Paperclip is an open-source control plane for AI companies. It is NOT a chatbot, an agent framework, or a workflow builder. It's an operating system that organizes AI agents in a real corporate structure.
Think of it this way: If Claude Code is a skilled employee, then Paperclip is the company that employee works for. With org charts, goals, budgets, governance, and audit trails.
This guide takes you from zero to running Paperclip — step by step, no coding experience required.
1. Why Paperclip?
| Feature | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Org chart | Agents have roles and report to each other. CEO → CTO → Engineer. |
| Goal hierarchy | All work traces back to the company mission. Agents know WHY. |
| Budgets | Max spend per agent. Warning at 80%. Auto-pause at 100%. |
| Governance | You sit as the board. Approve hires and strategy. |
| Audit trail | Everything is logged. No decision happens in the dark. |
| Multi-company | Run multiple companies from one installation. Complete data isolation. |
| Heartbeats | Agents wake in short bursts. No running costs when they rest. |
| Skills | Teach agents new things via instruction files. Shareable via Cliphub. |
The mental shift: You don't prompt. You lead. You set the agenda, approve strategy, and let the agents do the work. It's like being chairman of a company that never sleeps.
An important warning: You're still the boss
AI agents aren't magic. They make mistakes. They misunderstand context. They can hallucinate facts. They can go in loops. And they have no sense of what's "good enough" in your world.
Paperclip makes it easier to organize and delegate to AI — but it doesn't replace your judgment. Human-in-the-loop isn't a limitation, it's the whole point.
> IMPORTANT: Don't blindly trust agent output. Read what they produce. Approve critical decisions. Check facts. You're the chairman — and a good chairman doesn't just stamp "approved" on everything.
2. Before you start
You need three things. Everything is free or included in your existing Claude subscription.
| What | Explanation | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 20+ | Engine that runs Paperclip | nodejs.org — download "LTS" |
| Claude Code | The AI agent that does the work | See chapter 6 |
| Claude Pro, Max, or API key | Pays for the AI's thinking time | You probably already have a subscription |
What is Claude Code?
Claude Code is Anthropic's AI tool that runs in the Terminal. It's the "engine" Paperclip uses to run agents. You install it once, log in with your Claude account, and Paperclip finds it automatically.
What does it cost?
Paperclip itself is free (open source, MIT license). It costs money to use the AI models:
| Option | Price | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Pro / Max | $20–200/mo | Inherited automatically via Claude Code. Dashboard shows $0 spend. |
| Anthropic API key | Pay per use | Flexible. Create at console.anthropic.com |
Already have Claude Code running and logged in? Perfect. Paperclip automatically finds your existing installation and reuses your login.
3. Your AI wingman
Here's a tip that will save you hours of frustration. When you install Paperclip, you will sooner or later see an error message in the terminal that makes no sense. That's completely normal.
The solution: Set up a project in ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini that acts as your installation wingman. Give the project a system prompt that makes it a Paperclip expert.
How to do it in Claude
1. Go to claude.ai
2. Click "Projects" on the left
3. Create a new project: "Paperclip Wingman"
4. Under "Project instructions" — paste the system prompt from the Appendix
5. Add sources as Project Knowledge
How to do it in ChatGPT
1. Go to chatgpt.com
2. Click "Projects" on the left
3. Create a new project: "Paperclip Wingman"
4. Under "Instructions" — copy the system prompt from the Appendix
5. Upload Paperclip documentation as files
Sources to upload
| Source | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Paperclip documentation | paperclip.ing (save key pages as PDF) |
| GitHub README | github.com/paperclipai/paperclip |
| Cliphub (skills/templates) | Cliphub via the dashboard |
| This guide | Upload it. Then your wingman knows your setup. |
> PRO TIP: Start with the system prompt alone. It covers 90% of installation issues.
4. What is a Terminal?
The Terminal is a program on your computer where you can type commands instead of clicking. It might sound scary, but you just need to copy and paste the commands from this guide.
Mac
1. Press Cmd + Space (Spotlight search opens)
2. Type Terminal
3. Press Enter
Windows
1. Press the Windows key
2. Type PowerShell
3. Click Windows PowerShell
You can always copy a command from this guide (Cmd+C / Ctrl+C) and paste it in the Terminal (Cmd+V / Ctrl+V or right-click → Paste).
5. Install Node.js
Node.js is the engine that runs Paperclip. You install it once.
1. Open your browser and go to nodejs.org
2. Click the big green button that says "LTS"
3. Run the installer — click "Next" / "Continue" all the way through
4. When installation is complete, open a new Terminal (important: new!)
5. Check it works: `node --version`
You should see a number starting with v20, v22, or higher.
