diff --git a/alembic.ini b/alembic.ini
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe59857
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+# A generic, single database configuration.
+
+[alembic]
+# path to migration scripts.
+# this is typically a path given in POSIX (e.g. forward slashes)
+# format, relative to the token %(here)s which refers to the location of this
+# ini file
+script_location = %(here)s/alembic
+
+# template used to generate migration file names; The default value is %%(rev)s_%%(slug)s
+# Uncomment the line below if you want the files to be prepended with date and time
+# see https://alembic.sqlalchemy.org/en/latest/tutorial.html#editing-the-ini-file
+# for all available tokens
+# file_template = %%(year)d_%%(month).2d_%%(day).2d_%%(hour).2d%%(minute).2d-%%(rev)s_%%(slug)s
+
+# sys.path path, will be prepended to sys.path if present.
+# defaults to the current working directory.  for multiple paths, the path separator
+# is defined by "path_separator" below.
+prepend_sys_path = .
+
+
+# timezone to use when rendering the date within the migration file
+# as well as the filename.
+# If specified, requires the tzdata library which can be installed by adding
+# `alembic[tz]` to the pip requirements.
+# string value is passed to ZoneInfo()
+# leave blank for localtime
+# timezone =
+
+# max length of characters to apply to the "slug" field
+# truncate_slug_length = 40
+
+# set to 'true' to run the environment during
+# the 'revision' command, regardless of autogenerate
+# revision_environment = false
+
+# set to 'true' to allow .pyc and .pyo files without
+# a source .py file to be detected as revisions in the
+# versions/ directory
+# sourceless = false
+
+# version location specification; This defaults
+# to <script_location>/versions.  When using multiple version
+# directories, initial revisions must be specified with --version-path.
+# The path separator used here should be the separator specified by "path_separator"
+# below.
+# version_locations = %(here)s/bar:%(here)s/bat:%(here)s/alembic/versions
+
+# path_separator; This indicates what character is used to split lists of file
+# paths, including version_locations and prepend_sys_path within configparser
+# files such as alembic.ini.
+# The default rendered in new alembic.ini files is "os", which uses os.pathsep
+# to provide os-dependent path splitting.
+#
+# Note that in order to support legacy alembic.ini files, this default does NOT
+# take place if path_separator is not present in alembic.ini.  If this
+# option is omitted entirely, fallback logic is as follows:
+#
+# 1. Parsing of the version_locations option falls back to using the legacy
+#    "version_path_separator" key, which if absent then falls back to the legacy
+#    behavior of splitting on spaces and/or commas.
+# 2. Parsing of the prepend_sys_path option falls back to the legacy
+#    behavior of splitting on spaces, commas, or colons.
+#
+# Valid values for path_separator are:
+#
+# path_separator = :
+# path_separator = ;
+# path_separator = space
+# path_separator = newline
+#
+# Use os.pathsep. Default configuration used for new projects.
+path_separator = os
+
+# set to 'true' to search source files recursively
+# in each "version_locations" directory
+# new in Alembic version 1.10
+# recursive_version_locations = false
+
+# the output encoding used when revision files
+# are written from script.py.mako
+# output_encoding = utf-8
+
+# database URL.  This is consumed by the user-maintained env.py script only.
+# other means of configuring database URLs may be customized within the env.py
+# file.
+sqlalchemy.url = sqlite:///aps_db.db
+
+
+[post_write_hooks]
+# post_write_hooks defines scripts or Python functions that are run
+# on newly generated revision scripts.  See the documentation for further
+# detail and examples
+
+# format using "black" - use the console_scripts runner, against the "black" entrypoint
+# hooks = black
+# black.type = console_scripts
+# black.entrypoint = black
+# black.options = -l 79 REVISION_SCRIPT_FILENAME
+
+# lint with attempts to fix using "ruff" - use the module runner, against the "ruff" module
+# hooks = ruff
+# ruff.type = module
+# ruff.module = ruff
+# ruff.options = check --fix REVISION_SCRIPT_FILENAME
+
+# Alternatively, use the exec runner to execute a binary found on your PATH
+# hooks = ruff
+# ruff.type = exec
+# ruff.executable = ruff
+# ruff.options = check --fix REVISION_SCRIPT_FILENAME
+
+# Logging configuration.  This is also consumed by the user-maintained
+# env.py script only.
+[loggers]
+keys = root,sqlalchemy,alembic
+
+[handlers]
+keys = console
+
+[formatters]
+keys = generic
+
+[logger_root]
+level = WARNING
+handlers = console
+qualname =
+
+[logger_sqlalchemy]
+level = WARNING
+handlers =
+qualname = sqlalchemy.engine
+
+[logger_alembic]
+level = INFO
+handlers =
+qualname = alembic
+
+[handler_console]
+class = StreamHandler
+args = (sys.stderr,)
+level = NOTSET
+formatter = generic
+
+[formatter_generic]
+format = %(levelname)-5.5s [%(name)s] %(message)s
+datefmt = %H:%M:%S
diff --git a/alembic/README b/alembic/README
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..98e4f9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic/README
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Generic single-database configuration.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/alembic/env.py b/alembic/env.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..de21a6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic/env.py
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+from logging.config import fileConfig
+
+from sqlalchemy import engine_from_config
+from sqlalchemy import pool
+
+from alembic import context
+
+from allmende_payment_system.models import Base
+
+# this is the Alembic Config object, which provides
+# access to the values within the .ini file in use.
+config = context.config
+
+# Interpret the config file for Python logging.
+# This line sets up loggers basically.
+if config.config_file_name is not None:
+    fileConfig(config.config_file_name)
+
+# add your model's MetaData object here
+# for 'autogenerate' support
+# from myapp import mymodel
+# target_metadata = mymodel.Base.metadata
+target_metadata = Base.metadata
+
+# other values from the config, defined by the needs of env.py,
+# can be acquired:
+# my_important_option = config.get_main_option("my_important_option")
+# ... etc.
+
+
+def run_migrations_offline() -> None:
+    """Run migrations in 'offline' mode.
+
+    This configures the context with just a URL
+    and not an Engine, though an Engine is acceptable
+    here as well.  By skipping the Engine creation
+    we don't even need a DBAPI to be available.
+
+    Calls to context.execute() here emit the given string to the
+    script output.
+
+    """
+    url = config.get_main_option("sqlalchemy.url")
+    context.configure(
+        url=url,
+        target_metadata=target_metadata,
+        literal_binds=True,
+        dialect_opts={"paramstyle": "named"},
+    )
+
+    with context.begin_transaction():
+        context.run_migrations()
+
+
+def run_migrations_online() -> None:
+    """Run migrations in 'online' mode.
+
+    In this scenario we need to create an Engine
+    and associate a connection with the context.
+
+    """
+    connectable = engine_from_config(
+        config.get_section(config.config_ini_section, {}),
+        prefix="sqlalchemy.",
+        poolclass=pool.NullPool,
+    )
+
+    with connectable.connect() as connection:
+        context.configure(
+            connection=connection, target_metadata=target_metadata
+        )
+
+        with context.begin_transaction():
+            context.run_migrations()
+
+
+if context.is_offline_mode():
+    run_migrations_offline()
+else:
+    run_migrations_online()
diff --git a/alembic/script.py.mako b/alembic/script.py.mako
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1101630
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic/script.py.mako
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+"""${message}
+
+Revision ID: ${up_revision}
+Revises: ${down_revision | comma,n}
+Create Date: ${create_date}
+
+"""
+from typing import Sequence, Union
