BuchhaltungsButler — Claude Code MCP server: what it does and setup
Connects BuchhaltungsButler accounting to AI assistants through 46 categorized tools. Manages invoices, bank bookings, and ledger reports directly from chat.
claude mcp add --env MCP_TRANSPORT=<MCP_TRANSPORT> --env BB_API_CLIENT=<BB_API_CLIENT> --env BB_API_SECRET=<BB_API_SECRET> --env BB_API_KEY=<BB_API_KEY> --env BB_RATE_LIMIT=<BB_RATE_LIMIT> --transport stdio buchhaltungsbutler -- docker run -i --rm -e MCP_TRANSPORT -e BB_API_CLIENT -e BB_API_SECRET -e BB_API_KEY -e BB_RATE_LIMIT ghcr.io/ohneben/buchhaltungsbutler-mcp:1.1.4What BuchhaltungsButler does
The server exposes 54 endpoints of the BuchhaltungsButler API v1 as 46 MCP tools. It lets agents review open receipts and prepare invoice drafts. An internal limiter stays below the provider ceiling of 100 requests per minute.
Operations carry safety levels alongside machine-readable readOnlyHint and destructiveHint annotations. Hosts inspect these markers before executing changes. Destructive actions require manual approval.
Running the container requires Docker and environment keys: BB_API_CLIENT, BB_API_SECRET, and BB_API_KEY. Credentials stay private. The server injects them into outgoing API requests without leaking them to the model.
What it helps with
- retrieve open incoming receipts from the previous month
- generate invoice drafts with hourly consulting fees
- reconcile incoming bank payments to ledger account 4400
- fetch quarterly BWA accounting summaries and account balances
Example prompts for the agent
- List all open incoming receipts from last month.
- Create a draft invoice for ACME GmbH covering 10 hours of consulting at 120 EUR.
- Generate the BWA report for the last quarter and display ledger account 4400.
How to install BuchhaltungsButler
Platform CLI
claude mcp add --env MCP_TRANSPORT=<MCP_TRANSPORT> --env BB_API_CLIENT=<BB_API_CLIENT> --env BB_API_SECRET=<BB_API_SECRET> --env BB_API_KEY=<BB_API_KEY> --env BB_RATE_LIMIT=<BB_RATE_LIMIT> --transport stdio buchhaltungsbutler -- docker run -i --rm -e MCP_TRANSPORT -e BB_API_CLIENT -e BB_API_SECRET -e BB_API_KEY -e BB_RATE_LIMIT ghcr.io/ohneben/buchhaltungsbutler-mcp:1.1.4Replace <…> with your own values. 1 more environment variable is in the server README
Platform CLI
codex mcp add buchhaltungsbutler --env MCP_TRANSPORT=<MCP_TRANSPORT> --env BB_API_CLIENT=<BB_API_CLIENT> --env BB_API_SECRET=<BB_API_SECRET> --env BB_API_KEY=<BB_API_KEY> --env BB_RATE_LIMIT=<BB_RATE_LIMIT> -- docker run -i --rm -e MCP_TRANSPORT -e BB_API_CLIENT -e BB_API_SECRET -e BB_API_KEY -e BB_RATE_LIMIT ghcr.io/ohneben/buchhaltungsbutler-mcp:1.1.4Replace <…> with your own values. 1 more environment variable is in the server README
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"buchhaltungsbutler": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"-i",
"--rm",
"-e",
"MCP_TRANSPORT",
"-e",
"BB_API_CLIENT",
"-e",
"BB_API_SECRET",
"-e",
"BB_API_KEY",
"-e",
"BB_RATE_LIMIT",
"ghcr.io/ohneben/buchhaltungsbutler-mcp:1.1.4"
],
"env": {
"MCP_TRANSPORT": "<MCP_TRANSPORT>",
"BB_API_CLIENT": "<BB_API_CLIENT>",
"BB_API_SECRET": "<BB_API_SECRET>",
"BB_API_KEY": "<BB_API_KEY>",
"BB_RATE_LIMIT": "<BB_RATE_LIMIT>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values. 1 more environment variable is in the server README
Config file
{
"servers": {
"buchhaltungsbutler": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"-i",
"--rm",
"-e",
"MCP_TRANSPORT",
"-e",
"BB_API_CLIENT",
"-e",
"BB_API_SECRET",
"-e",
"BB_API_KEY",
"-e",
"BB_RATE_LIMIT",
"ghcr.io/ohneben/buchhaltungsbutler-mcp:1.1.4"
],
"env": {
"MCP_TRANSPORT": "<MCP_TRANSPORT>",
"BB_API_CLIENT": "<BB_API_CLIENT>",
"BB_API_SECRET": "<BB_API_SECRET>",
"BB_API_KEY": "<BB_API_KEY>",
"BB_RATE_LIMIT": "<BB_RATE_LIMIT>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values. 1 more environment variable is in the server README
Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e MCP_TRANSPORT=<MCP_TRANSPORT> -e BB_API_CLIENT=<BB_API_CLIENT> -e BB_API_SECRET=<BB_API_SECRET> -e BB_API_KEY=<BB_API_KEY> -e BB_RATE_LIMIT=<BB_RATE_LIMIT> buchhaltungsbutler docker run -i --rm -e MCP_TRANSPORT -e BB_API_CLIENT -e BB_API_SECRET -e BB_API_KEY -e BB_RATE_LIMIT ghcr.io/ohneben/buchhaltungsbutler-mcp:1.1.4Replace <…> with your own values. 1 more environment variable is in the server README
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about BuchhaltungsButler
How do I install BuchhaltungsButler in Claude Code?
Run the following command: `claude mcp add --env MCP_TRANSPORT=<MCP_TRANSPORT> --env BB_API_CLIENT=<BB_API_CLIENT> --env BB_API_SECRET=<BB_API_SECRET> --env BB_API_KEY=<BB_API_KEY> --env BB_RATE_LIMIT=<BB_RATE_LIMIT> --transport stdio buchhaltungsbutler -- docker run -i --rm -e MCP_TRANSPORT -e BB_API_CLIENT -e BB_API_SECRET -e BB_API_KEY -e BB_RATE_LIMIT ghcr.io/ohneben/buchhaltungsbutler-mcp:1.1.4`. Substitute the placeholder values with your API credentials.
What does the BuchhaltungsButler MCP server do?
It gives LLM assistants programmatic access to BuchhaltungsButler accounts. You can inspect documents, register bookings, and query ledger statements using natural language.
How does the server protect against unintended deletions?
Each tool supplies safety indicators along with readOnlyHint and destructiveHint flags. Compatible clients permit read requests immediately while halting for user consent on destructive steps.
