diff --git a/cmd/server/main.go b/cmd/server/main.go
index 7f8ca87..7720997 100644
--- a/cmd/server/main.go
+++ b/cmd/server/main.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
 	"git.mchus.pro/mchus/quoteforge/internal/config"
+	"git.mchus.pro/mchus/quoteforge/internal/db"
 	"git.mchus.pro/mchus/quoteforge/internal/handlers"
 	"git.mchus.pro/mchus/quoteforge/internal/localdb"
 	"git.mchus.pro/mchus/quoteforge/internal/middleware"
@@ -63,29 +64,15 @@ func main() {
 
 	setupLogger(cfg.Logging)
 
-	// Get DSN from local SQLite
-	dsn, err := local.GetDSN()
-	if err != nil {
-		slog.Error("failed to get database settings", "error", err)
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
-
-	// Connect to MariaDB
-	db, err := setupDatabaseFromDSN(dsn)
-	if err != nil {
-		slog.Error("failed to connect to database", "error", err)
-		slog.Info("you may need to reconfigure connection at /setup")
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
+	// Create connection manager (lazy connection, no connect on startup)
+	connMgr := db.NewConnectionManager(local)
+	slog.Info("starting in offline-first mode")
 
 	dbUser := local.GetDBUser()
 
-	// Ensure DB user exists in qt_users table (for foreign key constraint)
-	dbUserID, err := models.EnsureDBUser(db, dbUser)
-	if err != nil {
-		slog.Error("failed to ensure DB user exists", "error", err)
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
+	// In offline-first mode, use default user ID
+	// EnsureDBUser will be called lazily when sync happens
+	dbUserID := uint(1)
 
 	slog.Info("starting QuoteForge server",
 		"host", cfg.Server.Host,
@@ -96,11 +83,16 @@ func main() {
 
 	if *migrate {
 		slog.Info("running database migrations...")
-		if err := models.Migrate(db); err != nil {
+		mariaDB, err := connMgr.GetDB()
+		if err != nil {
+			slog.Error("cannot run migrations: database not available", "error", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+		if err := models.Migrate(mariaDB); err != nil {
 			slog.Error("migration failed", "error", err)
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
-		if err := models.SeedCategories(db); err != nil {
+		if err := models.SeedCategories(mariaDB); err != nil {
 			slog.Error("seeding categories failed", "error", err)
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
@@ -108,17 +100,17 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	gin.SetMode(cfg.Server.Mode)
-	router, syncService, err := setupRouter(db, cfg, local, dbUserID)
+	router, syncService, err := setupRouter(cfg, local, connMgr, dbUserID)
 	if err != nil {
 		slog.Error("failed to setup router", "error", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
-	// Start background sync worker
+	// Start background sync worker (will auto-skip when offline)
 	workerCtx, workerCancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	defer workerCancel()
 
-	syncWorker := sync.NewWorker(syncService, db, 5*time.Minute)
+	syncWorker := sync.NewWorker(syncService, connMgr, 5*time.Minute)
 	go syncWorker.Start(workerCtx)
 
 	srv := &http.Server{
@@ -308,32 +300,64 @@ func setupDatabaseFromDSN(dsn string) (*gorm.DB, error) {
 	return db, nil
 }
 
