Build a self-hosted bookkeeping and finance app
Poster used Claude over a weekend to plan and build a self-hosted app that organizes receipts for an accountant and replaces paid bookkeeping software.
Done withClaude
- What they did
- The poster first used ChatGPT for a high-level accounting plan, then had Claude turn it into an implementation plan, and used Codex to find gaps before sending revisions back through Claude’s UltraPlan for a few rounds. They then ran the plan to build a self-hosted Mac app where bank transactions come in through an MCP, Claude tags them to Schedule C categories, uncertain items go to a review queue, and the poster’s fixes become reusable rules.
- How it went
- They say it handled a couple thousand transactions, was built end to end in two days including a simple Android dashboard app, and cut their software spend from about $524 a year to a $60 yearly bank-feed cost. In comments they stress it is for a small, passive LLC and still gets professional review, with live bank feeds the hardest part.
- Worth knowing
- The planning loop took about an hour of back-and-forth across GPT, Claude, Codex, and UltraPlan; wiring the MCP to live bank data was the only part they say needed real trial and error.
Try it yourself with Claude
Help me plan and build a self-hosted bookkeeping app for my [freelance/small business] that replaces [current paid software]. It should collect receipts, categorize expenses, and export a clean package for my accountant in [format]. Start by asking me about my needs, propose a simple stack I can run at home, then give me the code step by step. You're done when I can upload a receipt and export a monthly report.
Want help getting this working? Join the Vibe Coding Academy ↗ Run by Alex Finn, who also runs this site.
Source: Reddit · Jul 1, 2026
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