Backing Up Your Company Data
A backup captures a complete snapshot of your company's data at a specific point in time. You can use it to restore your data if something goes wrong, or to copy your data into a different company.
What's Included in a Backup
| Included | Not Included |
|---|---|
| All contacts (customers & suppliers) | User accounts and passwords |
| All items and services | Subscription and billing details |
| Invoices, estimates, credit notes, sales orders | Document template customisation (logo, colours) |
| Bills, debit notes, purchase orders, made payments | Uploaded file attachments |
| Expenses and received payments | Notification settings |
| Chart of accounts (all accounts) | |
| Journal entries and vouchers | |
| Company details and settings | |
| Tax rates and defaults |
Note: User accounts are managed at the account level, not the company level, so they are never included in a backup.
How to Create a Backup
- Go to Settings
- Click Backup & Restore in the left menu
- Click Create Backup
- Acusheet will prepare your backup — this usually takes a few seconds
- Once ready, click Download Backup to save the file to your device
The downloaded file is a .json file containing your complete company data.
Backup Expiry
Download links expire 24 hours after the backup is created. After expiry, the link is no longer valid and you will need to create a new backup.
Tip: Download your backup immediately after creating it. Don't rely on the download link still being active the next day.
When to Create a Backup
We recommend creating a backup:
- Before making large changes — such as bulk-editing accounts, restructuring your chart of accounts, or importing data
- At the end of each financial period — monthly or quarterly as part of your close process
- Before deleting your company — so you have a record of all historical data
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I back up?
At minimum, back up at the end of each month after closing your books. For active businesses, weekly backups are a good habit.
Is the backup encrypted?
The backup file contains your business data in JSON format. Keep it stored securely (e.g. an encrypted drive or password-protected cloud folder) and don't share it publicly.
Can I open the backup file?
Yes — it is a plain JSON file and can be opened in any text editor. However, it is designed to be restored into Acusheet, not edited manually.
Can I back up multiple companies separately?
Yes. Backups are per-company. Switch to each company and create a backup individually.
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