+
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+${imports if imports else ""}
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision: str = ${repr(up_revision)}
+down_revision: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = ${repr(down_revision)}
+branch_labels: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = ${repr(branch_labels)}
+depends_on: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = ${repr(depends_on)}
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    """Upgrade schema."""
+    ${upgrades if upgrades else "pass"}
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    """Downgrade schema."""
+    ${downgrades if downgrades else "pass"}
diff --git a/alembic/versions/958d7aee2b21_initial_model.py b/alembic/versions/958d7aee2b21_initial_model.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e692849
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic/versions/958d7aee2b21_initial_model.py
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+"""Initial model
+
+Revision ID: 958d7aee2b21
+Revises: 
+Create Date: 2026-01-23 10:10:36.825333
+
+"""
+from typing import Sequence, Union
+
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision: str = '958d7aee2b21'
+down_revision: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+branch_labels: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+depends_on: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    """Upgrade schema."""
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    op.create_table('aps_account',
+    sa.Column('id', sa.Integer(), autoincrement=True, nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('name', sa.String(), nullable=False),
+    sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint('id'),
+    sa.UniqueConstraint('name')
+    )
+    op.create_table('aps_area',
+    sa.Column('id', sa.Integer(), autoincrement=True, nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('name', sa.String(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('description', sa.String(), nullable=True),
+    sa.Column('image_path', sa.String(), nullable=True),
+    sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint('id'),
+    sa.UniqueConstraint('name')
+    )
+    op.create_table('aps_user',
+    sa.Column('id', sa.Integer(), autoincrement=True, nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('username', sa.String(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('display_name', sa.String(), nullable=False),
+    sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint('id'),
+    sa.UniqueConstraint('username')
+    )
+    op.create_table('aps_user_group',
+    sa.Column('id', sa.Integer(), autoincrement=True, nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('name', sa.String(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('description', sa.String(), nullable=True),
+    sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint('id'),
+    sa.UniqueConstraint('name')
+    )
+    op.create_table('aps_order',
+    sa.Column('id', sa.Integer(), autoincrement=True, nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('user_id', sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+    sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(['user_id'], ['aps_user.id'], ),
+    sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint('id')
+    )
+    op.create_table('aps_permission',
+    sa.Column('id', sa.Integer(), autoincrement=True, nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('scope', sa.String(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('action', sa.String(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('user_group_id', sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+    sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(['user_group_id'], ['aps_user_group.id'], ),
+    sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint('id')
+    )
+    op.create_table('aps_product',
+    sa.Column('id', sa.Integer(), autoincrement=True, nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('name', sa.String(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('price', sa.Numeric(precision=10, scale=2), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('unit_of_measure', sa.Enum('g', 'kg', 'l', 'piece', native_enum=False), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('allow_fractional', sa.Boolean(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('vat_rate', sa.Numeric(precision=10, scale=2), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('area_id', sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('image_path', sa.String(), nullable=True),
+    sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(['area_id'], ['aps_area.id'], ),
+    sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint('id'),
+    sa.UniqueConstraint('name')
+    )
+    op.create_table('aps_user_account_association',
+    sa.Column('user_id', sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('account_id', sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+    sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(['account_id'], ['aps_account.id'], ),
+    sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(['user_id'], ['aps_user.id'], ),
+    sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint('user_id', 'account_id')
+    )
+    op.create_table('aps_user_user_group_association',
+    sa.Column('user_id', sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('user_group_id', sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+    sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(['user_group_id'], ['aps_user_group.id'], ),
+    sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(['user_id'], ['aps_user.id'], ),
+    sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint('user_id', 'user_group_id')
+    )
+    op.create_table('aps_order_item',
+    sa.Column('id', sa.Integer(), autoincrement=True, nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('order_id', sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('product_id', sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('quantity', sa.Numeric(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('total_amount', sa.Numeric(precision=10, scale=2), nullable=False),
+    sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(['order_id'], ['aps_order.id'], ),
+    sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(['product_id'], ['aps_product.id'], ),
+    sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint('id')
+    )
+    op.create_table('aps_transaction',
+    sa.Column('id', sa.Integer(), autoincrement=True, nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('type', sa.Enum('order', 'deposit', 'withdrawal', 'expense', native_enum=False), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('quantity', sa.Numeric(precision=10, scale=2), nullable=True),
+    sa.Column('timestamp', sa.DateTime(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('total_amount', sa.Numeric(precision=10, scale=2), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('order_id', sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+    sa.Column('account_id', sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+    sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(['account_id'], ['aps_account.id'], ),
+    sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(['order_id'], ['aps_order.id'], ),
+    sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint('id')
+    )
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    """Downgrade schema."""
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    op.drop_table('aps_transaction')
+    op.drop_table('aps_order_item')
+    op.drop_table('aps_user_user_group_association')
+    op.drop_table('aps_user_account_association')
+    op.drop_table('aps_product')
+    op.drop_table('aps_permission')
+    op.drop_table('aps_order')
+    op.drop_table('aps_user_group')
+    op.drop_table('aps_user')
+    op.drop_table('aps_area')
+    op.drop_table('aps_account')
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
diff --git a/justfile b/justfile
index 0e6e74d..2e4665b 100644
--- a/justfile
+++ b/justfile
@@ -4,5 +4,5 @@ lint:
 
