--- title: "ApprovalMax MCP server for AI agents - actionlake" description: "Give Claude 65 ApprovalMax actions through one MCP server: xero purchase orders. Your agent never holds the credential. 100,000 calls a month free." canonical: https://actionlake.com/connectors/approvalmax updated: 2026-10-23 --- Connectors · Accounting & finance # ApprovalMax MCP server for AI agents. actionlake is an MCP gateway: one remote MCP server that connects Claude and other MCP clients to ApprovalMax and the rest of your systems. It gives your agent 65 ApprovalMax actions (48 reads, 16 writes and 1 that wait for a confirmation) and holds the ApprovalMax credential itself, so the agent never does. It paces ApprovalMax's limits and records every call. Connecting ApprovalMax needs your own ApprovalMax OAuth app and one admin sign-in. [Connect ApprovalMax free](https://actionlake.com/console?start=sandbox) [See pricing](https://actionlake.com/pricing) 100,000 free calls a month. No card, no email, no password: press Start a free sandbox on the next screen and keep the key it shows you. `claude mcp add --transport http actionlake https://connect.actionlake.com/mcp` the first call ``` do { action: "approvalmax.companies.list", intent: "check which ApprovalMax account is connected" } # List the ApprovalMax organisations (companies) the user can access · read · 1 upstream call ``` - 65 actions in one signed file - 48 read look, never change - 16 write create and update - 1 wait for a yes destructive, confirmed first Set up ## Connect ApprovalMax in three steps. 1. 01 ### Add actionlake to Claude. Run the command once in Claude Code; its consent page can create a free sandbox: 100,000 calls a month, no card. In the Claude app, add a custom connector with the URL below and paste your key on the consent page. Creating a new sandbox from the Claude app is not yet tested by us. `https://connect.actionlake.com/mcp` 2. 02 ### Connect ApprovalMax. OAuth 2.0, authorization code with PKCE. You register your own OAuth app with ApprovalMax, an admin signs in once, and you paste the app's client id and secret and the tokens from that sign-in; actionlake renews the access token from then on. actionlake stores what you paste write-only, sealed under your tenant's key. Before the first sign-in, ApprovalMax needs an OAuth app of your own, registered in its developer portal. actionlake has no ApprovalMax app to lend you. - `access_token` Access token from one sign-in with your own OAuth app - `refresh_token` Refresh token from the same sign-in; the access token is renewed from it - `client_id` Your OAuth app's client id - `client_secret` Your OAuth app's client secret ``` account { op: "connections.requirements", service: "approvalmax" } # free: exactly what to paste, and what is found for you ``` 3. 03 ### Make the first call. Check before a write. Ask in plain words; Claude picks the action. Before anything changes, `check` validates the call and prices it, for free. ``` do { action: "approvalmax.companies.list" } # list the approvalmax organisations (companies) the user can access · read · 1 upstream call check { action: "approvalmax.xero_sales_invoices.create", input: { … } } # free: inputs, permissions, cost and confirmations, nothing sent ``` ApprovalMax at a glance **Sign-in** OAuth 2.0, authorization code with PKCE. You register your own OAuth app with ApprovalMax, an admin signs in once, and you paste the app's client id and secret and the tokens from that sign-in; actionlake renews the access token from then on. **You provide** `access_token` `refresh_token` `client_id` `client_secret` **Limits we pace to** 60 calls a minute, per connection **API covered** ApprovalMax Public API v1 (OpenAPI 3.0.4)`public-api.approvalmax.com` **Built from** ApprovalMax's documentation, read 23 October 2026[public-api.approvalmax.com](https://public-api.approvalmax.com/swagger/v1/swagger.json) [developer.approvalmax.com](https://developer.approvalmax.com/) **Service file** Version 1.0.0, signed (Ed25519) **Cached reads** 48 of 48 reads, for up to 5 minutes; a write clears what it affects **Shared entities** 6, so ask can line ApprovalMax up with your other systems **Data** Processed and stored in Sydney, Australia. No US region yet Capabilities ## What an AI agent can do in ApprovalMax. 