# quickbooks-mcp

Open-source [MCP](https://modelcontextprotocol.io) server that connects **QuickBooks Desktop** (Pro, Premier, Enterprise) to LLMs and agents.

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> Status: pre-1.0. Run so far against QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Accountant 24.0 with Intuit's sample company file; other editions and years are not yet tested (see [COMPATIBILITY.md](docs/COMPATIBILITY.md), and the [tester guide](docs/TESTER-GUIDE.md) if you can help).

## What you get

- **Read:** customers, vendors, employees, items, accounts, invoices, bills, payments, inventory, time, custom fields, and every standard report (aging, P&L, balance sheet, ...), as compact tables.
- **Change, only if you allow it:** create, update, delete and void, with previews, confirmation tokens, idempotency keys, batches and an audit log.
- **Safe by default:** read-only, tax IDs and bank and card numbers masked, payroll off, card data never accepted.
- **Local:** runs on your Windows PC next to QuickBooks and talks to it through its SDK. No cloud, no telemetry.

## Install

| | |
|---|---|
| Claude Desktop | open the `.mcpb` from the [latest release](https://github.com/devwithmj/quickbooks-mcp/releases) |
| Claude Code | `/plugin marketplace add devwithmj/quickbooks-mcp`, then `/plugin install quickbooks-desktop@quickbooks-mcp` |
| npx | `npx -y @devwithmj/quickbooks-mcp` |
| dnx | `dnx DevWithMJ.QuickBooks.Mcp --yes` |
| exe | `quickbooks-mcp-win-x64.exe` (or `-win-x86`) from the release |

Then allow access once in QuickBooks (`--authorize`) and add the server to your AI app. Step by step: **[docs/GUIDE.md](docs/GUIDE.md)**.

Packages and listings: [npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@devwithmj/quickbooks-mcp), [NuGet](https://www.nuget.org/packages/DevWithMJ.QuickBooks.Mcp), [GitHub releases](https://github.com/devwithmj/quickbooks-mcp/releases), the official MCP Registry (`io.github.devwithmj/quickbooks-mcp`) and [Glama](https://glama.ai/mcp/servers/devwithmj/quickbooks-mcp).

## Turn on changes

Everything is read-only until you opt in. Add the flag to the arguments your MCP client starts the server with:

```json
"args": ["-y", "@devwithmj/quickbooks-mcp", "--allow-writes"]
```

or set an environment variable: `QB_ALLOW_WRITES=true` for everything, or `QB_ENABLE_WRITE`, `QB_ENABLE_UPDATE` and `QB_ENABLE_DELETE` for one kind each (`QB_WRITE_ALLOW=Invoice,Customer` limits which record types can change). Deletes and voids always need a confirmation step. Details: [docs/WRITES.md](docs/WRITES.md).

## Use it over HTTP (advanced)

Most clients start the server themselves. For a client that cannot, `quickbooks-mcp --http` serves MCP over HTTP on `127.0.0.1:8765` only, and every request needs an access key (printed at start, or set `QB_HTTP_KEY`). Changes stay off unless you also pass `--http-allow-writes`. To reach it from another device, put your own tunnel in front of it: [docs/REMOTE-ACCESS.md](docs/REMOTE-ACCESS.md).

## QuickBooks Online or Desktop?

This project is for **QuickBooks Desktop**. If you use **QuickBooks Online**, use Intuit's own server: [intuit/quickbooks-online-mcp-server](https://github.com/intuit/quickbooks-online-mcp-server) (Apache-2.0). We read its design for ideas and wrote our own code; no code was copied.

| | QuickBooks Online server (Intuit) | This project (Desktop) |
|---|---|---|
| Targets | QuickBooks Online | QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, Enterprise (Windows) |
| Where it runs | Talks to Intuit's cloud API | On your PC, next to QuickBooks, through its local SDK |
| Setup and sign-in | An Intuit developer app and OAuth | A one-time "allow this app" approval inside QuickBooks (`--authorize`); no developer account |
| Only on Desktop | | Inventory assemblies and sites, price levels, workers comp codes, custom fields via data extensions, opening a record in the QuickBooks window |
| Only on Online | Attachments, invoice PDFs and other cloud features | |
| Safety default | See that project | Read-only until you enable writes; deletes and voids need your approval; sensitive numbers masked; payroll off; audit log |
| Data path | Through Intuit's cloud | Stays on your computer except what the assistant is shown |

The two do not share a company file or an account: a business on Online should not use this project, and a Desktop business cannot use Intuit's.

## Requirements

- Windows with QuickBooks Desktop installed and licensed.
- Admin access to the company file for the one-time authorization.

Not for QuickBooks Online (Intuit has its own MCP server), QuickBooks for Mac (no SDK), card processing, or running as a Windows service. See [docs/SCOPE.md](docs/SCOPE.md).

## Documentation

- [User guide](docs/GUIDE.md): install, authorize, connect clients, troubleshoot, FAQ
- [Tools](docs/TOOLS.md): every tool, parameter and example
- [Prompt cookbook](docs/COOKBOOK.md), [Writes](docs/WRITES.md) and [Reports](docs/REPORTS.md)
- [Scope and non-goals](docs/SCOPE.md) and [security model](docs/SECURITY-MODEL.md)
- [Roadmap](docs/ROADMAP.md) and [1.0 checklist](docs/RELEASE-1.0.md)
- [Support, upgrades and uninstall](docs/SUPPORT.md), [Compatibility](docs/COMPATIBILITY.md), [Performance](docs/PERFORMANCE.md)
- [Building from source](docs/BUILDING.md), [Releasing](docs/RELEASING.md), [Testing](docs/TESTING.md), [Contributing](CONTRIBUTING.md)

## Legal

Not affiliated with or endorsed by Intuit. See [NOTICE.md](NOTICE.md).

## License

MIT

<!-- mcp-name: io.github.devwithmj/quickbooks-mcp -->