Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of Booksmaster software and services. By downloading, installing, or using Booksmaster, you agree to these Terms.

1. Open Source License

Booksmaster is free and open source software licensed under the MIT License.

This means you are free to:

• Use the software for any purpose (commercial or personal)
• Modify the source code to fit your needs
• Distribute copies of the software
• Create derivative works and distribute them

The only requirement: Include the original copyright notice and license terms in any copies or substantial portions of the software.

2. Acceptable Use

You may use Booksmaster for:

• Business bookkeeping and expense tracking
• Personal financial record keeping
• Tax preparation and reporting
• Modification and customization for your needs
• Redistribution (with attribution)
• Creating derivative works

You must NOT:

• Remove copyright notices or license attributions
• Use the software for illegal activities or fraudulent purposes
• Misrepresent the origin of the software
• Hold the developers liable for damages

Attribution: If you distribute modified versions, please credit the original Booksmaster project and link to the GitHub repository.

3. Third-Party Services

Google Gemini API

AI-powered receipt scanning uses your Google API key. You are responsible for:

• Obtaining and maintaining your Google API key
• Complying with Google's terms of service and usage limits
• Any costs associated with API usage

Important: We strongly recommend using a Tier 1 paid Google API account (approximately $2/month for typical usage) rather than the free tier. The free tier has strict rate limits that can cause failures when processing large batches of receipts. Tier 1 provides reliable, uninterrupted service for batch processing.

Booksmaster is not responsible for Google API availability, accuracy, or changes to their service.

4. Software Updates

We may release updates that:

• Fix bugs and security vulnerabilities
• Add new features and improvements
• Modify or remove features

Updates are provided free of charge to all users. We recommend enabling auto-updates for security.

5. Data and Privacy

Your data is stored locally on your device. We do not:

• Have access to your financial records
• Store your receipts or transactions on our servers
• Sell or share your data with third parties

See our Privacy Policy for complete details.

6. Optional Paid Features (Future)

The desktop application will always remain free and open source. Optional paid add-on features may be offered in the future:

• Cloud sync and backup services
• Mobile applications (iOS/Android)
• Hosted AI processing (no API key needed)
• Priority support contracts

These optional services will be clearly marked as add-ons and are not required to use the core Booksmaster software.

7. Disclaimers and Limitations

Tax and Accounting Disclaimer

Booksmaster is a bookkeeping tool, not a substitute for professional accounting or tax advice. You are responsible for:

• Accuracy of data entered into the system
• Proper categorization of expenses for tax purposes
• Compliance with applicable tax laws and regulations
• Consulting with qualified tax professionals for advice

We make no guarantees regarding:

• AI accuracy (though we target 90%+ with learning)
• Tax compliance or audit protection
• Suitability for specific business types or tax situations

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Booksmaster and its developers shall not be liable for:

• Lost profits, data, or business opportunities
• Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• Errors in AI categorization or receipt parsing
• Tax penalties or IRS audit issues
• Data loss due to hardware failure or user error

As free open source software provided without charge, there is no financial liability. You use this software entirely at your own risk.

8. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Booksmaster from claims arising from:

• Your use of the software
• Violation of these Terms
• Violation of applicable laws or regulations
• Tax filing errors or omissions

9. Termination

We may terminate your license if you:

• Violate these Terms of Service
• Use the software for illegal purposes
• Abuse support resources or engage in fraud

Upon termination, you must stop using the software and may uninstall it.

10. Modifications to Terms

We may update these Terms to reflect:

• New features or optional paid services
• Legal or regulatory requirements
• Clarifications based on user feedback

Changes will be posted with an updated date. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance. Major changes may be communicated via email (if provided).

11. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of [Your Jurisdiction]. Any disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration or in the courts of [Your Jurisdiction].

12. Contact Information

Questions about these Terms? Contact us:

Email: manny@aialchemist.net
Support: Visit our support page

13. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full effect.

14. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Booksmaster regarding use of the software.