65 actions in 30 areas. Every one carries its effect, so a key can allow the reads and hold the rest. - **48** read look, never change - **16** write create and update - **1** destructive wait for a confirmation 1. ### Xero purchase orders 6 2 read · 4 write · 0 destructive List Xero purchase order approval requests · Create a Xero purchase order approval request (draft) · Get a Xero purchase order approval request · Edit a Xero purchase order approval request 2. ### Standalone documents 5 2 read · 3 write · 0 destructive Create a standalone (no accounting system) document approval request (draft) · List standalone (no accounting system) document approval requests · Get a standalone (no accounting system) document approval request · Submit a standalone (no accounting system) document approval request into its approval workflow 3. ### Xero bills 5 2 read · 3 write · 0 destructive List Xero bill approval requests · Create a Xero bill approval request (draft) · Get a Xero bill approval request · Edit a Xero bill approval request 4. ### Xero quotes 5 2 read · 3 write · 0 destructive List Xero quote approval requests · Create a Xero quote approval request (draft) · Get a Xero quote approval request · Edit a Xero quote approval request 5. ### Xero sales invoices 5 2 read · 3 write · 0 destructive List Xero sales invoice approval requests · Create a Xero sales invoice approval request (draft) · Get a Xero sales invoice approval request · Edit a Xero sales invoice approval request 6. ### Netsuite bill payments 2 2 read · 0 write · 0 destructive List NetSuite bill payment approval requests · Get a NetSuite bill payment approval request 7. ### Netsuite expense reports 2 2 read · 0 write · 0 destructive List NetSuite expense report approval requests · Get a NetSuite expense report approval request 8. ### Netsuite invoices 2 2 read · 0 write · 0 destructive List NetSuite invoice approval requests · Get a NetSuite invoice approval request **22 more areas · 33 actions** - Netsuite item receipts **2** - Netsuite journal entries **2** - Netsuite purchase orders **2** - Netsuite sales orders **2** - Netsuite vendor bills **2** - Qbooks bills **2** - Qbooks expenses **2** - Qbooks purchase orders **2** - User profiles **2** - Xero batch payments **2** - Xero credit notes **2** - Companies **1** - Request attachments **1** - Standalone currencies **1** - Standalone workflows **1** - Xero accounts **1** - Xero branding themes **1** - Xero contacts **1** - Xero currencies **1** - Xero items **1** - Xero taxes **1** - Xero tracking categories **1** Top actions ## The ApprovalMax API, shaped for agents. The ids your agent types, what each does, and the one name it shares with other systems. 28 of ApprovalMax's 28 action names are shared with at least one other connector, so an agent learns them once. | Action | What it does | Effect | Same name in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `approvalmax.user_profiles.list` List an organisation's user profiles | List an organisation's user profiles. | read | `identity.user.list` 474 connectors | | `approvalmax.xero_sales_invoices.list` List Xero sales invoice approval requests | List Xero sales invoice approval requests. | read | `finance.invoice.list` 101 connectors | | `approvalmax.xero_quotes.list` List Xero quote approval requests | List Xero quote approval requests. | read | `finance.quote.list` 52 connectors | | `approvalmax.xero_purchase_orders.list` List Xero purchase order approval requests | List Xero purchase order approval requests. | read | `finance.purchase_order.list` 45 connectors | | `approvalmax.xero_credit_notes.list` List Xero credit note approval requests | List Xero credit note approval requests. | read | `finance.credit_note.list` 33 connectors | | `approvalmax.xero_bills.list` List Xero bill approval requests | List Xero bill approval requests. | read | `finance.bill.list` 31 connectors | | `approvalmax.netsuite_invoices.list` List NetSuite invoice approval requests | List NetSuite invoice approval requests. | read | `finance.invoice.list` 101 connectors | | `approvalmax.xero_sales_invoices.create` Create a Xero sales invoice approval request (draft) | Create a Xero sales invoice approval request (draft). | write | `finance.invoice.create` 74 connectors | | `approvalmax.xero_quotes.create` Create a Xero quote approval request (draft) | Create a Xero quote approval request (draft). | write | `finance.quote.create` 52 connectors | | `approvalmax.qbooks_purchase_orders.list` List QuickBooks Online purchase order approval requests | List QuickBooks Online purchase order approval requests. | read | `finance.purchase_order.list` 45 connectors | | `approvalmax.xero_purchase_orders.create` Create a Xero purchase order approval request (draft) | Create a Xero purchase order approval request (draft). | write | `finance.purchase_order.create` 43 connectors | | `approvalmax.request_attachments.delete` Delete an attachment from an approval request | Delete an attachment from an approval request. | destructive | this connector | Try it ## Prompts to paste