Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
Section titled “Getting Started”How do I get started with Hisaabo?
Section titled “How do I get started with Hisaabo?”For business owners: Sign up free or self-host with Docker. Create your business profile with GST details, add your first customer, and create an invoice — all in under 15 minutes. If you’re migrating from MyBillBook or Vyapar, use the import tool to bring your existing data.
For CA firms: Create an account and set up one business per client. Invite each client with Seller or Admin access so they can create invoices from their phone. You get a single dashboard to see all clients. See the CA workflow guide for the full monthly and year-end process.
Is Hisaabo free?
Section titled “Is Hisaabo free?”Yes. Hisaabo is open-source software under the O’Saasy License. Self-hosted is completely free with no feature gates. Hisaabo Cloud offers a hosted version with mobile apps and additional convenience features.
Does Hisaabo work offline?
Section titled “Does Hisaabo work offline?”Once self-hosted on your server, Hisaabo runs entirely on your network. Your data never leaves your infrastructure unless you configure email delivery.
Invoicing & GST
Section titled “Invoicing & GST”How does GST calculation work?
Section titled “How does GST calculation work?”When you create an invoice, Hisaabo automatically determines the tax split based on the state codes configured on your business and the customer:
- Same state (e.g., both Maharashtra): CGST + SGST (half-half)
- Different states (e.g., Maharashtra to Gujarat): IGST (full rate)
You set the tax rate per item (0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, 28%) and Hisaabo does the rest. See GST on Invoices.
How do I generate GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B for a client?
Section titled “How do I generate GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B for a client?”Both reports auto-generate from invoice data — no manual entry needed.
- Switch to the client’s business
- Go to Reports > GST > GSTR-1 and select the month
- Review B2B, B2C, HSN summary, and credit/debit note sections
- Export as JSON for direct upload to the GST portal, or CSV for review
GSTR-3B works the same way — outward supplies, ITC, RCM, and net payable are all calculated automatically.
How does ITC tracking work?
Section titled “How does ITC tracking work?”ITC entries are auto-created from purchase invoices. The ITC dashboard shows available, utilized, and blocked credit. You’ll see alerts when credits approach the 180-day reversal deadline (Section 16(4)). Blocked ITC under Section 17(5) can be marked explicitly.
Can I create invoices from my phone?
Section titled “Can I create invoices from my phone?”Yes. The web app is fully responsive — open your Hisaabo URL in any mobile browser. On Hisaabo Cloud, there’s also a native Android/iOS app with barcode scanning and WhatsApp sharing.
Payments & Banking
Section titled “Payments & Banking”How do I record a payment?
Section titled “How do I record a payment?”Go to the invoice and click Record Payment, or navigate to Payments > New. Choose the payment mode (cash, bank, UPI, cheque) and enter the amount. You can allocate one payment across multiple invoices. The invoice status updates automatically (partial → paid).
How do I reconcile my bank statement?
Section titled “How do I reconcile my bank statement?”Upload your bank statement CSV (supports SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis, Kotak, and 5 more banks). Hisaabo auto-detects the format and matches 70%+ of transactions automatically. Review the unmatched items — create expenses, match to payments, or mark as timing differences.
How does bank reconciliation work across clients?
Section titled “How does bank reconciliation work across clients?”Each business has its own bank accounts. When you switch to a client’s business, you see only their accounts. Upload their CSV, and the 4-tier matching engine (exact, strong, narration parse, partial) handles most entries. Auto-categorization rules carry forward — “NEFT-SALARY” categorized once applies to future imports.
Can I export to Tally for audit?
Section titled “Can I export to Tally for audit?”Yes. Reports > Tally Export generates a clean XML file that imports directly into Tally Prime. All invoices, payments, and journal entries are included with proper voucher types.
Team & Access
Section titled “Team & Access”How do I share access with my CA?
Section titled “How do I share access with my CA?”Go to Settings > Team > Invite Member. Enter your CA’s email and assign the Accountant role. They get full access to payments, expenses, bank accounts, reports, and GST — but read-only on invoices, parties, and items. No password sharing needed.
What roles are available?
Section titled “What roles are available?”| Role | Can do |
|---|---|
| Admin | Everything within the business |
| Seller Manager | Create/edit invoices, parties, items. Limited delete. |
| Seller | Create invoices and payments only |
| Accountant | Financial access: payments, expenses, bank, reports, GST |
See Team & Roles for full details.
How do I manage access for articled clerks?
Section titled “How do I manage access for articled clerks?”Invite clerks with the Seller or Seller Manager role, scoped to specific businesses. Sellers can only create invoices and payments — they can’t delete anything or access financial reports. You can revoke access instantly if a clerk leaves.
Can I see all my clients from one dashboard?
Section titled “Can I see all my clients from one dashboard?”Yes. Your account shows all businesses in the organization. Switch between clients from the top navigation. Each business is completely isolated — data from one client is never visible in another’s context.
Data & Privacy
Section titled “Data & Privacy”Where is my data stored?
Section titled “Where is my data stored?”On your server. Hisaabo is self-hosted — the PostgreSQL database runs on your infrastructure. Nothing is sent to Hisaabo’s servers unless you’re using Hisaabo Cloud (which runs the same open-source code on managed infrastructure).
Can I export my data?
Section titled “Can I export my data?”Yes. Every report supports CSV export. Full business data export is available via the API (business.exportData). Tally XML export is available for statutory audit handoff.
Can I import data from other tools?
Section titled “Can I import data from other tools?”Yes. Hisaabo supports bulk import of parties, items, invoices, and payments from CSV files. There’s also a dedicated MyBillBook import flow. See Import Data.