Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 1, 2026

đź”’ Local-First Promise: Booksmaster is designed with privacy as the core principle. Your financial data stays on your computer. We have no access to your receipts, transactions, or business information.

1. Information We Collect

Data Stored Locally (On Your Computer)

The following data is stored exclusively on your local device and never transmitted to our servers:

  • Receipt Images: All uploaded receipt photos and scanned images
  • Transaction Records: Income, expenses, categorizations, and notes
  • Business Information: Your business name, job type, fiscal year settings
  • Mileage Data: Trip logs, addresses, classifications
  • User Preferences: App settings, UI customizations, gamification progress
  • API Keys: Your Google AI key (if provided) is stored encrypted locally

Data We May Collect (Optional Analytics)

With your explicit consent, we may collect anonymous usage analytics to improve the software:

  • App version and operating system
  • Feature usage statistics (e.g., "batch scanning used 5 times")
  • Error logs and crash reports (no personal data included)
  • Performance metrics (load times, processing speeds)

Note: Analytics are disabled by default. You must opt-in via Settings.

2. How We Use Your Information

Local Processing Only

All your financial data is processed locally on your device. We use this data to:

  • Generate tax reports and exports
  • Power the self-learning AI categorization (learns on your machine)
  • Display gamification progress and achievements
  • Provide duplicate detection and reconciliation features

Third-Party AI Services

When you use AI-powered receipt scanning, Booksmaster sends receipt images to:

  • Google Gemini API: Receipt images are processed by Google's AI to extract text and amounts. You use your own API key, and Google's privacy policy applies to this processing.

Important: We do not see or store these API requests. Communication is direct between your computer and Google's servers.

3. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or share your financial data with anyone. Period.

The only data transmission occurs when:

  • You use Google AI: Receipt images sent directly to Google (you control this with your API key)
  • You opt-in to analytics: Anonymous usage statistics sent to improve the software
  • You export data: You manually export reports to file formats (QuickBooks, Excel, PDF)

4. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures:

  • Local Storage Encryption: API keys are encrypted at rest
  • No Cloud Uploads: Your data never leaves your device unless you explicitly export it
  • Secure API Communication: HTTPS for all external API calls
  • No Telemetry by Default: Analytics disabled unless you opt-in

5. Your Rights and Control

You have complete control over your data:

  • Access: All data is stored in readable formats on your computer
  • Export: Export all data to CSV, Excel, PDF, QuickBooks formats
  • Delete: Uninstall Booksmaster to remove all local data
  • Backup: You control backups (we recommend external or cloud storage)
  • Opt-Out: Disable analytics in Settings at any time

6. Children's Privacy

Booksmaster is designed for business use and is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children.

7. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy to reflect new features or legal requirements. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Continued use of Booksmaster after changes constitutes acceptance of the new policy.

8. Contact Us

If you have questions about this privacy policy or data practices, contact us at:

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

9. Bank Syncing (Optional)

Plaid Integration

Booksmaster includes optional bank syncing via Plaid for both offline and online versions. When you enable bank syncing:

  • Data Flow: Your bank credentials are sent directly to Plaid (not to us)
  • Local Storage: Transaction data is stored locally on your computer
  • Your Control: You can disconnect banks or delete synced data at any time
  • Plaid Privacy: Bank syncing is subject to Plaid's privacy policy and security practices

Important: Bank syncing is completely optional. If you prefer to remain fully offline with no external connections, simply don't enable bank syncing and manually enter your transactions.

10. Cloud Version (Coming 2026)

When the $70/year online edition launches, it will include cloud storage and mobile apps. That version will have a separate privacy policy addressing:

  • Cloud data storage and encryption
  • Mobile app data handling
  • Multi-device synchronization

Bottom Line: Booksmaster offline edition is built on the principle that your financial data is yours. It stays on your computer, under your control. Bank syncing is optional—if you want to remain fully offline, simply don't enable it. We believe you should control your data, not the other way around.