 reset_db:
     rm -f aps_db.db
-    uv run python -c "from allmende_payment_system.database import create_tables; create_tables()"
+    uv run alembic upgrade heads
     for file in db_fixtures/*.sql; do sqlite3 aps_db.db < "$file"; done
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/allmende_payment_system/api/__init__.py b/src/allmende_payment_system/api/__init__.py
index 9ae8d3c..25885f2 100644
--- a/src/allmende_payment_system/api/__init__.py
+++ b/src/allmende_payment_system/api/__init__.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Request
 
 from allmende_payment_system.api.dependencies import SessionDep, UserDep
-from allmende_payment_system.database import ensure_user
 from allmende_payment_system.tools import get_jinja_renderer
 
 root_router = APIRouter()
diff --git a/src/allmende_payment_system/api/admin.py b/src/allmende_payment_system/api/admin.py
index f920da9..b26d081 100644
--- a/src/allmende_payment_system/api/admin.py
+++ b/src/allmende_payment_system/api/admin.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from sqlalchemy import select
 from starlette import status
 from starlette.responses import RedirectResponse
 
-from allmende_payment_system.api import types
+from allmende_payment_system import types
 from allmende_payment_system.api.dependencies import SessionDep, UserDep
 from allmende_payment_system.models import Area, Permission, Product, User, UserGroup
 from allmende_payment_system.tools import get_jinja_renderer
diff --git a/src/allmende_payment_system/models.py b/src/allmende_payment_system/models.py
index 6760d59..9425319 100644
--- a/src/allmende_payment_system/models.py
+++ b/src/allmende_payment_system/models.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from sqlalchemy.orm import (
     relationship,
 )
 
-from allmende_payment_system.api.types import UnitsOfMeasure
+from allmende_payment_system.types import UnitsOfMeasure
 
 TABLE_PREFIX = "aps_"
 
diff --git a/src/allmende_payment_system/api/types.py b/src/allmende_payment_system/types.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/allmende_payment_system/api/types.py
rename to src/allmende_payment_system/types.py