into Claude. Each one names the ApprovalMax actions it will call, so you know what it reads and what it changes before you send it. 1. Read read Which ApprovalMax invoices are more than 30 days overdue? Group them by customer with the total owed. calls `approvalmax.xero_sales_invoices.list` 2. Write write Create a Xero sales invoice approval request (draft) in ApprovalMax. Show me exactly what you will send before you save it. calls `approvalmax.xero_sales_invoices.create` Governance for ApprovalMax ## Destructive actions wait for a yes. 1 ApprovalMax action is destructive. This is it: - Delete an attachment from an approval request `approvalmax.request_attachments.delete` A destructive action runs only with `confirm: true`. Under the `human` policy the agent cannot confirm for itself: the run stops until a named person approves, in the console or from a signed link in an email. The cap on a key is refused before the call is sent, never after. do approvalmax.request_attachments.delete confirm_policy: **human** Delete an attachment from an approval request? **intent:** the user asked me to delete an attachment from an approval request run suspended · waiting for a named person · key _approvalmax-agent_ cannot confirm itself In the console, or from an emailed signed link. a key for this connector ``` account { op: "keys.create", name: "approvalmax-agent", allowed_actions: ["approvalmax.*"], cap_calls: 2000, confirm_policy: "human_for_writes", approval_rules: [ { match: "approvalmax.request_attachments.delete", approver: "lead@example.com" } ] } ``` Illustrative. Scoped to ApprovalMax only, capped at 2,000 upstream calls, every write confirmed, and the destructive ones approved by a named person. Cost ## What ApprovalMax costs on actionlake. Every ApprovalMax action is one upstream call, the only thing actionlake bills. Searching, `check`, `cost`, `account` and any call ApprovalMax refused with 401, 403, 429 or a 5xx are free. Paid plans start at US$49 a month for 250,000 calls, with overage from US$0.30 down to US$0.18 per 1,000. - 1 upstream call per action all 65 ApprovalMax actions - 65 actions page each page of a long list is one call - 48 reads can be cached a cache hit costs nothing - 100,000 calls a month, free paid plans from US$49 a month for 250,000 [See pricing](https://actionlake.com/pricing) Action index ## Every ApprovalMax action. 65 actions by area: the id your agent calls, what it does, and its effect. **Xero purchase orders 6** - `approvalmax.xero_purchase_orders.create` Create a Xero purchase order approval request (draft) write - `approvalmax.xero_purchase_orders.get` Get a Xero purchase order approval request read - `approvalmax.xero_purchase_orders.list` List Xero purchase order approval requests read - `approvalmax.xero_purchase_orders.mark_as_billed` Mark a Xero purchase order request as billed or not billed write - `approvalmax.xero_purchase_orders.submit` Submit a Xero purchase order approval request into its approval workflow write - `approvalmax.xero_purchase_orders.update` Edit a Xero purchase order approval request write **Standalone documents 5** - `approvalmax.standalone_documents.create` Create a standalone (no accounting system) document approval request (draft) write - `approvalmax.standalone_documents.get` Get a standalone (no accounting system) document approval request read - `approvalmax.standalone_documents.list` List standalone (no accounting system) document approval requests read - `approvalmax.standalone_documents.submit` Submit a standalone (no accounting system) document approval request into its approval workflow write - `approvalmax.standalone_documents.update` Edit a standalone (no accounting system) document approval request write **Xero bills 5** - `approvalmax.xero_bills.create` Create a Xero bill approval request (draft) write - `approvalmax.xero_bills.get` Get a Xero bill approval request read - `approvalmax.xero_bills.list` List Xero bill approval requests read - `approvalmax.xero_bills.submit` Submit a Xero bill approval request into its approval workflow write - `approvalmax.xero_bills.update` Edit a Xero bill approval request write **Xero quotes 5** - `approvalmax.xero_quotes.create` Create a Xero quote approval request (draft) write - `approvalmax.xero_quotes.get` Get a Xero quote approval request read - `approvalmax.xero_quotes.list` List Xero quote approval requests read - `approvalmax.xero_quotes.submit` Submit a Xero quote approval request into its approval workflow write - `approvalmax.xero_quotes.update` Edit a Xero quote approval request write **Xero sales invoices 5** - `approvalmax.xero_sales_invoices.create` Create a Xero sales invoice approval request (draft) write - `approvalmax.xero_sales_invoices.get` Get a Xero sales invoice approval request read - `approvalmax.xero_sales_invoices.list` List Xero sales invoice approval requests read - `approvalmax.xero_sales_invoices.submit` Submit a Xero sales invoice approval request into its approval workflow write - `approvalmax.xero_sales_invoices.update` Edit a Xero sales invoice approval request write **Netsuite bill payments 2** - `approvalmax.netsuite_bill_payments.get` Get a NetSuite bill payment approval request read - `approvalmax.netsuite_bill_payments.list` List NetSuite bill payment approval requests read **Netsuite expense reports 2** - `approvalmax.netsuite_expense_reports.get` Get a NetSuite expense report approval request read - `approvalmax.netsuite_expense_reports.list` List NetSuite expense report approval requests read **Netsuite invoices 2** - `approvalmax.netsuite_invoices.get` Get a NetSuite invoice approval request read - `approvalmax.netsuite_invoices.list` List NetSuite invoice approval requests read **Netsuite item receipts 2** - `approvalmax.netsuite_item_receipts.get` Get a NetSuite item receipt approval request read - `approvalmax.netsuite_item_receipts.list` List NetSuite item receipt approval requests read **Netsuite journal entries 2** - `approvalmax.netsuite_journal_entries.get` Get a NetSuite journal entry approval request read - `approvalmax.netsuite_journal_entries.list` List NetSuite journal entry approval requests read **Netsuite purchase orders 2** - `approvalmax.netsuite_purchase_orders.get` Get a NetSuite purchase order approval request read - `approvalmax.netsuite_purchase_orders.list` List NetSuite purchase order approval requests read **Netsuite sales orders 2** - `approvalmax.netsuite_sales_orders.get` Get a NetSuite sales order approval request read - `approvalmax.netsuite_sales_orders.list` List NetSuite sales order approval requests read **Netsuite vendor bills 2** - `approvalmax.netsuite_vendor_bills.get` Get a NetSuite vendor bill approval request read - `approvalmax.netsuite_vendor_bills.list` List NetSuite vendor bill approval requests read **Qbooks bills 2** - `approvalmax.qbooks_bills.get` Get a QuickBooks Online bill approval request read - `approvalmax.qbooks_bills.list` List QuickBooks Online bill approval requests read **Qbooks expenses 2** - `approvalmax.qbooks_expenses.get` Get a QuickBooks Online expense approval request read - `approvalmax.qbooks_expenses.list` List QuickBooks Online expense approval requests read **Qbooks purchase orders 2** - `approvalmax.qbooks_purchase_orders.get` Get a QuickBooks Online purchase order approval request read - `approvalmax.qbooks_purchase_orders.list` List QuickBooks Online purchase order approval requests read **User profiles 2** - `approvalmax.user_profiles.get` Get a user profile read - `approvalmax.user_profiles.list` List an organisation's user profiles read **Xero batch payments 2** - `approvalmax.xero_batch_payments.get` Get a Xero batch payment approval request read - `approvalmax.xero_batch_payments.list` List Xero batch payment approval requests read **Xero credit notes 2** - `approvalmax.xero_credit_notes.get` Get a Xero credit note approval request read - `approvalmax.xero_credit_notes.list` List Xero credit note approval requests read **Companies 1** - `approvalmax.companies.list` List the ApprovalMax organisations (companies) the user can access read **Request attachments 1** - `approvalmax.request_attachments.delete` Delete an attachment from an approval request destructive **Standalone currencies 1** - `approvalmax.standalone_currencies.list` List the currencies available to standalone documents read **Standalone workflows 1** - `approvalmax.standalone_workflows.list` List the organisation's standalone approval workflows read **Xero accounts 1** - `approvalmax.xero_accounts.list` List the Xero organisation's chart of accounts read **Xero branding themes 1** - `approvalmax.xero_branding_themes.list` List the Xero organisation's branding themes read **Xero contacts 1** - `approvalmax.xero_contacts.list` Search the Xero organisation's contacts read **Xero currencies 1** - `approvalmax.xero_currencies.list` List the Xero organisation's currencies read **Xero items 1** - `approvalmax.xero_items.list` Search the Xero organisation's items read **Xero taxes 1** - `approvalmax.xero_taxes.list` List the Xero organisation's tax rates read **Xero tracking categories 1** - `approvalmax.xero_tracking_categories.list` List the Xero organisation's tracking categories read Questions ## The ApprovalMax MCP server, answered. **Is there an ApprovalMax MCP server for Claude?