AI & automation

Connect Backbone to Claude

You copy the MCP address in Backbone, add it in Claude as a custom connector, sign in to Backbone and approve on the consent screen. After that you just tell Claude what you need: log time, draft an invoice, ask who still owes you. It takes four steps, no code and no token.

Connect Backbone to Claude
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  1. What can you do with Backbone in Claude?
  2. What do you need before you start?
  3. How do you connect Backbone to Claude?
    1. 1. Copy the MCP address in Backbone
    2. 2. Add it in Claude as a connector
    3. 3. Sign in to Backbone and approve
    4. 4. Your first request
  4. What can Claude see and do?
  5. Does it work with Claude Code?
  6. What if something doesn't work?
  7. How Backbone does it
  8. Frequently asked questions

You copy the MCP address in Backbone, add it in Claude as a custom connector, sign in to Backbone and approve on the consent screen. After that you just tell Claude what you need: log time, draft an invoice, ask who still owes you. It takes four steps, no code and no token.

What can you do with Backbone in Claude?

Type it the way you'd say it:

  • "Log 2 hours yesterday on Muster GmbH, project website relaunch." Claude creates the time entry. In Backbone you see it marked "Logged via MCP".
  • "Draft September's invoice for Muster GmbH from my hours." You get a draft, for example 12 hours at €95 = €1,140.00 net. The draft waits for you. Nothing is sent without your OK.
  • "Who still owes me money?" Claude lists the open invoices, oldest first, with amount and due date.

Claude reaches almost everything the app can do: time, invoices, dunning, receipts, your wiki and your numbers.

What do you need before you start?

  • A Claude account that allows custom connectors. Anthropic lists Free (one custom connector), Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise. Source: Anthropic help on custom connectors (support.claude.com). This can change, so check there if in doubt.
  • On Team and Enterprise: an owner in Claude has to add the connector for the organization first. Members then switch it on one by one.
  • A Backbone workspace that allows AI connections. The workspace owner can switch this off in Settings › Integrations. It is on by default.
  • Any Backbone plan (Solo, Growth, Agency) can use the connector.

How do you connect Backbone to Claude?

1. Copy the MCP address in Backbone

Open Settings › Integrations in Backbone. Under "Connect an app", the row "Custom connector" shows the address. Use "Copy server address" to put it on your clipboard.

2. Add it in Claude as a connector

In Claude, go to Customize > Connectors and choose "Add custom connector". Enter a name (for example "Backbone") and paste the address. On Team and Enterprise, the owner does this first under Organization settings > Connectors.

3. Sign in to Backbone and approve

Claude opens Backbone's sign-in. You sign in as usual; there is no token to copy. Then you see the consent screen:

  1. Tick the workspaces Claude may access at the top.
  2. Read what Claude can and cannot do (more below).
  3. Click "Allow".

If AI connections are off for a workspace, the screen says "AI connections off" and you cannot pick it.

4. Your first request

Start a new chat, switch the connector on and type, for example: "Who still owes me money?" Claude may ask whether it can use the Backbone tool. Confirm.

What can Claude see and do?

The consent screen tells you up front:

  • Claude can: read and change clients, projects and time entries. Draft invoices and quotes, and read documents and reports.
  • Claude asks you first before it sends or deletes anything. Bank details cannot be changed through AI; that only works in the app.
  • Claude cannot: change your password, billing or workspace ownership, delete the workspace, connect bank accounts or change bank details. Those stay in the app.

Claude works with your role. If a team member cannot see something in Backbone, Claude cannot see it for that person either.

Revoke access: Settings › Integrations › "Connected apps" › "Revoke". Claude loses access right away. You can connect it again later. The workspace owner can also switch AI connections off entirely there.

Good to know: Anthropic advises connecting Claude only to servers you trust. The Backbone address comes straight from your own settings.

Does it work with Claude Code?

If you work with Claude Code in the terminal, there is a command to copy. You find it in Settings › Integrations, row "Claude Code":

`` claude mcp add --transport http backbone https://back-bone.io/api/mcp ``

The --transport http flag is required because Backbone is a remote server. Sign-in does not start by itself: in Claude Code, type /mcp, pick "backbone" and complete the login in your browser. You approve there in the same way as above.

What if something doesn't work?

