diff --git a/start_server.sh b/start_server.sh
index 1df72106..90bc9a30 100755
--- a/start_server.sh
+++ b/start_server.sh
@@ -128,9 +128,9 @@ if [[ ! -f "../$DATA_DIR/inventory.db" ]]; then
   python3 -c "from db_manager import init_db; init_db()" || true
 fi
 
-# Start uvicorn in background
+# Start uvicorn in background (with proper working directory)
 log_info "  Starting uvicorn server..."
-python3 -m uvicorn main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port "$BACKEND_PORT" --log-level "${LOG_LEVEL,,}" >> "$BACKEND_LOG" 2>&1 &
+(cd "$(pwd)" && python3 -m uvicorn main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port "$BACKEND_PORT" --log-level "${LOG_LEVEL,,}" >> "$BACKEND_LOG" 2>&1) &
 BACKEND_PID=$!
 
 log_success "  ✓ Backend started (PID: $BACKEND_PID, Port: $BACKEND_PORT)"
@@ -163,9 +163,10 @@ if [[ ! -d ".next" ]]; then
   npm run build || log_error "Failed to build frontend"
 fi
 
-# Start Next.js in production mode
+# Start Next.js in production mode (with proper working directory)
 log_info "  Starting Next.js server..."
-PORT="$FRONTEND_PORT" node .next/standalone/server.js >> "$FRONTEND_LOG" 2>&1 &
+FRONTEND_DIR="$(pwd)"
+(cd "$FRONTEND_DIR" && PORT="$FRONTEND_PORT" node .next/standalone/server.js >> "$FRONTEND_LOG" 2>&1) &
 FRONTEND_PID=$!
 
 log_success "  ✓ Frontend started (PID: $FRONTEND_PID, Port: $FRONTEND_PORT)"