Prompts for everyday bookkeeping

Say thisWhat books do I have set up in BalanceMCP?

Lists every book you own with its account count. Check that the book you mean to work in is actually there before you say anything else.

Uses: list_books

Say thisHow much cash do I actually have across everything right now?

Pulls the current balance of every bank account and card, plus a total. Credit cards show as negative — that's money owed, not an error.

Uses: cash_position

Say thisWalk me through how the Job Site Supplies account got to its current balance.

Runs every posting to that one account over a date range with a running balance, so you can see which entries pushed the number where it is.

Uses: general_ledger

Say thisHow much have I spent on materials so far this month?

Totals spending by category over a period. Check the "excluded uncategorized" figure — if it's large, this total isn't the whole picture yet.

Uses: spending_summary

Say thisI put $500 of my own money into the business account. Record that.

Posts a manual journal entry — an owner contribution, not a bank transaction. It previews the balanced lines first; read them before saying yes.

Uses: post_journal_entry

Say thisI paid cash for a $1,200 used compressor, no bank record of it at all. Book it.

Another manual entry, since categorize_transactions only works on rows that came in through an import. Confirm the debit and credit land where you expect.

Uses: post_journal_entry

Say thisWhat accounts do I have to post that to?

Lists the full chart of accounts with codes and names so you and the assistant can agree on which accountId the entry should use.

Uses: manage_accounts

Say thisI collected a deposit before starting a job and don't have anywhere to put it until it's earned. Add an account for unearned revenue.

Adds a new account to the chart. It previews the code and name — and flags it if that code is already taken — before creating anything.

Uses: manage_accounts

Say thisI never use the Petty Cash account anymore. Get it out of my way.

Archives the account rather than deleting it — everything already posted to it stays exactly where it is on every report. Only new postings are blocked.

Uses: manage_accounts

Say thisActually, bring Petty Cash back — I need it again.

Unarchiving is its own step and works the same way: a preview, then a confirmation, before the account is active again.

Uses: manage_accounts

Say thisSet up a second book for my rental property, separate from the business.

Creates a new book with its own seeded chart of accounts. Say "business" or "personal" — that choice can't be swapped after the fact.

Uses: create_book

Say thisShow me every transaction I've posted to Owner's Draw this year.

Runs the general ledger for that one account over the year, which is the fastest way to see every draw in one place with a running total.

Uses: general_ledger