Setting up accounting software is the first thing every new business needs to do, and the last thing most business owners want to spend time on. This guide walks through every step of setting up your company in Nastrum Books, from creating your free account to having a fully configured dashboard with your company profile, base currency, tax system, and bank account ready to go.
Whether you are a freelancer starting your first business, a small business owner switching from spreadsheets, or an accountant setting up a client’s books, the entire process takes under 5 minutes.
Prefer reading? Every step from the video is written out below with additional detail.
What you will need before you start
Before you begin, have the following ready:
- Your business name - the registered name that appears on invoices and legal documents
- Business address - street address, city, state/province, postal code, country
- Business email and phone - these appear on customer-facing documents
- Your logo (optional but recommended) - PNG, JPG, or SVG format, used on invoices, estimates, and statements
- Tax registration number (if applicable) - GST number for India, VAT/TRN for UAE and GCC, IRD for New Zealand, EIN for the United States
Do not worry if you do not have everything ready. You can add or change any of these details later in Settings.
Step 1: Create your free account
Go to nastrumbooks.com and click Start Free in the top right corner.
You will be taken to the registration page at app.nastrumbooks.com/register. Enter the following:
- Full name - your name as the account owner
- Email address - this becomes your login email
- Password - minimum 8 characters
- Confirm password - re-enter to verify
Check the box to agree to the Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Acceptable Use Policy, then click Create Account.
A confirmation email will be sent to your inbox. Open the email and click the verification link to activate your account. Then sign in with your email and password.
Important: No credit card is required at any point. The Solo plan is completely free with no trial period, no time limit, and no feature restrictions. You get access to every feature from day one.
Step 2: Set up your company profile
After signing in for the first time, you will see the company setup screen. This is where you configure the foundational details of your business.
Company / Business name
Enter your registered business name. This is the name that appears on:
- Every invoice you send
- Estimates and quotes
- Purchase orders
- Account statements
- PDF documents
- Email communications to customers and vendors
Use your official registered name, not a nickname or abbreviation. If you are a sole trader or freelancer, you can use your personal name or your trading name.
Country
Select the country where your business is registered. This is important because:
- It auto-fills the tax system (GST for India, VAT for UAE and GCC countries, GST for New Zealand and Australia, none for countries without a standard system)
- It sets default date formats
- It helps with compliance-related features
Base currency
Pick the primary currency your business operates in. This is the currency used for:
- Your dashboard financial summaries
- Default invoice currency
- Profit and loss reports
- Balance sheet
- All financial reporting
Common selections:
- United States: USD (US Dollar)
- United Arab Emirates: AED (Dirham)
- India: INR (Indian Rupee)
- New Zealand: NZD (New Zealand Dollar)
- United Kingdom: GBP (British Pound)
- Australia: AUD (Australian Dollar)
- Canada: CAD (Canadian Dollar)
- Singapore: SGD (Singapore Dollar)
- European Union: EUR (Euro)
Nastrum Books supports over 45 currencies. You can always invoice customers in a different currency than your base currency. Multi-currency is built in, not a paid add-on.
Tax system
This is auto-filled when you select a country:
- India - GST (Goods and Services Tax) with CGST, SGST, and IGST support
- UAE and GCC - VAT (Value Added Tax) at 5%
- New Zealand - GST at 15%
- Australia - GST at 10%
- United Kingdom - VAT at 20%
- No tax - for countries without a standard system, or if you are not yet registered for tax
You can customise tax rates, add multiple rates, and configure tax-exempt categories later in Settings.
Business email and phone
Enter the email address and phone number you want displayed on invoices and customer-facing documents. This does not have to be the same email you used to register your account.
Click Create company & continue.
Step 3: Explore your dashboard
You are now inside Nastrum Books. The dashboard is the first thing you see every time you log in.
The Setup Guide
At the top of your dashboard, you will see a Setup Guide with a progress bar showing how many of 15 tasks you have completed. The guide walks you through:
Getting started (first 5 tasks):
- Add company details (done - you just did this)
- Upload your logo
- Set up a bank account
- Add your first customer
- Create your first invoice
Next steps (remaining tasks): 6. Configure tax settings 7. Add bank details to invoices (so customers know where to pay) 8. Customise invoice settings (numbering, default terms, notes) 9. Add your first vendor 10. Record your first expense 11. And more
Green checkmarks indicate completed tasks. Blue “Go” buttons take you directly to the relevant screen. You do not have to follow the guide in order, but it is the fastest way to get fully configured.
Financial overview
Below the setup guide, your dashboard displays a complete financial overview that populates automatically as you use the app:
KPI cards across the top:
- Total Revenue
- Total Expenses
- Net Profit
- Outstanding Invoices (unpaid)
- Total Bank Balance
- Low Stock Items (if you track inventory)
- Overdue Invoices
- Unpaid Bills
Charts and reports:
- P&L Snapshot - revenue, costs, and net profit with margin percentage
- Revenue vs Expenses - monthly trend chart
- Cash Flow - money in and money out over time
- Accounts Receivable - ageing breakdown (current, 1-30 days, 31-60 days, 61-90 days, 90+ days)
All of these update in real time. There is nothing to configure - they pull from your actual data as you create invoices, record payments, and log expenses.
