Practical local-data guide

Your files. A plan to protect them.

Offline invoicing removes the need for a hosted billing account. It also makes a tested backup routine your responsibility.

What local means in Folio

The included Linux executable stores records in SQLite and serves its interface to a browser on the same computer. PDF generation and database backup do not require a remote service. Folio does not send invoices, sync records, connect to banks or activate through a remote account.

Your browser, OS, extensions and printer software can have independent network behavior. Buying and downloading the package uses Gumroad. “Local” does not mean that everything on your computer is disconnected.

Three habits for a working backup

  1. Download after meaningful changes. Use Settings & backups after entering important records. Backups contain customer/business information, so treat them as private files.
  2. Keep an off-device copy. A second copy on the same disk does not protect against losing that disk. Choose storage and encryption suitable for your business.
  3. Test recovery. Use a separate workspace and a trusted backup to verify that expected invoices and balances return. Follow the included manual. Folio validates restores and creates a pre-restore recovery copy.

Know the security boundaries

Folio does not encrypt its database or backups. Use a private OS account and device/storage encryption. There is no multi-user authorization system. Do not expose its local service publicly, share an active database folder, or assume that PDF exports replace a full database backup.

Is an offline tool enough?

For a single-user quote, invoice and payment record workflow, it may be. If you need simultaneous users, bank feeds, recurring billing, legally prescribed tax credit notes or a certified e-invoicing connection, evaluate software that provides those capabilities.

See the Folio walkthrough or read its full scope on Gumroad.