The bookkeeping app that doesn't bill you forever.

A real audit-grade bookkeeping app for Cyprus small businesses. Receipts via AI, invoices, VAT returns, payroll, ledger, IR7 — all on your Mac, all yours.

Free during beta · Direct input to v1 roadmap · First in line for launch

Why The BOOKS

Built differently. On purpose.

Yours, not rented

Most bookkeeping apps bill you forever. The BOOKS is built for the buy-once-own-it model. The way you used to buy software in 2005 — and the way it should still work for the back office of your business.

Your data stays on your Mac

No cloud accounts. No "your trial expires in 14 days." Your books live in a PostgreSQL database on your Mac. Backed up to your own Drive folder. Open with any tool. Export anytime.

Built for Cyprus

Every other bookkeeping tool is built for the US/UK with "international support" bolted on. The BOOKS is built for Cyprus from day one — audit-grade chart of accounts, Cyprus 2026 payroll rates, IR7 and SISnet exports, EUR currency, 19% VAT defaults.

Features

Everything a real bookkeeping app does.

None of the team-software bloat.

📸

AI Receipt Capture

Snap a photo. Claude vision extracts vendor, date, VAT, total.

📄

Cyprus-ready Invoices

Manual, recurring, credit notes, proforma. PDF + email.

🧾

VAT Returns

Quarterly Box 1–7 totals. XLSX export. Stay compliant.

👥

Cyprus Payroll

SI, NHIS, Cohesion, Training, Redundancy. IR7 + SISnet exports.

📊

Audit-grade Ledger

Trial balance, P&L, Balance Sheet, all PDF. Chart of accounts from your Cyprus accountant.

🔄

Imports

Stripe, SumUp, Shopify, PDF invoices — all one click.

Meet the founder

Built by someone who actually runs Cyprus companies.

Urmas — founder of The BOOKS

Hi, I'm Urmas.

I run two Cyprus companies — Padabida and Scandigenic — and I've used every bookkeeping app on the market. Xero. QuickBooks. FreshBooks. The Cyprus-specific ones. They all share the same disease: a monthly bill that goes up every year for software that doesn't get better, designed for accountants instead of business owners.

So I built the bookkeeping app I always wanted. Real Cyprus accounting features — receipts, VAT returns, payroll, IR7 — for one person running one or two companies. AI that uses your own Anthropic API key (cheap, transparent). Data in PostgreSQL on your Mac. No subscriptions, no investors, no MRR pressure to ship features I don't need.

Read the full story →

Compare honestly

Same features. Different model.

The BOOKS Xero QuickBooks Sage FreshBooks
Pricing modelBuy-once-own-it€40/mo+€35/mo+€30/mo+€25/mo+
Data locationYour MacTheir cloudTheir cloudTheir cloudTheir cloud
Works offlineYes, foreverNoNoPartialNo
AI receipt captureBYOK AnthropicAdd-on (extra €)LimitedLimitedNo
Cyprus VATBuilt-inManual setupManualAdd-onManual
Cyprus payroll (SI/NHIS/Cohesion)Built-inNot supportedNot supportedCyprus tierNot supported
IR7 + SISnet exportBuilt-in (XLSX/PDF/XML)ManualManualManualNo
Multi-companyBuilt-inExtra seatExtra seatExtra seatExtra seat
Stripe / SumUp importOne clickAdd-onLimitedManualStripe only
PDF invoice importAI-extractedManualManualManualManual

Private beta · Inviting Cyprus business owners

Get early access.

The BOOKS is launching soon. The private beta is open to a small group of Cyprus business owners willing to use the app daily and share what works (and what doesn't).

  • Free access during the entire beta period
  • Direct line to me — every email reaches Urmas, the founder
  • Influence v1 — your feedback shapes the priority list
  • First in line for launch — beta testers get early-bird pricing forever

No spam. One email when your invite is ready. Unsubscribe anytime.

FAQ

About the beta.

When does the beta start?

Invites go out now in small batches. Sign up above and you'll get an email with your invite within a few days.

Is the beta stable enough for real bookkeeping?

Yes. The beta is what I use for my own two Cyprus companies — Padabida and Scandigenic — every day. 290+ automated tests cover the math (VAT, payroll, ledger balance). You'll find rough edges in less-used flows; reporting them is the trade for free access.

How do I install it?

After you're accepted, you'll get a signed installer link and a license key by email. macOS native — open, drag to Applications, paste the key. Five minutes total. Linux server install also available for advanced users.

Do I need to know accounting?

Basic invoices, receipts and payroll need no accounting knowledge. The audit-grade ledger features (manual JEs, opening balances, period locks) assume Cyprus accounting basics — or that you have an accountant who'll review.

Will the beta cost me anything?

No. Beta is free. When v1 launches, beta testers get early-bird pricing — significantly below the launch price — locked in for life.

Does it work with my accountant?

Yes. Drive sync delivers a full accountant package every period: XLSX of receipts, sales, journal, trial balance + all invoice PDFs. Your accountant opens one folder and has everything for the quarter.

What about Cyprus VAT / IR7 / SISnet?

Built-in. Quarterly VAT report with Box 1–7 totals (XLSX export ready for TaxisNet). Annual IR7 employer return + monthly SISnet contributions (XLSX + PDF + alpha XML for direct upload).

What if it's not for me?

Just stop using it. Nothing to cancel. You can export everything to XLSX / PDF from Settings at any point. Your data was always yours.

Stop renting your bookkeeping.

Join the private beta. Help shape the bookkeeping app for Cyprus business owners who'd rather own than rent.

Get early access →