> PRO TIP: See an error? Close the Terminal completely and open a new one. Installations often need a Terminal restart to become visible.
6. Install Claude Code
Claude Code is the AI tool Paperclip uses to run agents. Install it with one command:
```
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
```
Wait 1–2 minutes. When done, verify:
```
claude --version
```
Log in with your Claude account
Run Claude Code for the first time:
```
claude
```
Claude Code opens and asks you to log in. Follow the instructions — it opens a browser where you log in with your Claude subscription (Pro or Max). Once logged in, you're ready.
7. Install Paperclip
Now the magic command. This single line downloads Paperclip, sets up a database, installs agent skills, and starts the server:
```
npx paperclipai onboard --yes
```
Wait 2–5 minutes. Here's what happens behind the scenes:
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 | Paperclip CLI is downloaded and installed |
| 2 | An embedded PostgreSQL database is created automatically |
| 3 | Configuration files are generated |
| 4 | Agent skills are installed (instruction files for agents) |
| 5 | The server starts |
When it's ready, you'll see:
```
Paperclip server running at http://localhost:3100
UI available at http://localhost:3100
```
> IMPORTANT: Keep the Terminal window open while using Paperclip. If you close it, the server stops. Restart with: `npx paperclipai onboard --yes`
8. Verify everything works
1. Open your browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox...)
2. Type localhost:3100 in the address bar
3. Press Enter
You'll now see Paperclip's Onboarding Wizard — a guide that helps you create your first AI company directly in the browser.
Congratulations! You have Paperclip running. No database to configure, no API keys to find. Everything runs locally on your machine.
If something doesn't work
Run the troubleshooter in the Terminal:
```
npx paperclipai doctor --repair
```
9. Getting started — your first AI company
The Onboarding Wizard in the browser guides you through four steps:
Step 1 — Name your company
Give it a name. E.g., "My Content Bureau" or "LeadForge." You can always create more companies later — Paperclip keeps them completely isolated.
Step 2 — Define the mission
Write what the company should achieve. The more specific, the better. Examples:
- Produce 4 LinkedIn posts per week about AI and productivity, tailored to a Danish audience of freelancers and entrepreneurs.
- Build a lead generation operation that finds B2B prospects and writes personalized outreach sequences.
Step 3 — Hire a CEO agent
Choose Claude Code as the adapter. The CEO is your top agent — it creates strategy and suggests hiring more agents.
Step 4 — Approve and follow along
The CEO starts immediately. Check your Inbox in the dashboard. You'll get:
- Proposals for new hires (CTO, Researcher, Copywriter...)
- Strategic plans for your approval
- Tasks distributed automatically
No agent does anything critical without your approval. You have full control.
> PRO TIP: Start with approval turned on until you're comfortable.
10. 30 use cases for Paperclip
Paperclip isn't just for programmers. Here are 30 concrete ways to use it:
1. LinkedIn content bureau — Hire a CEO, a Researcher, and a Copywriter. Mission: "Produce 4 LinkedIn posts per week." Perfect for coaches, consultants, and freelancers.
2. Market analysis for new clients — Set a Researcher agent to analyze the client's market. Save 5–10 hours of research per pitch.
3. Competitor monitoring — An agent watches competitors' websites and prices. You get a short brief every Monday morning.