Step 4: Complete your company profile (recommended)
While the basics are set up, there are a few more details worth adding now to avoid going back later.
Upload your company logo
Go to Settings or click “Upload your logo” in the Setup Guide. Your logo appears on:
- Every invoice PDF
- Estimates and quotes
- Purchase orders
- Account statements
- Email headers (when email is configured)
Upload a PNG, JPG, or SVG file. A transparent PNG works best. Recommended minimum size is 300x300 pixels.
Add your business address
Go to Settings and add your full business address. This appears in the header of every invoice and statement. Include:
- Street address
- City / town
- State or province
- Postal / ZIP code
- Country
Add bank details for invoices
Your customers need to know where to send payment. Go to Settings and add your bank details. These appear at the bottom of your invoice PDFs:
- Bank name
- Account name
- Account number
- Routing number / IBAN / SWIFT code
- Branch (if applicable)
Set up your bank account for tracking
This is different from the bank details above. Go to Banking > Accounts and add your business bank account to track income and expenses:
- Account name (e.g., “Business Checking”)
- Account type (Bank, Cash, Credit Card, Savings, or Investment)
- Opening balance
You can add multiple accounts. Most businesses have at least a bank account and a cash account.
Step 5: Configure tax settings (if applicable)
If you are registered for GST, VAT, or any other tax, go to Settings to fine-tune your tax configuration.
For Indian businesses (GST)
- Add your GSTIN (GST Identification Number)
- Configure CGST + SGST rates for intra-state transactions
- Configure IGST rates for inter-state transactions
- Set HSN/SAC codes for your products and services
For UAE and GCC businesses (VAT)
- Add your TRN (Tax Registration Number)
- Standard VAT rate is 5%
- Configure zero-rated and exempt categories as needed
For New Zealand businesses (GST)
- Add your IRD number
- Standard GST rate is 15%
- Configure zero-rated supplies if applicable
For businesses not registered for tax
You can skip this step entirely and add tax configuration later when you register. Nastrum Books does not force you to set up taxes.
What to do next
Your company is now set up and your dashboard is ready. The next steps in order of priority:
- Add your first customer - you need at least one customer before you can create an invoice. Go to Customers in the sidebar or add one directly when creating your first invoice.
- Create your first invoice - follow our invoice tutorial for a complete walkthrough.
- Set up email delivery - configure Brevo, EmailJS, or your own SMTP server to send invoices directly from the app.
How Nastrum Books compares for company setup
Most accounting software requires lengthy onboarding. Some require you to talk to a sales representative before you can even create an account. Here is what makes Nastrum Books different:
- No credit card required - sign up and start using immediately
- All features included on every plan - no features locked behind expensive tiers
- Multi-currency from day one - 45+ currencies, not a paid add-on
- GST and VAT built in - auto-configured when you select your country
- Setup Guide built into the dashboard - you are never left wondering what to do next
- Dark mode by default - the only major accounting software with a properly designed dark interface
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to set up my company?
The initial setup (registration + company profile) takes about 2-3 minutes. Getting fully configured with logo, bank account, tax settings, and your first customer takes about 10 minutes.
Can I change my company details later?
Yes. Everything you enter during setup can be changed at any time in Settings. Your company name, address, logo, currency, tax configuration, and bank details are all editable.
Can I add more than one company?
Yes. The Studio plan supports up to 3 companies, and the Firm plan supports unlimited companies. Solo and Team plans include 1 company. You can switch between companies instantly from the sidebar.
Is the free plan really free forever?
Yes. The Solo plan is $0 forever. It is not a trial, not a time-limited offer, and does not require a credit card. You get every feature with no restrictions. The only limits are 1 company, 1 user, and 500 MB attachment storage for uploaded files like receipts and PDFs. Your accounting data (invoices, transactions, reports) is unlimited.
What currencies does Nastrum Books support?
Over 45 currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, AED, INR, NZD, AUD, CAD, SGD, JPY, CHF, ZAR, SAR, QAR, BHD, KWD, OMR, and more. You can set any currency as your base and invoice customers in any other supported currency. Exchange rates update automatically.
Can I import data from another accounting tool?
Yes. You can import customers, vendors, and items from CSV files. Go to Import / Export in the sidebar. If you need help migrating from a specific tool, email hello@nastrumbooks.com.
Does Nastrum Books work on mobile?
Yes. Nastrum Books is a web app that works on any device with a browser. It is fully responsive on desktop, tablet, and phone. No app download required.
What tax systems are supported?
GST (India, New Zealand, Australia), VAT (UAE, GCC, UK, EU), and custom tax rates for any other jurisdiction. You can configure multiple tax rates and apply them per item on invoices and bills.
Ready to get started? Create your free account and set up your company in under 3 minutes.