@tradeproof/mcp-server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that gives Claude access to contractor license data across all 50 US states and Washington, DC. Powered by TradeProof — 5 million+ license records sourced from official state licensing board databases.

What This Does

This MCP server lets you ask Claude natural-language questions about contractor licenses and get answers backed by public records data:

• "Is ABC Construction licensed in Florida?"
• "Find all electrical contractors in Phoenix, AZ"
• "Check workers' comp coverage for Smith Roofing in California"
• "Are these 5 subcontractors licensed?" (batch lookup)

Claude calls the TradeProof API behind the scenes and returns structured results with license status, business name, classification, expiration date, and more.

Prerequisites

• Node.js 18+ (for native fetch support)
• TradeProof API key — get one free at tradeproof.net/app#/settings

Installation

Claude Desktop

Add to your Claude Desktop configuration file:

macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tradeproof": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@tradeproof/mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "TRADEPROOF_API_KEY": "tp_live_your_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

On Windows, if npx is not found, use:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tradeproof": {
      "command": "cmd",
      "args": ["/c", "npx", "-y", "@tradeproof/mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "TRADEPROOF_API_KEY": "tp_live_your_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

After saving, fully quit and restart Claude Desktop to load the new server.

Claude Code

claude mcp add --transport stdio \
  --env TRADEPROOF_API_KEY=tp_live_your_key_here \
  tradeproof -- npx -y @tradeproof/mcp-server

claude.ai (Web)

Remote MCP servers can be added via Settings > Connectors on claude.ai. If TradeProof is listed in the Anthropic Connectors Directory, you can enable it directly from there.

Quick Test with npx

TRADEPROOF_API_KEY=tp_live_your_key_here npx @tradeproof/mcp-server

Use the MCP Inspector for interactive testing:

TRADEPROOF_API_KEY=tp_live_your_key_here npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector npx @tradeproof/mcp-server

Available Tools

lookup_license

Look up a specific contractor license by state and license number.

Example prompts:

• "Look up California contractor license #B-1234567"
• "What's the status of FL license CGC1234567?"

Returns: Business name, license status, type, classifications, issue/expiration dates, city, workers' comp status, bond amount, and last updated date.

search_contractors

Search for contractors by business name, optionally filtered by state, city, classification, or status.

Example prompts:

• "Find licensed plumbers named 'Smith' in Texas"
• "Search for 'Acme Construction' across all states"
• "Find active electrical contractors in Phoenix, AZ"

Returns: Matching contractors with license numbers, status, type, city, and expiration dates. Supports pagination for large result sets.

check_batch

Check the status of multiple contractor licenses at once (up to 100).

Example prompts:

• "Check if these 5 subcontractor licenses are active: CA #123, TX #456, FL #789..."
• "Which of these licenses are expired?"

Returns: Summary (e.g., "4 of 5 active") plus per-license details showing status, business name, and expiration.

check_insurance

Check workers' compensation insurance coverage for an employer in a specific state.

Example prompts:

• "Does Smith Roofing have workers' comp in California?"
• "Check WC coverage for ABC Contractors in New York"

Returns: Coverage status, carrier, account number, effective/expiration dates. Not all states have WC data available.

get_coverage_info

See which states and data types TradeProof covers. This tool does not consume any API quota.

Example prompts:

• "What states does TradeProof cover?"
• "Does TradeProof have data for Alaska?"

Returns: Total record count, list of states with license data, list of states with workers' comp data, and last data update timestamp.

Getting an API Key

1. Go to tradeproof.net and create an account
2. Navigate to Settings > API Keys (or go directly to tradeproof.net/app#/settings)
3. Click Create API Key
4. Copy your key (it starts with tp_live_)
5. Use it in your Claude configuration as shown above

Pricing & Limits

The get_coverage_info tool is free and does not count against your lookup quota.

When your monthly limit is reached, tools return a clear message with a link to upgrade at tradeproof.net/app#/billing.

Environment Variables

Troubleshooting

"TRADEPROOF_API_KEY environment variable is not set"

The server requires an API key. Make sure you have set it in your Claude Desktop config's env block or exported it in your shell before running the server.

"Invalid TradeProof API key"

Your API key may be incorrect, expired, or revoked. Go to tradeproof.net/app#/settings to check your key status or create a new one.

"Monthly lookup limit reached"

You have used all your lookups for the current billing period. Upgrade your plan at tradeproof.net/app#/billing or wait for the next billing cycle.

Server not appearing in Claude Desktop

1. Make sure you saved the config file and fully quit Claude Desktop (not just close the window)
2. Restart Claude Desktop
3. Check that Node.js 18+ is installed: node --version
4. Test the server manually: TRADEPROOF_API_KEY=your_key npx @tradeproof/mcp-server

Windows: "npx is not recognized"

Use the cmd wrapper in your config (see the Windows installation section above). Also ensure Node.js is in your PATH.

"No license found" when you expected a result

• Double-check the license number format (some states use prefixes like "B-" or "CGC")
• Try searching by business name instead using the search_contractors tool
• Use get_coverage_info to confirm the state has data available
• The license may be under a different name (DBA vs. legal name)

Data & Privacy

• All license data is sourced from official state licensing board databases (public records)
• TradeProof does not store your queries — lookups are processed and not retained
• See our full privacy policy at tradeproof.net/privacy
• TradeProof is not a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Data is for informational purposes only and must not be used for employment screening, credit decisions, or any FCRA-governed purpose.

License

MIT

Links

• TradeProof Website
• API Documentation
• Get an API Key
• Model Context Protocol
• Report an Issue