** Yes. actionlake is an MCP gateway: a remote MCP server that gives Claude, or another MCP client, 65 ApprovalMax actions across xero purchase orders, standalone documents, xero bills and xero quotes, through the same eight tools it uses for every other connector. actionlake is independent; it is not made or endorsed by ApprovalMax. **What do I need to connect ApprovalMax?** Your own ApprovalMax OAuth app, registered with ApprovalMax (its client id and client secret), and the access and refresh tokens from one admin sign-in. actionlake has no ApprovalMax app of its own, so this is not a one-step consent. actionlake renews the access token as it expires. The free call account { op: "connections.requirements", service: "approvalmax" } lists exactly what to paste. **Can an AI agent delete or change things in ApprovalMax?** Only if its key allows it, and only with an explicit confirmation. 1 ApprovalMax action is destructive, including delete an attachment from an approval request. Each runs only with confirm: true. Under the human confirm policy, or an approval rule on the key, the run waits until a named person approves it. **Will an AI agent use up my ApprovalMax API limit?** actionlake paces every call to the limits in the ApprovalMax service file: 60 calls a minute per connection. Repeated reads are answered from cache (48 ApprovalMax actions can be), which never reaches ApprovalMax. **What does an ApprovalMax action cost?** One upstream call, the only unit actionlake bills. A list that pages bills one call per page (65 ApprovalMax actions page). Cache hits, searches, dry runs and calls ApprovalMax refused with 401, 403, 429 or a 5xx are free. The Free plan includes 100,000 calls a month with no card. Paid plans start at US$49 a month for 250,000 calls, with overage from US$0.30 down to US$0.18 per 1,000. **Which ApprovalMax API does it cover?** The ApprovalMax Public API v1 (OpenAPI 3.0.4) at public-api.approvalmax.com. It is built from ApprovalMax's documentation as read on 23 October 2026. 65 actions in 30 areas, each one in the signed service file (version 1.0.0). **Does actionlake keep my ApprovalMax data, and where?** actionlake processes and stores data in Sydney, Australia; there is no US region yet. Reads may be cached for up to 5 minutes, and a write clears the reads it affects. Each run's request and response is kept, sealed, for your plan's trace window: 1 day on Free, 3 days on Starter, 7 days on Pro, 14 days on Team, 30 days on Business and 30 days on Enterprise. Your ApprovalMax credential is sealed under your tenant's key, never logged and never returned. Your traffic is not used to train models. **Which AI clients can use it?** Claude Code, tested by us end to end, and the Claude app as a custom connector, tested by us with an existing key. Other MCP clients that support remote servers over Streamable HTTP (MCP revisions 2025-06-18 and 2025-11-25) and OAuth dynamic client registration, or a bearer header, should connect the same way; we have not tested them. Or plain REST, under the same action names. ## More connectors like ApprovalMax Shares the most action names with - [SAP Business One 21](https://actionlake.com/connectors/sap-business-one) - [Codat 18](https://actionlake.com/connectors/codat) - [Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP (Financials) 14](https://actionlake.com/connectors/oracle-fusion-cloud-erp-financials) - [Ramp 13](https://actionlake.com/connectors/ramp) - [SAP Concur 11](https://actionlake.com/connectors/sap-concur) - [Spendesk 9](https://actionlake.com/connectors/spendesk) Joins with, on shared entities - [Zoho Inventory 5](https://actionlake.com/connectors/zoho-inventory) - [HaloPSA 4](https://actionlake.com/connectors/halopsa) - [Zoho CRM 4](https://actionlake.com/connectors/zoho-crm) - [Syncro 4](https://actionlake.com/connectors/syncro) - [RepairShopr 4](https://actionlake.com/connectors/repairshopr) - [Microsoft Dynamics 365 3](https://actionlake.com/connectors/microsoft-dynamics-365) Browse - [All Accounting & finance connectors](https://actionlake.com/connectors/category/accounting-and-finance) - [All connectors](https://actionlake.com/connectors) - [How actionlake compares](https://actionlake.com/compare) actionlake is independent. It is not made or endorsed by ApprovalMax; the name is the vendor's own. Counts are from the ApprovalMax service file, version 1.0.0. ## Give your agent ApprovalMax today. [Connect ApprovalMax free](https://actionlake.com/console?start=sandbox) [See pricing](https://actionlake.com/pricing) Start free - 100,000 calls/month, no card. No signup. Hard caps on every key. Cached answers are free. --- Source: https://actionlake.com/connectors/approvalmax More: https://actionlake.com/llms.txt