diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 1c7274f..4f02397 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 *env
+!template/example_server-env
+
 rclone.conf
 
 # SSH key pair
diff --git a/actual_server-backup b/actual_server-backup
index d6b1d93..63a9806 100644
--- a/actual_server-backup
+++ b/actual_server-backup
@@ -1,40 +1,261 @@
 #!/bin/bash
+#
+# Backup script for Actual Budget service
+# Stops the service, creates a backup, uploads to remote storage, and restarts the service
+#
+
+set -euo pipefail
 
 # shellcheck source=actual_server-env
 . "${HOME}"/"${USER}"-env
 
+#======================================
+# Constants
+#======================================
+readonly SERVICE_NAME="Actual Server"
+readonly PRIORITY_INFO=2
+readonly PRIORITY_WARNING=3
+readonly PRIORITY_ERROR=4
+readonly EXIT_SUCCESS=0
+readonly EXIT_VALIDATION_ERROR=1
+readonly EXIT_DOCKER_ERROR=2
+readonly EXIT_BACKUP_ERROR=3
+readonly EXIT_UPLOAD_ERROR=4
+
+#======================================
+# Global Variables
+#======================================
+backupDir="/tmp/${USER}-backup"
+composeFile="${HOME}/${USER}-compose.yaml"
+logFile="${HOME}/backup_logs/$(date +%y_%m).log"
+serviceRestartFailed=false
+
+#======================================
+# Helper Functions
+#======================================
+
+# Log a message with timestamp
+# Output to stderr to avoid buffering issues with stdout
+log() {
+  local level="$1"
+  shift
+  local message="$*"
+  echo "$(date '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S') - [${level}] ${message}" >&2
+}
+
+# Log info message
+log_info() {
+  log "INFO" "$@"
+}
+
+# Log warning message
+log_warn() {
+  log "WARN" "$@"
+}
+
+# Log error message
+log_error() {
+  log "ERROR" "$@"
+}
+
+# Cleanup function - ensures temporary files are removed
+# shellcheck disable=SC2329
+cleanup() {
+  local exit_code=$?
+
+  if [[ -d "${backupDir}" ]]; then
+    log_info "Cleaning up backup directory"
+    rm -rf "${backupDir}"
+  fi
+
+  if [[ ${exit_code} -ne 0 ]]; then
+    log_error "Backup failed with exit code ${exit_code}"
+  fi
+}
+
+# Set trap to ensure cleanup on exit
+trap cleanup EXIT
+
+# Send ntfy notification via curl
+# Arguments: priority, tags, message
+send_notification() {
+  local priority="$1"
+  local tags="$2"
+  local message="$3"
+
+  if ! curl -Ss \
+    -H "Title: ${SERVICE_NAME}" \
+    -H "Priority: ${priority}" \
+    -H "Tags: ${tags}" \
+    -d "${message}" \
+    "${NOTIF_URL}"; then
+    log_warn "Failed to send notification"
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  return 0
+}
+
+# Validate required environment variables
+validate_environment() {
+  log_info "Validating environment variables"
+
+  : "${USER:?USER environment variable is required}"
+  : "${VOLUME_PATH:?VOLUME_PATH environment variable is required}"
+  : "${BUCKET_PATH:?BUCKET_PATH environment variable is required}"
+  : "${NOTIF_URL:?NOTIF_URL environment variable is required}"
+}
+
+# Validate required dependencies and paths
+validate_dependencies() {
+  log_info "Validating dependencies and paths"
+
+  # Check for rclone
+  if ! command -v rclone &>/dev/null; then
+    log_error "rclone command not found"
+    send_notification "${PRIORITY_ERROR}" "x,backup" "Backup failed: rclone not found"
+    return "${EXIT_VALIDATION_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  # Check docker compose file
+  if [[ ! -f "${composeFile}" ]]; then
+    log_error "Docker compose file not found: ${composeFile}"
+    send_notification "${PRIORITY_ERROR}" "x,backup" "Backup failed: compose file not found"
+    return "${EXIT_VALIDATION_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  # Check volume path
+  if [[ ! -d "${VOLUME_PATH}" ]]; then
+    log_error "Volume path not found: ${VOLUME_PATH}"
+    send_notification "${PRIORITY_ERROR}" "x,backup" "Backup failed: volume path not found"
+    return "${EXIT_VALIDATION_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  return "${EXIT_SUCCESS}"
+}
+
+# Stop docker compose services