-func setupRouter(db *gorm.DB, cfg *config.Config, local *localdb.LocalDB, dbUserID uint) (*gin.Engine, *sync.Service, error) {
+func setupRouter(cfg *config.Config, local *localdb.LocalDB, connMgr *db.ConnectionManager, dbUserID uint) (*gin.Engine, *sync.Service, error) {
+	// Don't connect to MariaDB on startup (offline-first architecture)
+	// Connection will be established lazily when needed
+	var mariaDB *gorm.DB
+
 	// Repositories
-	componentRepo := repository.NewComponentRepository(db)
-	categoryRepo := repository.NewCategoryRepository(db)
-	priceRepo := repository.NewPriceRepository(db)
-	alertRepo := repository.NewAlertRepository(db)
-	statsRepo := repository.NewStatsRepository(db)
-	pricelistRepo := repository.NewPricelistRepository(db)
-	configRepo := repository.NewConfigurationRepository(db)
+	var componentRepo *repository.ComponentRepository
+	var categoryRepo *repository.CategoryRepository
+	var priceRepo *repository.PriceRepository
+	var alertRepo *repository.AlertRepository
+	var statsRepo *repository.StatsRepository
+	var pricelistRepo *repository.PricelistRepository
+
+	// Only initialize repositories if we have a database connection
+	if mariaDB != nil {
+		componentRepo = repository.NewComponentRepository(mariaDB)
+		categoryRepo = repository.NewCategoryRepository(mariaDB)
+		priceRepo = repository.NewPriceRepository(mariaDB)
+		alertRepo = repository.NewAlertRepository(mariaDB)
+		statsRepo = repository.NewStatsRepository(mariaDB)
+		pricelistRepo = repository.NewPricelistRepository(mariaDB)
+	} else {
+		// In offline mode, we'll use nil repositories or handle them differently
+		// This is handled in the sync service and other components
+	}
 
 	// Services
-	pricingService := pricing.NewService(componentRepo, priceRepo, cfg.Pricing)
-	componentService := services.NewComponentService(componentRepo, categoryRepo, statsRepo)
-	quoteService := services.NewQuoteService(componentRepo, statsRepo, pricingService)
-	exportService := services.NewExportService(cfg.Export, categoryRepo)
-	alertService := alerts.NewService(alertRepo, componentRepo, priceRepo, statsRepo, cfg.Alerts, cfg.Pricing)
-	pricelistService := pricelist.NewService(db, pricelistRepo, componentRepo)
-	syncService := sync.NewService(pricelistRepo, configRepo, local)
+	var pricingService *pricing.Service
+	var componentService *services.ComponentService
+	var quoteService *services.QuoteService
+	var exportService *services.ExportService
+	var alertService *alerts.Service
+	var pricelistService *pricelist.Service
+	var syncService *sync.Service
+
+	// Sync service always uses ConnectionManager (works offline and online)
+	syncService = sync.NewService(connMgr, local)
+
+	if mariaDB != nil {
+		pricingService = pricing.NewService(componentRepo, priceRepo, cfg.Pricing)
+		componentService = services.NewComponentService(componentRepo, categoryRepo, statsRepo)
+		quoteService = services.NewQuoteService(componentRepo, statsRepo, pricingService)
+		exportService = services.NewExportService(cfg.Export, categoryRepo)
+		alertService = alerts.NewService(alertRepo, componentRepo, priceRepo, statsRepo, cfg.Alerts, cfg.Pricing)
+		pricelistService = pricelist.NewService(mariaDB, pricelistRepo, componentRepo)
+	} else {
+		// In offline mode, we still need to create services that don't require DB
+		pricingService = pricing.NewService(nil, nil, cfg.Pricing)
+		componentService = services.NewComponentService(nil, nil, nil)
+		quoteService = services.NewQuoteService(nil, nil, pricingService)
+		exportService = services.NewExportService(cfg.Export, nil)
+		alertService = alerts.NewService(nil, nil, nil, nil, cfg.Alerts, cfg.Pricing)
+		pricelistService = pricelist.NewService(nil, nil, nil)
+	}
 
 	// isOnline function for local-first architecture
 	isOnline := func() bool {
-		sqlDB, err := db.DB()
-		if err != nil {
-			return false
-		}
-		return sqlDB.Ping() == nil
+		return connMgr.IsOnline()
 	}
 
