Dolibarr ERP & CRM is a powerful, modular, and open-source platform that helps small and medium-sized businesses manage everything from customer relationships and invoicing to inventory and human resources. Whether you’ve installed it on a local server, hosted it with a provider, or deployed it via Docker, your journey with Dolibarr doesn't start the moment the login screen appears. It begins with the configuration.

Out of the box, Dolibarr provides a basic framework. To unlock its true potential and avoid future issues, it’s critical to spend time setting it up properly. Skipping this foundational step often leads to inconsistent data, legal compliance issues, user confusion, and inefficiencies across departments.

This guide will walk you through five critical post-installation settings every administrator should configure immediately after installing Dolibarr. These aren't just “nice to have” preferences — they’re essential to making your ERP/CRM system secure, reliable, and tailored to your organization.

1. Set Up Company Information and Regional Settings

The first and most essential step is defining your company’s identity and operating environment. This data forms the foundation for your documents, accounting, and system-wide behavior.

Company Information

Go to Home > Setup > Company/Organization.

Here, you should fill in:

• Company Name

• Address

• Logo (displayed on all PDF documents)

• Registration numbers (like SIRET, VAT, or Tax ID)

• Default email, phone number, website

This information is not just cosmetic. It will automatically populate your quotes, invoices, purchase orders, and other documents generated by the system.

Time Zone and Language

Set the time zone according to your headquarters. A mismatch can affect cron jobs, timestamps in logs, financial closing dates, and deadline calculations.

Go to Home > Setup > Other Setup, and configure:

• main_force_timezone

• main_lang_default

Currency and Locale

You’ll also want to make sure Dolibarr reflects the correct:

• Currency (Home > Setup > Dictionaries > Currencies)

• Number format (decimal and thousands separators)

• Date format (DD/MM/YYYY vs. MM/DD/YYYY)

If your business operates internationally, you may activate and configure multiple currencies. Dolibarr supports exchange rate updates through third-party connectors or manual entry.

2. Activate and Configure Essential Modules

Dolibarr is modular by design. This means that out of the box, only a core set of modules are activated. You’ll need to enable and configure the ones relevant to your business.

Must-Have Modules for Most SMEs

Here are some commonly used modules and why they matter:

• Third Parties (Companies/Contacts)
  Manages customers, suppliers, and leads.

• Products/Services
  Lets you create a catalog of what you sell or buy.

• Invoices and Orders
  Needed to issue quotes, orders, and track billing.

• Accounting/Bookkeeping
  Tracks revenues, expenses, and integrates with tax rules.

• Stock/Warehouse
  If you sell physical products, this is critical for inventory management.

• Projects and Tasks
  For businesses managing jobs, assignments, or service contracts.

• Emailing and Notifications
  Used to send bulk emails or automated alerts to clients.

To activate modules:

• Navigate to Home > Setup > Modules

• Use the toggles to enable modules

• Click on each module’s Setup link to configure parameters

Configure Each Module Thoughtfully

Each module comes with detailed parameters:

• Numbering rules for invoices or quotes

• Default tax rates

• Payment terms

• Document templates

• Email notification rules

Take your time to configure them properly. For example, if you’re VAT registered, make sure taxes are applied correctly in the invoices module.

3. Secure Your Installation

Dolibarr is a business-critical application. If it’s exposed online or poorly secured, you risk data breaches, compliance violations, or financial loss. Here are the key steps to harden your installation:

Enforce HTTPS

• Always use HTTPS for accessing Dolibarr.

• If self-hosted, install an SSL certificate via Let’s Encrypt or a commercial provider.

• Enforce HTTPS redirection using web server config or application settings.

Change Default Admin Username

The default username is often admin, which is widely known and targeted in brute-force attacks. Create a new admin user and delete or disable the default one.

Configure User Permissions

Dolibarr provides granular access control. Each user should only have access to the modules and data they need.

• Go to Users & Groups > Users

• Create user accounts for employees

• Assign them to user groups (Sales, Accounting, etc.)

• Configure each group’s permissions via Users & Groups > Permissions

Avoid giving full admin rights to all users.

Enable Audit and Logs

Enable logging and audits in Home > Setup > Security:

• Access logs

• Modification logs (who changed what)

• API logs if you use REST access

Regular log review helps detect unauthorized actions and system misuse.

4. Customize Document Templates and Numbering

Every business has its branding and operational requirements. Dolibarr’s default PDF templates and numbering sequences might not suit you out of the box.

PDF Templates

Go to Home > Setup > Modules > Invoices/Orders/Proposals and select:

• Default document template (e.g., Crabe, Azur)

• Header and footer customization

• Add your logo and legal disclaimers

• Insert company bank details for payments

If you have technical skills or a developer available, you can create your own template by duplicating an existing one in the /core/modules/ folder and editing the PHP file.

Custom Numbering Rules

Each document (quote, invoice, order, etc.) uses a sequence number. You can define:

• Starting number

• Prefix (like INV2025-####)

• Reset behavior (monthly/yearly)

This is done under each module’s Setup > Numbering Models.

Proper numbering ensures compliance with local accounting laws and helps track documents easily.

5. Automate Backups and Schedule Maintenance Tasks

ERP and CRM data is invaluable. If your database is lost, corrupted, or hacked, the consequences can be severe. Automating backups and regular maintenance is the last—but critical—step.

Enable Scheduled Backups

If your hosting includes cron jobs or scheduled tasks:

• Use Dolibarr’s native tools to generate backups (Home > Admin Tools > Backup)

• Automate SQL and document directory backups using a cron job

• Store backups on a remote or cloud location (like Google Drive via scripts)

You can also use external backup systems like:

• rsync + cron

• Duplicity

• BorgBackup

Database Optimization

Over time, Dolibarr’s database can become bloated. Periodically:

• Optimize tables (via phpMyAdmin or CLI)

• Remove old logs or email attachments

• Archive completed projects or orders

Update Dolibarr Regularly

New releases include security patches, feature enhancements, and bug fixes. Before updating:

• Back up everything

• Test the update in a staging environment

• Check compatibility with custom modules

Dolibarr’s community and changelogs make it easy to stay informed about safe upgrade paths.

Bonus Tips: Other Smart Settings to Consider

If you’ve covered the five essentials above, consider diving deeper into:

• Multilingual Support
  Dolibarr supports dozens of languages. Enable language packs for clients or international teams.

• Connect to External Apps via API
  Use the REST API for integration with e-commerce (like PrestaShop), payment gateways (Stripe), or mobile apps.

• Enable Email SMTP Configuration
  Instead of using PHP mail, configure authenticated SMTP to improve email delivery.

• Legal Compliance Settings
  Configure GDPR module, client data retention rules, and opt-in settings.

Conclusion

Installing Dolibarr is the easy part — the real work begins when you tailor it to your business. The five configuration areas outlined above — system settings, module setup, security, document customization, and backup automation — will help ensure that your instance of Dolibarr is secure, compliant, scalable, and user-friendly.

Spending the time upfront to get these things right reduces risk, saves future admin time, and sets your business up for success. Dolibarr’s modular approach means you can grow and adapt your setup as your needs evolve — but these core elements should always be in place from day one.

If you’re building a digital infrastructure to last, don’t skip the setup phase. Make Dolibarr work for you — securely, efficiently, and professionally.