What you'll accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll have a personalized Claude "Project" set up as your dedicated bookkeeping assistant. Every time you start a conversation in this project, Claude already knows your chart of accounts, your common clients, your firm's communication style, and the accounting software you use — so you can get useful answers without explaining context every time.
What you'll need
- A Claude Pro subscription ($20/month at claude.ai) — Projects require Pro
- 30 minutes to set up and customize the project
- Basic information about your firm or role: firm name, software you use, 3–5 common client types, your preferred communication tone
- Time needed: 30 minutes setup, then instant value on every use
- Cost: $20/month for Claude Pro
How-To Guide: Set Up a Claude Project as Your Bookkeeping Assistant
Step 1: Create a new Project in Claude
- Go to claude.ai and log in with your Pro account
- In the left sidebar, look for Projects (below your recent conversations)
- Click + New Project or the Create Project button
- Give it a name: "Bookkeeping Assistant" or "[Your Firm Name] Assistant"
What you should see: A new project appears in your sidebar. When you click it, you'll see two areas: a Project Instructions section at the top (this is where you give Claude its "personality" and context) and a conversation area below.
Troubleshooting: If you don't see a Projects section, confirm you're on Claude Pro. Free plans don't include Projects.