 	// Local-first configuration service (replaces old ConfigurationService)
@@ -343,9 +367,9 @@ func setupRouter(db *gorm.DB, cfg *config.Config, local *localdb.LocalDB, dbUser
 	componentHandler := handlers.NewComponentHandler(componentService)
 	quoteHandler := handlers.NewQuoteHandler(quoteService)
 	exportHandler := handlers.NewExportHandler(exportService, configService, componentService)
-	pricingHandler := handlers.NewPricingHandler(db, pricingService, alertService, componentRepo, priceRepo, statsRepo)
+	pricingHandler := handlers.NewPricingHandler(mariaDB, pricingService, alertService, componentRepo, priceRepo, statsRepo)
 	pricelistHandler := handlers.NewPricelistHandler(pricelistService, local)
-	syncHandler, err := handlers.NewSyncHandler(local, syncService, db, "web/templates")
+	syncHandler, err := handlers.NewSyncHandler(local, syncService, connMgr, "web/templates")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("creating sync handler: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -367,7 +391,7 @@ func setupRouter(db *gorm.DB, cfg *config.Config, local *localdb.LocalDB, dbUser
 	router.Use(gin.Recovery())
 	router.Use(requestLogger())
 	router.Use(middleware.CORS())
-	router.Use(middleware.OfflineDetector(db, local))
+	router.Use(middleware.OfflineDetector(connMgr, local))
 
 	// Static files
 	router.Static("/static", "web/static")
@@ -383,22 +407,22 @@ func setupRouter(db *gorm.DB, cfg *config.Config, local *localdb.LocalDB, dbUser
 	// DB status endpoint
 	router.GET("/api/db-status", func(c *gin.Context) {
 		var lotCount, lotLogCount, metadataCount int64
-		var dbOK bool = true
+		var dbOK bool = false
 		var dbError string
 
-		sqlDB, err := db.DB()
-		if err != nil {
-			dbOK = false
-			dbError = err.Error()
-		} else if err := sqlDB.Ping(); err != nil {
-			dbOK = false
-			dbError = err.Error()
+		if db, err := connMgr.GetDB(); err == nil && db != nil {
+			dbOK = true
+			db.Table("lot").Count(&lotCount)
+			db.Table("lot_log").Count(&lotLogCount)
+			db.Table("qt_lot_metadata").Count(&metadataCount)
+		} else {
+			if err != nil {
+				dbError = err.Error()
+			} else {
+				dbError = "Database not connected (offline mode)"
+			}
 		}
 
-		db.Table("lot").Count(&lotCount)
-		db.Table("lot_log").Count(&lotLogCount)
-		db.Table("qt_lot_metadata").Count(&metadataCount)
-
 		c.JSON(http.StatusOK, gin.H{
 			"connected":      dbOK,
 			"error":          dbError,
diff --git a/internal/services/component.go b/internal/services/component.go
index b39d8a3..2208a08 100644
--- a/internal/services/component.go
+++ b/internal/services/component.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package services
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 
 	"git.mchus.pro/mchus/quoteforge/internal/models"
@@ -59,6 +60,17 @@ type ComponentView struct {
 }
 
 func (s *ComponentService) List(filter repository.ComponentFilter, page, perPage int) (*ComponentListResult, error) {
+	// If no database connection (offline mode), return empty list
+	// Components should be loaded via /api/sync/components first
+	if s.componentRepo == nil {
+		return &ComponentListResult{
+			Components: []ComponentView{},
+			Total:      0,
+			Page:       page,
+			PerPage:    perPage,
+		}, nil
+	}
+
 	if page < 1 {
 		page = 1
 	}
@@ -106,6 +118,11 @@ func (s *ComponentService) List(filter repository.ComponentFilter, page, perPage
 }
 
 func (s *ComponentService) GetByLotName(lotName string) (*ComponentView, error) {
+	// If no database connection (offline mode), return error
+	if s.componentRepo == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("offline mode: component data not available")
+	}
+
 	c, err := s.componentRepo.GetByLotName(lotName)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -135,11 +152,20 @@ func (s *ComponentService) GetByLotName(lotName string) (*ComponentView, error)
 }
 
 func (s *ComponentService) GetCategories() ([]models.Category, error) {
+	// If no database connection (offline mode), return default categories
+	if s.categoryRepo == nil {
+		return models.DefaultCategories, nil
+	}
 	return s.categoryRepo.GetAll()
 }
 
