How to Build Your Own ZipBooks
Replace ZipBooks with a custom build. Simple accounting software that makes you even smarter
Build Difficulty: 4/5
A few focused days to build a solid replacement
Estimated Timeline
Based on 39 features at Few Days difficulty, expect about 3-5 days with AI-assisted development.
Recommended Tech Stack
Full-stack React framework with API routes and server components
PostgreSQL database, auth, and real-time subscriptions
Utility-first styling for rapid UI development
Key Features to Replicate
Top features across 8 categories. See all 39 features
Reporting(8 features)
Record 1099 payments and expenses with automated 1099 tracking for selected vendors
Filter, sort, and customize reporting with click-through to transactions and custom reports based on tags
Consolidated reports for multi-location accounting
Add custom footer to financial statements
Create customer or vendor statements
+3 more in this category
Invoicing(4 features)
Send custom invoices with VAT, taxes, invoice discounts, custom notes, payment terms, and custom emails
Save items and tasks for use on future invoices
Invoice in multiple currencies
Send custom quotes and estimates to clients
Accounting(3 features)
Dead-simple reconciliation, full suite of reports, auto-categorization, and intuitive color-coding
Lock completed books from editing to ensure data integrity
Manage bookkeeping with industry-best chart of accounts and custom categories
Billing(3 features)
Set fixed or hourly billing rates for time tracking
Send professional invoices in seconds, get paid seamlessly with all major credit cards or PayPal, and set-and-forget it with auto-billing and automated payment reminders
Schedule recurring invoices with auto-bill functionality
Integration(3 features)
Connect your bank account and credit card to save time and stay current. ZipBooks will pull your transactions and balance daily to make bookkeeping and reconciliation a snap
Migrate existing accounting data
Connect multiple bank accounts for comprehensive financial tracking
Automation(2 features)
Automate categorization with personalized Machine Learning
Automate payment reminders to customers for outstanding invoices
Collaboration(2 features)
Add and collaborate with team members with team permissions management
Simplify your work by collaborating with employees, contractors, accountants, or other team members. Manage team permissions on reports, invoicing and billing, time tracking, or other parts of ZipBooks
Expense Management(2 features)
Add expenses, sales, transfers and other transactions with receipt storage and tracking
Smart and automated expense tracking with receipt storage
Cost Calculator
Keep Paying ZipBooks
Build It Yourself
Total Cost Comparison
DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 39 features at easy complexity.