+stop_services() {
+  log_info "Stopping docker compose services"
+
+  if ! sudo docker compose -f "${composeFile}" stop; then
+    log_error "Failed to stop docker compose services"
+    send_notification "${PRIORITY_ERROR}" "x,backup" "Backup failed: could not stop services"
+    return "${EXIT_DOCKER_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  return "${EXIT_SUCCESS}"
+}
+
+# Start docker compose services
+start_services() {
+  log_info "Starting docker compose services"
+
+  if ! sudo docker compose -f "${composeFile}" start; then
+    log_warn "Failed to start docker compose services"
+    serviceRestartFailed=true
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  return "${EXIT_SUCCESS}"
+}
+
+# Create backup of volume data
+create_backup() {
+  log_info "Creating backup directory"
+  mkdir -p "${backupDir}"
+
+  # Special handling for Actual Budget directory structure
+  # Pre-create subdirectories for backward compatibility
+  mkdir -p "${backupDir}"/{user,server}-files
+
+  log_info "Copying files from ${VOLUME_PATH}"
+  if ! cp -pr "${VOLUME_PATH}"/* "${backupDir}"/; then
+    log_error "Failed to copy files to backup directory"
+    return "${EXIT_BACKUP_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  # Verify backup has content
+  if [[ -z "$(ls -A "${backupDir}")" ]]; then
+    log_error "Backup directory is empty - no files to backup"
+    return "${EXIT_BACKUP_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  log_info "Backup created successfully"
+  return "${EXIT_SUCCESS}"
+}
+
+# Upload backup to remote storage
+upload_backup() {
+  local backup_size
+
+  log_info "Uploading backup to ${BUCKET_PATH}"
+
+  if ! rclone copy "${backupDir}" "${BUCKET_PATH}" -v --retries 3; then
+    log_error "Failed to upload backup to remote storage"
+    return "${EXIT_UPLOAD_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  # Calculate and report backup size
+  backup_size=$(du -sh "${backupDir}" | cut -f1)
+  log_info "Backup uploaded successfully (${backup_size})"
+
+  echo "${backup_size}"
+  return "${EXIT_SUCCESS}"
+}
+
+#======================================
+# Main Execution
+#======================================
+main() {
+  log_info "Starting ${SERVICE_NAME} backup"
+
+  # Validate environment
+  validate_environment || exit "${EXIT_VALIDATION_ERROR}"
+
+  # Validate dependencies and paths
+  validate_dependencies || exit "$?"
+
+  # Stop services to ensure data consistency
+  stop_services || exit "$?"
+
+  # Create backup
+  if ! create_backup; then
+    start_services # Attempt to restart services even if backup failed
+    send_notification "${PRIORITY_ERROR}" "x,backup" "Backup failed: could not copy files"
+    exit "${EXIT_BACKUP_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  # Restart services immediately to minimize downtime
+  start_services
+
+  # Upload backup to remote storage
+  local backup_size
+  if ! backup_size=$(upload_backup); then
+    if [[ "${serviceRestartFailed}" == "true" ]]; then
+      send_notification "${PRIORITY_ERROR}" "x,backup" "Backup upload failed AND services failed to restart"
+    else
+      send_notification "${PRIORITY_WARNING}" "warning,backup" "Backup not completed: upload failed"
+    fi
+    exit "${EXIT_UPLOAD_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  # Send success notification
+  if [[ "${serviceRestartFailed}" == "true" ]]; then
+    send_notification "${PRIORITY_WARNING}" "warning,backup" "Backup completed (${backup_size}) but services failed to restart"
+    log_warn "Backup completed but services failed to restart"
+    exit "${EXIT_DOCKER_ERROR}"
+  else
+    send_notification "${PRIORITY_INFO}" "heavy_check_mark,backup" "Backup completed (${backup_size})"
+    log_info "Backup completed successfully"
+    exit "${EXIT_SUCCESS}"
+  fi
+}
+
+# Setup logging directory
 mkdir -p "${HOME}"/backup_logs
-logFile=${HOME}/backup_logs/$(date +%y_%m).log
 
+# Execute main function with output redirected to log file
 {
-	echo -e "\n[+] actual backup\n"
-