 // ImportFromLot creates metadata entries for lots that don't have them
 func (s *ComponentService) ImportFromLot() (int, error) {
+	// If no database connection (offline mode), return error
+	if s.componentRepo == nil || s.categoryRepo == nil {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("offline mode: import not available")
+	}
+
 	lots, err := s.componentRepo.GetLotsWithoutMetadata()
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err
diff --git a/internal/services/pricelist/service.go b/internal/services/pricelist/service.go
index 4b17139..7af325b 100644
--- a/internal/services/pricelist/service.go
+++ b/internal/services/pricelist/service.go
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ func NewService(db *gorm.DB, repo *repository.PricelistRepository, componentRepo
 
 // CreateFromCurrentPrices creates a new pricelist by taking a snapshot of current prices
 func (s *Service) CreateFromCurrentPrices(createdBy string) (*models.Pricelist, error) {
+	if s.repo == nil || s.db == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("offline mode: cannot create pricelists")
+	}
+
 	version, err := s.repo.GenerateVersion()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("generating version: %w", err)
@@ -88,6 +92,11 @@ func (s *Service) CreateFromCurrentPrices(createdBy string) (*models.Pricelist,
 
 // List returns pricelists with pagination
 func (s *Service) List(page, perPage int) ([]models.PricelistSummary, int64, error) {
+	// If no database connection (offline mode), return empty list
+	if s.repo == nil {
+		return []models.PricelistSummary{}, 0, nil
+	}
+
 	if page < 1 {
 		page = 1
 	}
@@ -100,11 +109,17 @@ func (s *Service) List(page, perPage int) ([]models.PricelistSummary, int64, err
 
 // GetByID returns a pricelist by ID
 func (s *Service) GetByID(id uint) (*models.Pricelist, error) {
+	if s.repo == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("offline mode: pricelist service not available")
+	}
 	return s.repo.GetByID(id)
 }
 
 // GetItems returns pricelist items with pagination
 func (s *Service) GetItems(pricelistID uint, page, perPage int, search string) ([]models.PricelistItem, int64, error) {
+	if s.repo == nil {
+		return []models.PricelistItem{}, 0, nil
+	}
 	if page < 1 {
 		page = 1
 	}
@@ -117,26 +132,42 @@ func (s *Service) GetItems(pricelistID uint, page, perPage int, search string) (
 
 // Delete deletes a pricelist by ID
 func (s *Service) Delete(id uint) error {
+	if s.repo == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("offline mode: cannot delete pricelists")
+	}
 	return s.repo.Delete(id)
 }
 
 // CanWrite returns true if the user can create pricelists
 func (s *Service) CanWrite() bool {
+	if s.repo == nil {
+		return false
+	}
 	return s.repo.CanWrite()
 }
 
 // CanWriteDebug returns write permission status with debug info
 func (s *Service) CanWriteDebug() (bool, string) {
+	if s.repo == nil {
+		return false, "offline mode"
+	}
 	return s.repo.CanWriteDebug()
 }
 
 // GetLatestActive returns the most recent active pricelist
 func (s *Service) GetLatestActive() (*models.Pricelist, error) {
+	if s.repo == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("offline mode: pricelist service not available")
+	}
 	return s.repo.GetLatestActive()
 }
 
 // CleanupExpired deletes expired and unused pricelists
 func (s *Service) CleanupExpired() (int, error) {
+	if s.repo == nil {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("offline mode: cleanup not available")
+	}
+
 	expired, err := s.repo.GetExpiredUnused()
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err