The O'Saasy License
A plain-English explanation of what you can and cannot do with Hisaabo's source code.
In short
The O'Saasy License is a source-available license that lets you do almost everything with the code. The one restriction: you cannot take the software and offer it as a hosted service to compete with us. That's it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Hisaabo for my business?
Yes. You can use Hisaabo to manage invoicing, billing, and accounting for your business at no cost. There are no usage limits, no trial periods, and no feature restrictions in the open-source version.
Can I modify the source code?
Yes. You can modify the code to suit your needs -- add custom features, change the UI, integrate with your existing tools. You're encouraged to contribute improvements back to the project, but it is not required.
Can I self-host Hisaabo?
Yes. You can run Hisaabo on your own servers, your own cloud infrastructure, or even a Raspberry Pi if you want. Your data stays entirely under your control. We provide a self-hosting guide to help you get started.
Can I self-host it for multiple businesses I own?
Yes. Hisaabo supports multi-business from a single installation. You can run billing for all your businesses on one self-hosted instance.
Can my IT team host it for my company internally?
Yes. Internal deployment within an organisation is perfectly fine. Your IT team can host, manage, and customise the installation for your company's use.
Can I sell Hisaabo as a SaaS product?
No. This is the one thing you cannot do. You cannot take Hisaabo's code and offer it as a managed, hosted service to third parties. That is our business model, and the license protects it. If you want to offer hosted billing services, you need to build your own software or obtain a commercial license from us.
Can a consultant set up Hisaabo for their client?
Yes. A consultant or IT services company can install, configure, and customise Hisaabo for a client's self-hosted infrastructure. What you cannot do is host it on your own infrastructure and sell access to multiple clients as a service.
What if I want to build a product on top of Hisaabo?
If your product uses Hisaabo as an internal tool (not offered as a hosted billing service), that is fine. If your product is essentially a hosted version of Hisaabo for third parties, that requires a commercial license. When in doubt, reach out to us and we'll clarify.
Is this actually open source?
The O'Saasy License is a "source-available" license, not an OSI-approved "open source" license. The distinction matters to some. The practical difference is the single restriction on competing hosted services. For most users -- businesses, developers, consultants, students -- the distinction is academic. You have full access to the code and can do almost anything with it.
Full license text
This page is an informal summary for convenience. The legally binding license text is maintained in the repository:
Questions?
If you have questions about the license or need clarification for your specific use case, reach out at legal@hisaabo.in. We're happy to clarify.