-	mkdir -p /tmp/"${USER}"-backup/{user,server}-files
-
-	sudo docker compose -f "${HOME}"/"${USER}"-compose.yaml stop
-
-	cp -pr "${VOLUME_PATH}"/* /tmp/"${USER}"-backup
-
-	sudo docker compose -f "${HOME}"/"${USER}"-compose.yaml start
-
-	rclone copy /tmp/"${USER}"-backup "${BUCKET_PATH}" -v
-	if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
-		curl -Ss \
-			-H "Title: Actual Server" \
-			-H "Priority: 3" \
-			-H "Tags: warning,backup" \
-			-d "Backup not completed" \
-			"${NOTIF_URL}"
-		rm -r /tmp/"${USER}"-backup
-		exit 1
-	fi
-
-	curl -Ss \
-		-H "Title: Actual Server" \
-		-H "Priority: 2" \
-		-H "Tags: heavy_check_mark,backup" \
-		-d "Backup completed" \
-		"${NOTIF_URL}"
-	rm -r /tmp/"${USER}"-backup
-
-} &>>"$logFile"
+  main
+} &>>"${logFile}"
diff --git a/template/example.knravish.me.conf b/template/example.knravish.me.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..315b6bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/example.knravish.me.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+server {
+  server_name example.knravish.me;
+  index index.html index.htm;
+
+  location / {
+    proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
+    proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
+    proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
+    proxy_set_header Host $http_host;
+    proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:<placeholder>;
+    proxy_redirect off;
+    proxy_set_header Access-Control-Allow-Origin *;
+    proxy_read_timeout 600s;
+    proxy_send_timeout 600s;
+  }
+
+  listen 80;
+}
diff --git a/template/example_authed.knravish.me.conf b/template/example_authed.knravish.me.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f5bf8a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/example_authed.knravish.me.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+server {
+  server_name example_authed.knravish.me;
+  index index.html index.htm;
+
+  include /etc/nginx/snippets/authelia-location.conf;
+
+  set $upstream http://127.0.0.1:<placeholder>;
+
+  location / {
+    include /etc/nginx/snippets/proxy.conf;
+    include /etc/nginx/snippets/authelia-authrequest.conf;
+    proxy_pass $upstream;
+  }
+
+  listen 80;
+}
diff --git a/template/example_server-backup b/template/example_server-backup
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1cf9bb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/example_server-backup
@@ -0,0 +1,257 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+#
+# Backup script for example service
+# Stops the service, creates a backup, uploads to remote storage, and restarts the service
+#
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# shellcheck source=example_server-env
+. "${HOME}"/"${USER}"-env
+
+#======================================
+# Constants
+#======================================
+readonly SERVICE_NAME="Example"
+readonly PRIORITY_INFO=2
+readonly PRIORITY_WARNING=3
+readonly PRIORITY_ERROR=4
+readonly EXIT_SUCCESS=0
+readonly EXIT_VALIDATION_ERROR=1
+readonly EXIT_DOCKER_ERROR=2
+readonly EXIT_BACKUP_ERROR=3
+readonly EXIT_UPLOAD_ERROR=4
+
+#======================================
+# Global Variables
+#======================================
+backupDir="/tmp/${USER}-backup"
+composeFile="${HOME}/${USER}-compose.yaml"
+logFile="${HOME}/backup_logs/$(date +%y_%m).log"
+serviceRestartFailed=false
+
+#======================================
+# Helper Functions
+#======================================
+
+# Log a message with timestamp
+# Output to stderr to avoid buffering issues with stdout
+log() {
+  local level="$1"
+  shift
+  local message="$*"
+  echo "$(date '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S') - [${level}] ${message}" >&2
+}
+
+# Log info message
+log_info() {
+  log "INFO" "$@"
+}
+
+# Log warning message
+log_warn() {
+  log "WARN" "$@"
+}
+
+# Log error message
+log_error() {
+  log "ERROR" "$@"
+}
+
+# Cleanup function - ensures temporary files are removed
+# shellcheck disable=SC2329
+cleanup() {
+  local exit_code=$?
