In today’s highly competitive and digital-first business environment, companies of all sizes are looking for tools that help them streamline operations, centralize data, reduce administrative burden, and stay compliant. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems used to be associated with large corporations with deep pockets and dedicated IT teams. But that has changed dramatically. Open-source solutions like Dolibarr ERP/CRM have democratized ERP access, offering small and medium businesses a powerful, flexible, and affordable alternative.

Whether you're a small manufacturer, a digital agency, a retailer, or a service provider, this guide will walk you through how to install and configure Dolibarr for your business—from system requirements to post-installation settings, and everything in between. By the end, you’ll have a fully operational ERP tailored to your workflows, ready to grow with your organization.

What Is Dolibarr and Why Choose It?

Dolibarr ERP & CRM is a modern, open-source software suite for businesses and freelancers to manage everything from customers, invoices, products, and inventory to projects, human resources, and accounting. Designed with simplicity and scalability in mind, Dolibarr is modular, meaning you can activate only the features you need.

Here’s why thousands of businesses globally—and especially across Europe—choose Dolibarr:

• No license fees (GPL v3 open-source license)

• Modular and customizable

• Web-based (accessible from any device with a browser)

• Large, active community and frequent updates

• Compliant with European accounting and invoicing laws

• Multiple language and multi-currency support

This guide will focus on the self-hosted version, as it gives you full control over your setup. If you prefer a faster setup, Dolibarr is also available in hosted options via platforms like DoliCloud.

Pre-Installation Considerations

Before installing Dolibarr, you need to decide where and how you'll host it. The three most common options are:

1. Localhost Installation

Good for testing or personal use. Requires a local server stack like XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP.

2. Shared Hosting or VPS

Ideal for small businesses. Many hosting providers support Dolibarr with cPanel and auto-installers.

3. Cloud/Production Server

Best for companies needing high availability and remote access. Consider services like DigitalOcean, OVH, or AWS.

You’ll need the following to run Dolibarr:

• Web server: Apache or Nginx

• PHP: Version 7.4 to 8.2 (Dolibarr 18+ is compatible)

• Database: MySQL 5.1+ or MariaDB

• Disk Space: Minimum 200MB for core files (expandable depending on data and documents)

Step-by-Step Installation of Dolibarr (On a VPS or Hosting Server)

Step 1: Download Dolibarr

Visit the official website www.dolibarr.org and download the latest stable version. You can choose:

• The .zip file for Windows environments

• The .tgz file for Linux environments

Alternatively, you can clone the project from GitHub for the latest development build.

Step 2: Upload Files to Your Server

Use an FTP client (like FileZilla) or SSH to upload Dolibarr’s files into the root directory of your domain or subdomain (e.g., /var/www/html/dolibarr).

Ensure your web server has correct permissions:

Step 3: Create a Database

Log in to your database management interface (phpMyAdmin or MySQL CLI) and create a new database for Dolibarr.

Step 4: Launch the Web Installer

Open your browser and navigate to http://yourdomain.com/dolibarr/.

The setup wizard will guide you through:

1. Language selection

2. System checks (PHP version, modules, etc.)

3. Database configuration (Enter your DB name, user, password)

4. Admin account creation

5. Module selection (choose what to activate by default)

Once the setup finishes, Dolibarr is installed and ready to use.

Post-Installation Configuration

Now that Dolibarr is running, you need to configure it to match your business context.

Company Settings

Under Home > Setup > Company/Organization, set:

• Company name, address, phone

• Fiscal ID/VAT number

• Logo and document footer

• Default currency and language

• Fiscal year start/end

User and Access Control

Create user accounts for your team and assign permissions via roles/profiles:

• Admin

• Sales rep

• Accountant

• Inventory manager

• HR manager

Dolibarr uses granular permissions, so each module can be restricted as needed.

Essential Modules for Businesses

Dolibarr comes with over 40 modules. Not all are needed for every business. Here’s a breakdown of essential modules and what they do:

1. Third Parties (Clients, Prospects, Suppliers)

Core for managing business contacts. You can group, tag, assign representatives, and store custom fields.

2. Invoicing & Quotes

Create, send, and track quotes, orders, and invoices. Custom templates are available for French, Spanish, and EU legal formats.

3. Product/Service Catalog

Define your items, set prices (multiple levels possible), manage stock and suppliers.

4. Accounting (Optional)

Lightweight accounting features allow journal entries, tax declarations, and financial reports.

5. Projects

Organize tasks, track time, assign resources, and link expenses or invoices to projects.

6. Stock Management

Supports multi-location inventory, barcode scanning, minimum thresholds, and real-time availability.

7. POS (Point of Sale)

For physical shops. Touchscreen-friendly interface, receipt printing, and automatic inventory update.

Customization Tips

Document Templates

Edit your PDFs (invoices, quotes, etc.) using the built-in template editor or create custom ones via PHP or TCPDF. Add logos, legal mentions, and custom footer texts.

Fields and Layouts

Use the Extra Fields feature to add custom fields to any object—clients, invoices, products, etc. You can control visibility and whether a field is required.

Workflows and Triggers

Set up automatic behaviors like:

• Email on invoice validation

• Stock deduction on order shipment

• Status change based on date

You can also create business rules using third-party modules or custom scripts.

Recommended Extensions from NEXT GESTION

The NEXTGESTION is Dolibarr’s official marketplace. Popular modules include:

• DoliPlus: Enhanced dashboards and UX

• Multicompany: Manage several legal entities from one Dolibarr

• Advanced Reports: KPI dashboards and custom queries

• Bank Reconciliation Assistant

• DoliScan: OCR scanning of supplier invoices

You can install these by uploading them to /htdocs/custom/ and activating from the module list.

Backup, Security, and Maintenance

Regular Backups

Set up daily or weekly backups of both:

• Database (.sql)

• /documents/ folder (contains invoices, uploaded files)

Automate this using CRON jobs or hosting tools.

Security Practices

• Use HTTPS with a valid SSL certificate

• Change default admin URL

• Disable unused modules

• Keep Dolibarr updated (security patches come regularly)

Upgrades

Always back up before upgrading. Use the upgrade script included in each new version or use Git for more advanced setups.

Integrations and APIs

Dolibarr supports REST and JSON APIs, allowing you to integrate with:

• eCommerce platforms

• Accounting systems

• Marketing tools (Mailchimp, Sendinblue)

• Custom web or mobile apps

Enable the API module, generate API keys, and refer to the API documentation for endpoints.

Conclusion: Ready to Scale with Dolibarr

Dolibarr isn’t just an ERP—it's a full digital ecosystem for running a modern business. Its low cost, scalability, and compliance with international standards make it especially appealing to SMEs and freelancers who need control without complexity.

From installation to daily use, it adapts to your structure—not the other way around. And with a growing community and open development model, Dolibarr evolves with the needs of businesses, not against them.

Whether you’re just starting out or managing hundreds of clients and invoices each month, Dolibarr gives you the tools to grow—securely, legally, and affordably.