4. Online course production — From idea to finished course content in days instead of weeks.
5. Startup due diligence — Market analysis, competitor overview, SWOT analysis, and financial assessment.
6. Personal assistant team — Your own AI secretary without salary costs.
7. SEO engine for your website — Keyword research, SEO articles, and metadata optimization.
8. Book writing — From idea to first draft in weeks, not months.
9. Event planning — Timeline, venues, invitations, and programs all in one place.
10. Product development (MVP) — CTO agent designs, developer agent codes, QA agent tests.
11. Newsletter production — Save 3–4 hours per newsletter.
12. Social media strategy — Content calendar and posts for LinkedIn, Instagram, and X.
13. Pitch deck for investors — Market analysis, business model, and slide copy.
14. Customer support knowledge base — Reduce support inquiries by 50%+.
15. Podcast research and show notes — Everything tracked, organized, and ready to publish.
16. Email marketing sequences — 5-step welcome sequence with hooks, storytelling, and CTAs.
17. Translation and localization — Scale your content internationally.
18. Job postings and recruiting — Perfect for small businesses without an HR department.
19. Financial reporting — Monthly reports with analysis, trends, and recommendations.
20. Content repurposing — Maximum utilization of all the content you've already created.
21. Business plan — Executive summary, market analysis, and financial projections.
22. Lead generation and outreach — Systematic pipeline instead of random networking.
23. Product descriptions for webshop — Consistency in tone and format across all products.
24. Grant and funding applications — Save days per application.
25. Internal knowledge sharing and wiki — Perfect for onboarding and systematizing tacit knowledge.
26. Price optimization — Data-driven pricing without expensive consultants.
27. PR and press releases — Professional PR without agency fees.
28. YouTube strategy — Video scripts, titles, thumbnail descriptions, and SEO tags.
29. Legal research — Not legal advice — but excellent preparation before talking to a lawyer.
30. Personal brand audit — Your digital first impression, dissected.
11. Command reference and key concepts
Commands
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
| `npx paperclipai onboard --yes` | Install and start Paperclip |
| `npx paperclipai doctor --repair` | Find and fix issues automatically |
| `node --version` | Check your Node.js version |
| `claude --version` | Check your Claude Code version |
| `npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code` | Install Claude Code |
Important addresses
| What | Address |
|---|---|
| Paperclip dashboard | http://localhost:3100 |
| Paperclip website | paperclip.ing |
| GitHub (source code) | github.com/paperclipai/paperclip |
Key concepts
| Concept | What it means |
|---|---|
| Company | Your AI company. Has mission, budget, and hired agents. |
| Agent | An AI employee with a role, budget, and adapter. |
| Adapter | The connection to the AI engine (e.g., Claude Code). |
| Issue / Task | A task with status, assignee, and link to goals. |
| Heartbeat | The agent's "wake-up" cycle. Short bursts, not continuous. |
| Governance | You approve hires and strategy as the board. |
| Org chart | The hierarchy. CEO > CTO > Engineer etc. |
| Budget | Max monthly spend per agent. Auto-pause at 100%. |
| Audit trail | Immutable log of all decisions and actions. |
| Skills | Instruction files that teach agents how to work. |
| Cliphub | Marketplace for ready-made company templates and skills. |
| Onboarding Wizard | The guide that helps you set up your first company in the browser. |
12. Troubleshooting
"command not found" after installation
Close the Terminal completely and open a new one. Installations often need a Terminal restart to become visible. If it still doesn't work, check that Node.js is installed correctly with `node --version`.
node --version shows nothing
Node.js is not installed correctly. Go to nodejs.org and download LTS again. Make sure to run the installer, not just download it.
Claude Code can't log in
Check that you have an active Claude subscription (Pro or Max) at claude.ai. Run `claude` in the Terminal and follow the login flow. Also try `claude /logout` and log in again.
Paperclip won't start
Run `npx paperclipai doctor --repair` — it finds and fixes most issues. Also check that port 3100 isn't being used by something else.
Agents aren't doing anything
Check that agents have a heartbeat interval set. Without it, they never wake up. Also verify your Claude Code connection is active.
I closed the Terminal — is everything lost?
No! Your data is stored locally. Open a new Terminal and run `npx paperclipai onboard --yes`. Paperclip restarts and finds your existing data.
Agent spending too much money
Set a low budget per agent (e.g., $5/month). Paperclip warns at 80% and auto-pauses at 100%. With Claude Max, $0 spend is shown as it's included.
Appendix: System prompt for your wingman
Copy the entire text below and paste it as instructions in your Claude project, ChatGPT project, or Gemini Gem:
> You are a Paperclip installation expert. Help the user install and troubleshoot Paperclip on Mac and Windows.
>
> Speak clearly. Explain as if to a non-programmer. Give one concrete solution at a time.
>
> Key points:
> - Paperclip runs locally on localhost:3100
> - Installed with: npx paperclipai onboard --yes
> - Requires Node.js 20+ and Claude Code
> - Database is created automatically (embedded PostgreSQL)
> - Claude Pro/Max license is inherited via Claude Code
>
> Commands:
> - npx paperclipai onboard --yes (install/start)
> - npx paperclipai doctor --repair (troubleshoot)
> - node --version (check Node.js)
> - claude --version (check Claude Code)
>
> When the user has an error:
> 1. Ask for output of npx paperclipai doctor --repair
> 2. Give ONE solution at a time
> 3. Explain WHY, not just what
> 4. If unsure: refer to paperclip.ing or github.com/paperclipai/paperclip
🎓 Want hands-on training? Book our Copilot Workshop or Copilot Agent Workshop.
📬 Subscribe to the "AI, Built Human" newsletter on Substack — weekly insights on AI in practice.
Stefano Vincenti · AI Advisor & Trainer · aitrainer.dk · External Lecturer, IT University of Copenhagen · Cofounder & CTO BotTellMe · Partner, TryZone