+
+  if [[ -d "${backupDir}" ]]; then
+    log_info "Cleaning up backup directory"
+    rm -rf "${backupDir}"
+  fi
+
+  if [[ ${exit_code} -ne 0 ]]; then
+    log_error "Backup failed with exit code ${exit_code}"
+  fi
+}
+
+# Set trap to ensure cleanup on exit
+trap cleanup EXIT
+
+# Send ntfy notification via curl
+# Arguments: priority, tags, message
+send_notification() {
+  local priority="$1"
+  local tags="$2"
+  local message="$3"
+
+  if ! curl -Ss \
+    -H "Title: ${SERVICE_NAME}" \
+    -H "Priority: ${priority}" \
+    -H "Tags: ${tags}" \
+    -d "${message}" \
+    "${NOTIF_URL}"; then
+    log_warn "Failed to send notification"
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  return 0
+}
+
+# Validate required environment variables
+validate_environment() {
+  log_info "Validating environment variables"
+
+  : "${USER:?USER environment variable is required}"
+  : "${VOLUME_PATH:?VOLUME_PATH environment variable is required}"
+  : "${BUCKET_PATH:?BUCKET_PATH environment variable is required}"
+  : "${NOTIF_URL:?NOTIF_URL environment variable is required}"
+}
+
+# Validate required dependencies and paths
+validate_dependencies() {
+  log_info "Validating dependencies and paths"
+
+  # Check for rclone
+  if ! command -v rclone &>/dev/null; then
+    log_error "rclone command not found"
+    send_notification "${PRIORITY_ERROR}" "x,backup" "Backup failed: rclone not found"
+    return "${EXIT_VALIDATION_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  # Check docker compose file
+  if [[ ! -f "${composeFile}" ]]; then
+    log_error "Docker compose file not found: ${composeFile}"
+    send_notification "${PRIORITY_ERROR}" "x,backup" "Backup failed: compose file not found"
+    return "${EXIT_VALIDATION_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  # Check volume path
+  if [[ ! -d "${VOLUME_PATH}" ]]; then
+    log_error "Volume path not found: ${VOLUME_PATH}"
+    send_notification "${PRIORITY_ERROR}" "x,backup" "Backup failed: volume path not found"
+    return "${EXIT_VALIDATION_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  return "${EXIT_SUCCESS}"
+}
+
+# Stop docker compose services
+stop_services() {
+  log_info "Stopping docker compose services"
+
+  if ! sudo docker compose -f "${composeFile}" stop; then
+    log_error "Failed to stop docker compose services"
+    send_notification "${PRIORITY_ERROR}" "x,backup" "Backup failed: could not stop services"
+    return "${EXIT_DOCKER_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  return "${EXIT_SUCCESS}"
+}
+
+# Start docker compose services
+start_services() {
+  log_info "Starting docker compose services"
+
+  if ! sudo docker compose -f "${composeFile}" start; then
+    log_warn "Failed to start docker compose services"
+    serviceRestartFailed=true
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  return "${EXIT_SUCCESS}"
+}
+
+# Create backup of volume data
+create_backup() {
+  log_info "Creating backup directory"
+  mkdir -p "${backupDir}"
+
+  log_info "Copying files from ${VOLUME_PATH}"
+  if ! cp -pr "${VOLUME_PATH}"/* "${backupDir}"/; then
+    log_error "Failed to copy files to backup directory"
+    return "${EXIT_BACKUP_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  # Verify backup has content
+  if [[ -z "$(ls -A "${backupDir}")" ]]; then
+    log_error "Backup directory is empty - no files to backup"
+    return "${EXIT_BACKUP_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  log_info "Backup created successfully"
+  return "${EXIT_SUCCESS}"
+}
+
+# Upload backup to remote storage
+upload_backup() {
+  local backup_size
+
+  log_info "Uploading backup to ${BUCKET_PATH}"
+
+  if ! rclone copy "${backupDir}" "${BUCKET_PATH}" -v --retries 3; then
+    log_error "Failed to upload backup to remote storage"
+    return "${EXIT_UPLOAD_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  # Calculate and report backup size
+  backup_size=$(du -sh "${backupDir}" | cut -f1)
+  log_info "Backup uploaded successfully (${backup_size})"
+
+  echo "${backup_size}"
+  return "${EXIT_SUCCESS}"
+}
+
+#======================================
+# Main Execution
+#======================================
+main() {
+  log_info "Starting ${SERVICE_NAME} backup"
+
+  # Validate environment
+  validate_environment || exit "${EXIT_VALIDATION_ERROR}"
+
+  # Validate dependencies and paths
+  validate_dependencies || exit "$?"
+
+  # Stop services to ensure data consistency
+  stop_services || exit "$?"