  • The workspace cannot be picked ("AI connections off"). The owner has to switch on "Allow AI connections" in Settings › Integrations.
  • The connector does not show up in Claude. On Team and Enterprise, an owner probably has not added it yet. On Free, only one custom connector is allowed.
  • Claude finds no data. Check on the consent screen that you chose the right workspaces and account ("Signed in as …"). You add missing workspaces in Settings › Integrations › Workspaces.
  • Claude asks before every action. By design: sending and deleting always need your confirmation.
  • It stops working. Requests through MCP count toward your plan's limits, like in the app, for example for invoices and receipts.

Why this one matters to us

My goal is to optimise and automate back-office tasks so that we founders can focus on what matters most.

Automating back-office work with AI agents and AI integrations is the future – that's why I built Backbone!

LucaLucaFounder, Backbone

How Backbone does it

Your back office in the chat. In the app, or in a chat with ChatGPT, Claude and many more.

  1. Track your time

    One sentence in the chat. The hours are in your week.

    In the chat

    Log 3:15 hours for Kinetik Studio, website relaunch: homepage wireframes, round two.

    Backbone connectorlog_time

    Logged.

    • Sun 27/09/2026 · Kinetik Studio · Website relaunch · 3:15 h
    • Homepage wireframes, round two
    In the app

  2. Bill your hours

    What you tracked goes on the invoice.

    In the chat

    Which hours are still open for Kinetik Studio?

    Backbone connectorlist_unbilled_time
    • 21–27/09/2026 · Design system · 8.00 h
    • 21–27/09/2026 · Website relaunch · 4.50 h

    Create a draft invoice and add those hours.

    Backbone connectorcreate_document
    Backbone connectoradd_time_to_document

    Here's the draft.

    • Draft · Kinetik Studio · €1,425.00
    • 12.5 h at €95.00 · plus 20% VAT
    In the app

  3. Who's overdue?

    One question, every open invoice.

    In the chat

    Which invoices are overdue?

    Backbone connectorlist_dunning
    Overdue
    3
    Nordlicht GmbH
    RE-2026-0118 · 21 days
    €4,280.00
    Kinetik Studio
    RE-2026-0124 · 9 days
    €1,190.00
    Fernweh Reisen
    RE-2026-0131 · 4 days
    €942.50
    Total€6,412.50

    Nordlicht has been open the longest.

    In the app

  4. Receipts matched automatically

    Upload the statement. Clear matches assign themselves.

    In the chat
    Erste_Bank_10-2026.csv

    Here's the Erste Bank statement for October.

    Backbone connectorupload_file

    Imported. Where receipt and payment clearly match, they're already matched:

    • Bürobedarf Lindner KG · 14/10/2026 · −€86.90
    • Café Morgenrot · 13/10/2026 · −€23.40
    • Fotostudio Weiss · 09/10/2026 · −€350.00
    • Druckerei Nordwerk GmbH · 02/10/2026 · −€149.00
    In the app

  5. Permissions per person

    Everyone gets what they need. Their AI gets no more.

    In the chat

    Lena should see invoices and mark them paid. Not write or send them.

    Backbone connectorset_member_permissions
    Permissions · Lena
    Adds
    See invoices, quotes and dunning
    Adds
    Mark invoices paid
    Expires in 28 min28 min

    Saved. Lena still can't write or send invoices.

    In the app

  6. Review, then approve

    The AI drafts. You check it and issue it.

    In the chat

    Write a draft invoice for Alpenblick: UX review, 12 hours at €110. List every assumption.

    Backbone connectorcreate_document

    Here's the draft.

    • Assumed: 20% VAT
    • Assumed: payment due in 14 days
    Open
    Invoice
    Alpenblick GmbH
    €1,584.00
    RE-2026-0142 · Issued 18/10/2026

    Looks good, issue it.

    Backbone connectorissue_document

    Issued as RE-2026-0142.

    In the app

Frequently asked questions

Does the connector cost extra?

No. It is part of every Backbone plan. Requests through MCP count toward your plan's limits. What Claude or your AI provider costs depends on your contract there.

Is there a public API or tokens for my own scripts?

Not yet. The connector uses sign-in (OAuth). A public API for your own scripts is Coming soon.

Can Claude just send invoices?

Claude asks you first before sending. Nothing goes out without your OK.

What about ChatGPT?

It works there too. The guide: Connect Backbone to ChatGPT. What is behind all this is explained in What is MCP?.

Use Backbone from Claude

Log time, draft invoices, check open items. 7-day trial, card required.

Try for 7 days

General information, not legal or tax advice and no review of your case. Details on providers and laws can change. For your case, follow your tax adviser.

Sources: Anthropic help on custom connectors (support.claude.com) · Claude Code docs on MCP (code.claude.com)

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