The Merchant Context Plugin — setup

For ChatGPT and Claude · no account or login needed · read-only · free

The plugin gives your assistant verified records about licensed local service businesses — licence status from the state register, reviews, hours, BBB standing, corporate history — every fact with its source and the date we checked it. The assistant weighs the facts; nothing about the order is paid for.

The server address

https://merchantcontext.com/mcp

A remote MCP server (streamable HTTP). No authentication — the index is public information.

Connect in Claude

Open claude.ai (or Claude Desktop) → Settings → Connectors.
Choose Add custom connector.
Name it Merchant Context and paste the server address above. Save.

Custom connectors require a paid Claude plan. In Claude Code: claude mcp add --transport http merchant-context https://merchantcontext.com/mcp

Connect in ChatGPT

Open Settings → Apps & Connectors and enable Developer mode (under Advanced).
Choose Create / Add connector, name it Merchant Context, and paste the server address above.
In a chat, bring it in from the tools menu or by typing @Merchant Context.

We're in developer preview while our directory listings are in review; once listed, connecting is one click from each directory.

What to ask

"Who should I call for a burst water heater in 33701?"
"Find me an AC repair company in Pinellas County that works weekends."
"Is [company name] licensed and insured? Check their record before I book them."
"What's the story on [company name] — anything I should know?"

The tools it exposes

search_businesses — find providers for a trade near a ZIP or city, matched to your constraints. Read-only.
get_business — the full evidence record behind one result: every fact, verdict, source, and date. Read-only.
verify_business — check a specific company by name against the index. Read-only.

Coverage and limits

Coverage today: every state-licensed business for HVAC, electrical, roofing or plumbing in Pinellas County, FL — 1648 businesses, 67,150 sourced facts. More trades and metros are coming — see coverage.
Outside a covered trade or metro, the plugin says so rather than guessing.
When sources disagree, both are shown and the conflict is stated — never averaged away.
A fact we can't verify is reported as unknown, not filled in.
Payment never affects ranking or inclusion. Availability comes only from a business's connected calendar.