+
+  # Create backup
+  if ! create_backup; then
+    start_services # Attempt to restart services even if backup failed
+    send_notification "${PRIORITY_ERROR}" "x,backup" "Backup failed: could not copy files"
+    exit "${EXIT_BACKUP_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  # Restart services immediately to minimize downtime
+  start_services
+
+  # Upload backup to remote storage
+  local backup_size
+  if ! backup_size=$(upload_backup); then
+    if [[ "${serviceRestartFailed}" == "true" ]]; then
+      send_notification "${PRIORITY_ERROR}" "x,backup" "Backup upload failed AND services failed to restart"
+    else
+      send_notification "${PRIORITY_WARNING}" "warning,backup" "Backup not completed: upload failed"
+    fi
+    exit "${EXIT_UPLOAD_ERROR}"
+  fi
+
+  # Send success notification
+  if [[ "${serviceRestartFailed}" == "true" ]]; then
+    send_notification "${PRIORITY_WARNING}" "warning,backup" "Backup completed (${backup_size}) but services failed to restart"
+    log_warn "Backup completed but services failed to restart"
+    exit "${EXIT_DOCKER_ERROR}"
+  else
+    send_notification "${PRIORITY_INFO}" "heavy_check_mark,backup" "Backup completed (${backup_size})"
+    log_info "Backup completed successfully"
+    exit "${EXIT_SUCCESS}"
+  fi
+}
+
+# Setup logging directory
+mkdir -p "${HOME}"/backup_logs
+
+# Execute main function with output redirected to log file
+{
+  main
+} &>>"${logFile}"
diff --git a/template/example_server-compose_template.yaml b/template/example_server-compose_template.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7fd92b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/example_server-compose_template.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+---
+services:
+  example:
+    image: example/example:latest
+    container_name: example
+    pull_policy: always
+    restart: unless-stopped
+    ports:
+      - 127.0.0.1:${PORT}:999999
+    volumes:
+      - type: bind
+        source: ${VOLUME_PATH}
+        target: /path/to/data/used/by/app
+        bind:
+          create_host_path: true
+    environment:
+      PUID: ${PUID}
+      PGID: ${PGID}
+    user: ${PUID}:${PGID} # remove if running as root
+    # depends_on:
+    #   postgres:
+    #     condition: service_healthy
+    #     restart: true
+    #   redis:
+    #     condition: service_healthy
+    #     restart: true
+
+  postgres:
+    image: postgres:18
+    container_name: example-postgres
+    pull_policy: always
+    restart: unless-stopped
+    environment:
+      POSTGRES_USER: ${POSTGRES_USER}
+      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}
+      POSTGRES_DB: ${POSTGRES_DB}
+    volumes:
+      - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql
+    user: ${PUID}:${PGID}
+    healthcheck:
+      test: ['CMD-SHELL', 'psql -U ${POSTGRES_USER} -d ${POSTGRES_DB} -c "select version();"']
+      interval: 1s
+      retries: 5
+      timeout: 5s
+
+  redis:
+    image: redis:alpine
+    container_name: example-redis
+    command: redis-server --save 60 1 --loglevel warning
+    pull_policy: always
+    restart: unless-stopped
+    volumes:
+      - redis_data:/data
+    user: ${PUID}:${PGID}
+    healthcheck:
+      test: ['CMD-SHELL', 'redis-cli ping | grep PONG']
+      interval: 1s
+      retries: 5
+      timeout: 3s
+
+volumes:
+  postgres_data:
+    driver: local
+    driver_opts:
+      type: none
+      o: bind
+      device: ${VOLUME_PATH}/postgres
+  redis_data:
+    driver: local
+    driver_opts:
+      type: none
+      o: bind
+      device: ${VOLUME_PATH}/redis
diff --git a/template/example_server-cronjob b/template/example_server-cronjob
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/template/example_server-env b/template/example_server-env
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b1378e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/example_server-env
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+export BUCKET_PATH="${BACKUP_BUCKET}/example"
+
+export VOLUME_PATH="${HOME}/${USER}-data"
+export PORT=999999
+PUID=$(id -u "$USER")
+export PUID
+PGID=$(id -g "$USER")
+export PGID
diff --git a/template/example_server-setup b/template/example_server-setup
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/template/example_server-teardown b/template/example_server-teardown
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a77e16a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/example_server-teardown
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+username=example_server
+
+# application
+sudo docker compose -f /home/${username}/${username}-compose.yaml down -v
+
+uid_num=$(id -u $username)
+sudo killall -9 -v -g -u $username
+sudo crontab -r -u $username
+sudo deluser --remove-all-files $username
+
+# clean-up
+sudo find / -user "$uid_num" -delete
+
diff --git a/template/example_server-update b/template/example_server-update
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..22d09ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/example_server-update
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+mkdir -p "${HOME}"/update_logs
+logFile=${HOME}/update_logs/$(date +%y_%m).log
+{
+  echo -e "\n[+] updating example\n"
+
+  sudo docker compose -f "${HOME}"/"${USER}"-compose.yaml pull &&
+    sudo docker compose -f "${HOME}"/"${USER}"-compose.yaml up -d --always-recreate-deps --remove-orphans &&
+    yes | sudo docker image prune -af
+} &>>"$logFile"