Installing Dolibarr ERP & CRM is the first milestone in organizing and streamlining your business processes—from customer management and invoicing to inventory control and project tracking. But the moment the installer completes and you log into your new Dolibarr instance, you might find yourself wondering, "Now what?"

Whether you’re a small business owner, a freelancer, or the IT admin for a larger organization, your post-installation steps are critical. A solid initial setup ensures your ERP works for you, not against you. In this in-depth guide, we’ll walk through the first seven things you should do immediately after installing Dolibarr. These are foundational tasks that will prepare your system for daily use, reduce risk, and set you up for long-term success.

Step 1: Secure Your Installation

The very first thing you should do is secure your Dolibarr instance. The default installation may leave some security gaps open, especially if you’re self-hosting.

What to check:

• Delete the install directory: If you haven't done so already, remove the /install/ folder. Leaving it intact is a major security risk.

• Review file permissions: Your /conf/ directory should not be world-writable. Use chmod to restrict it to the web server user.

• Enable HTTPS: If you're not already accessing Dolibarr over HTTPS, set up an SSL certificate immediately. Services like Let's Encrypt make this free and easy.

• Change the default admin password: During installation, you created an admin account. Make sure the password is strong and unique.

These small but essential tasks help safeguard your data from unauthorized access.

Step 2: Configure Company Information

Next, set up your organization’s profile in Dolibarr. This is more than just a cosmetic step—it directly affects how your invoices, quotes, and documents appear.

Go to:

Home > Setup > Company/Organization

Fill in:

• Legal name

• Address

• Phone and email

• Logo (upload your image)

• Tax or registration numbers (like VAT ID)

Dolibarr uses this information on outgoing documents, so ensuring accuracy here lends credibility and professionalism to your business communications.

Step 3: Set Up Currencies, Taxes, and Language Preferences

Dolibarr supports multi-currency and multi-language environments. Before you begin issuing documents or managing sales, set your preferences.

Go to:

Home > Setup > Dictionaries

Recommended settings:

• Currency: Set your default currency. You can add multiple if needed.

• VAT/Tax rates: Define standard tax rates applicable to your region.

• Languages: Choose your interface language. If you operate in a multilingual environment, enable multiple languages for clients or staff.

These configurations ensure that invoices are calculated correctly and that your team and clients can work in their preferred language.

Step 4: Activate Essential Modules

One of Dolibarr’s biggest strengths is its modularity. You can turn on only what you need. But without enabling the right modules, Dolibarr won’t be very useful.

Go to:

Home > Setup > Modules/Applications

Suggested starter modules:

• Third Parties: Enables management of customers and suppliers.

• Products/Services: Lets you define what you sell.

• Proposals/Quotes: Create and send quotes.

• Orders: Manage incoming and outgoing orders.

• Invoices: Enables billing features.

• Projects: Great for service-based businesses.

• Bank/Cash: Track payments and link bank accounts.

• Users & Permissions: Control access rights.

You can always activate more modules later. Start simple and grow as needed.

Step 5: Create Users and Assign Roles

If more than one person will use the system, you'll need to create user accounts and define their permissions. Dolibarr provides fine-grained control so users see only what they need to.

Go to:

Home > Users & Groups

Actions:

• Add users with unique usernames and secure passwords.

• Create groups (Sales, HR, Accounting, etc.).

• Assign modules and permissions per group or individual.

Assigning the correct roles ensures data security and usability. For instance, sales staff shouldn’t have access to financial records, and accountants shouldn’t alter CRM data.

Step 6: Input Initial Data (Clients, Products, Bank Accounts)

Now it’s time to feed Dolibarr the data it needs to work.

Recommended data to start with:

• Clients and suppliers: Add them under the Third Parties module.

• Products or services: Go to the Products module and define SKUs, pricing, and descriptions.

• Bank accounts: Under Financial > Bank/Cash, add your business accounts.

Once this foundational data is in place, you can begin generating quotes, sending invoices, and logging transactions with minimal friction.

If you have a lot of existing data, Dolibarr offers import tools to upload CSV files for clients, products, and more. Make sure your columns match Dolibarr’s expected format.

Step 7: Customize Document Templates

Every invoice, proposal, or delivery note your company sends is a reflection of your brand. Dolibarr provides default templates, but customizing them adds a professional touch.

Go to:

Home > Setup > Modules > Invoices (or Quotes, Orders)

Actions:

• Choose a base template (e.g., crabe, azur, einstein).

• Edit header/footer texts.

• Upload your logo and company branding.

• Adjust format, font size, and alignment if needed.

You can also explore the NEXT GESTION marketplace for premium templates if you want something more polished.

Additional Tips for a Successful Start

Beyond the initial seven steps, here are a few more recommendations to optimize your Dolibarr instance:

• Enable email sending: Configure SMTP settings so you can send invoices and messages from within Dolibarr.

• Install updates: Regularly check for Dolibarr core updates and apply them after backing up.

• Set up backups: Use the backup module or an external solution to schedule regular backups.

• Review audit logs: Dolibarr keeps track of user actions. This is useful for compliance and troubleshooting.

• Test workflows: Try issuing a full cycle from quote to invoice to payment to ensure everything works.

Conclusion

Installing Dolibarr is just the beginning. Taking the right steps immediately after installation can be the difference between a clunky, confusing experience and a smooth, efficient system that supports your operations every day.

From securing the system and configuring the basics to loading real-world data and setting up users, each of the seven steps covered above contributes to a robust ERP setup.

Start small, stay consistent, and build your processes within Dolibarr gradually. With these first actions complete, your organization is ready to harness the full power of Dolibarr and scale your operations with confidence.