hosted stack.
Need Help Setting Up Akaunting?
PrismaTechWork provides end-to-end infrastructure services — from initial deployment and security hardening to ongoing monitoring, automated backups, and dedicated support. Whether you need a single-server setup or a multi-site network, our team ensures your infrastructure is built right, secured properly, and maintained reliably.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Akaunting completely free to use?
The core Akaunting software is free and open-source (GPL-3.0). You pay nothing for basic invoicing, expense tracking, and reporting. The App Store offers optional premium extensions (bank feeds, payroll, recurring invoices, 2FA) that cost a one-time or annual fee. You can run a fully functional accounting system at zero cost using only the built-in free features.
Can I manage multiple businesses from one Akaunting installation?
Yes. Akaunting supports multiple companies from a single installation. Each company has its own chart of accounts, invoices, expenses, and reports. You can switch between companies from the top navigation bar. Users can be given access to one or multiple companies with different roles per company.
How do I import existing invoices or financial data into Akaunting?
Akaunting supports CSV import for customers, vendors, items, and transactions. Export your data from your current tool as CSV, map the columns to Akaunting's format, and use the Import function under each module. For bank transactions, import OFX or CSV bank statements via the Banking section. There is no direct migration tool from QuickBooks or Xero — expect some manual work for chart of accounts and opening balances.
Does Akaunting support VAT and GST tax calculations?
Yes. Akaunting has built-in tax support — you can define tax rates (percentage or fixed) and apply them per invoice line or to the whole invoice. Multi-tax scenarios such as combining VAT with withholding tax are supported. Tax reports show collected and paid tax totals by period. For complex tax jurisdictions, the Tax module from the App Store adds additional automation.
Can clients pay invoices online through Akaunting?
Yes, with payment gateway modules from the App Store. Akaunting supports Stripe, PayPal, Mollie, and other gateways via optional modules. Once configured, invoices sent by email include a Pay Now button that opens a payment page where clients can pay by card. The invoice is automatically marked as paid when the payment is confirmed.
How do I connect Akaunting to my bank account for automatic transaction import?
Akaunting supports manual bank import via OFX and CSV files — download your statement from your bank's online portal and import it under Banking > Bank Account > Import. For automatic live bank feeds, you need the Bank Feeds app from the App Store, which connects to your bank via Plaid or similar open banking APIs (availability depends on your country and bank).
How do I create recurring invoices for subscription clients?
Install the Recurring module from the App Store (free). Then create a recurring invoice template under Sales > Recurring — set the client, items, frequency (weekly/monthly/annually), start date, and end condition. Akaunting will automatically generate and optionally send the invoice on the scheduled date. Recurring bills for supplier subscriptions work the same way under Purchases > Recurring.
What happens to my data if I want to stop using Akaunting?
Your data is in a MySQL database you fully control — export it at any time using mysqldump. Akaunting also provides CSV export for customers, vendors, items, and transactions. There is no vendor lock-in because you host the database. If you migrate to another platform, export the CSV data and import it into the new system. Keep exported records archived for your legal retention period.