Billing management is critical in any company and Invoice Ninja provides the best solution towards achieving this. I can use and create invoices and expenses on this platform for tracking and getting paid. In this article we’ll explain how to install Invoice Ninja for those who use cPanel to host their website and to make the most of this tool.
Why Choose Invoice Ninja?
A robust invoicing solution Invoice Ninja comes with a number of functions such as:
- Customizable Invoices: Design and produce high quality invoice templates that have your own branding on it.
- Recurring Billing: Automate billing for repeat customers.
- Client Management: Keep track of your clients and their payment history.
- Expense Tracking: Monitor your business expenses easily.
- Payment Integration: Accept payments through popular gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and others.
You can obtain these advantages by installing Invoice Ninja on your cPanel hosting and managing your billing processes yourself.
Step 1: Prepare Your cPanel Environment
In case of cPanel double check the environment to be in place before the installation begins. The following are the requirements.The following are the requirements:
- PHP Version: Ensure your server is running PHP 7.3 or higher.
- Database: MySQL 5.7 or MariaDB 10.2.2 and above.
- Composer: Invoice Ninja utilizes Composer for dependency management.
To ensure you are using the correct version of PHP, go to your cPanel and under theSoftware tab click on ‘Select PHP Version.Select version 7 or above for this 3.
Step 2: Create a New Database
Invoice Ninja comes with database storage requirements where you have to use a MySQL database to store your data. Follow these steps to create one.Follow these steps to create one:
- Log in to cPanel: How to login into a cPanel account?
- Navigate to MySQL Databases: Among the options click on MySQL Databases which is located in the Databases category.
- Create a New Database: Type a name of your database and then click on Create Database.
- Create a Database User: Under MySQL Users create a new user. Add this user to your new database, make them administrator.
Step 3: Upload Invoice Ninja Files
Next, you’ll need to upload the Invoice Ninja files to your server:
- Download Invoice Ninja: Visit the Invoice Ninja GitHub repository and download the latest version.
- Upload files to cPanel: Once you are logged in, click Files and then the “File Manager” symbol. Open the zipped file you downloaded then upload it to the server where you wish to install Invoice Ninja.
- Extract the Files: After performing the upload right click the name of the zip file and click on the ‘Extract’ for the files to be unzipped.
Step 4: Configure Invoice Ninja
After uploading the files you’ll need to configure the application:
- Rename .env.example to .env: In the Invoice Ninja directory, find the .env.example file and rename it to .env.
- Edit the .env File: Open the .env file and update the following settings:
- APP_URL: Your domain name or IP address.
- DB_DATABASE: Your newly created database name.
- DB_USERNAME: The database user you created.
- DB_PASSWORD: The password for the database user.
- Save Changes: After editing, save the .env file.
Step 5: Run the Installation
Now that everything is set up you may launch the installation script:
- Access Your Domain: In your browser go to http://yourdomain.com/setup.
- Complete the Setup Wizard: To finish the setup, adhere to the directions displayed on screen. You will be asked to enter your database information and create an admin account yourself.
You will integrate and deploy Invoice Ninja into your server’s cPanel hosting environment once it is done.
Step 6: Secure Your Installation
For added security, consider the following:
- SSL Certificate: Install an SSL certificate to encrypt data between your server and clients.
- File Permissions: Set file permissions correctly to prevent unauthorized access yourself.
Conclusion
Clients can effortlessly install Invoice Ninja to a cPanel that will greatly improve your billing process. Therefore here are the guidelines that will enable you to optimally tap into this morphous invoicing tool that can help you track your invoice offset your operating expenses and monitor client payment.
The adaptations and security policies will make your installation up to par and secure always. Invoice Ninja has been effective in our billing procedure; hence, you should welcome the new procedure by making your billing procedure organized and safe.