How to add QuickBooks Online MCP Server to Claude Desktop

Intuit's official local MCP server exposing QuickBooks Online accounting data as callable tools. Paste the config into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json and restart Claude Desktop.

Last updated June 15, 2026 · 280★ · stdio · oauth · official

Claude Desktop config for QuickBooks Online MCP Server

git clone https://github.com/intuit/quickbooks-online-mcp-server && npm install && npm run build && node dist/index.js

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "quickbooks-online-mcp-server": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "/absolute/path/to/quickbooks-online-mcp-server/dist/index.js"
      ],
      "env": {
        "QUICKBOOKS_REALM_ID": "<your-qbo-realm-id>",
        "QUICKBOOKS_CLIENT_ID": "<your-qbo-client-id>",
        "QUICKBOOKS_ENVIRONMENT": "sandbox",
        "QUICKBOOKS_CLIENT_SECRET": "<your-qbo-client-secret>",
        "QUICKBOOKS_REFRESH_TOKEN": "<your-qbo-refresh-token>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Setup steps

1Open Claude Desktop → Settings → Developer → Edit Config (this opens ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json).
2Paste the QuickBooks Online MCP Server config below under the top-level "mcpServers" key.
3Fill in any placeholder secrets (API keys, paths) in the snippet.
4Save the file, then fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop.
5Open a chat and confirm QuickBooks Online MCP Server's tools appear under the 🔌 tools menu.

Before you start

Node.js 18 or higher
A QuickBooks (Intuit) Developer account and an app created in the Intuit Developer Portal
OAuth 2.0 credentials from the app's Keys & Credentials page: Client ID and Client Secret
A Realm ID (QuickBooks company ID) and a refresh token obtained via the included OAuth handshake
An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop

What QuickBooks Online MCP Server can do in Claude Desktop

get_* / search_* (read)

Read and query tools for ~29 entity types including customers, invoices, bills, vendors, accounts, items, and journal entries.

create_* (write)

Create entities such as customers, invoices, bills, vendors, and payments; can be disabled via QUICKBOOKS_DISABLE_WRITE.

update_* (update)

Update supported entities; can be disabled via QUICKBOOKS_DISABLE_UPDATE.

delete_* (delete)

Delete supported entities; can be disabled via QUICKBOOKS_DISABLE_DELETE.

get_balance_sheet

Generates the Balance Sheet financial report.

get_profit_and_loss

Generates the Profit & Loss financial report.

get_cash_flow

Generates the Cash Flow statement.

get_trial_balance

Generates the Trial Balance report.

Security

Connects to live accounting data via OAuth 2.0 refresh tokens; keep client secret and refresh token out of source control and start in the sandbox environment. Write operations can alter real ledgers, so use the write-disable flags or review tool permissions.

QuickBooks Online MCP Server + Claude Desktop FAQ

Where is the Claude Desktop config file?

Claude Desktop reads MCP servers from ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json. Paste the QuickBooks Online MCP Server config there under the "mcpServers" key and restart the client.

Is QuickBooks Online MCP Server safe to use with Claude Desktop?

Does it support production QuickBooks or only the Sandbox?

As an early-preview release the local server is intended to run against the QuickBooks Sandbox environment. You select the environment in your `.env`, but production support is limited during preview.

How does authentication work?

It uses OAuth 2.0. You create an app in the Intuit Developer Portal, then run `npm run auth` for a browser sign-in that returns a refresh token used together with your Client ID, Client Secret, and Realm ID.

Can I prevent it from modifying my books?

Yes. Set QUICKBOOKS_DISABLE_WRITE, QUICKBOOKS_DISABLE_UPDATE, and QUICKBOOKS_DISABLE_DELETE to disable the create/update/delete tool categories, leaving only read access.

View repo Full QuickBooks Online MCP Server page