Claude Code is a version of Claude that runs directly on your computer, not in a browser tab. It can read and write files, run code, connect to your business tools, and build automations that run on their own. If you have heard about it and want to get started but have no idea where to begin, this is the post for you.
No coding knowledge needed. No technical background assumed. Just follow each step in order.
What is Claude Code, and why does it matter for your business?
Most people use AI through a chat window. You type, it responds, and when you close the tab, everything is gone. Claude Code is different.
It runs inside a folder on your computer. It can see your files, write new ones, and build systems that keep running after you close the conversation. For a business owner, that is the difference between a helpful assistant and an actual system.
Think of it this way: the browser version of Claude is like hiring someone for one hour. Claude Code is like giving someone a desk in your office and letting them get on with it.
What you will need before you start
Three things:
- A computer running macOS or Windows
- An Anthropic account (the company that makes Claude)
- A subscription, which costs $20 per month
That $20 is the Max plan from Anthropic. It gives you access to Claude Code and to the full Claude model. There is no cheaper option for Claude Code specifically. It is $20 or nothing.
You do not need to know how to code. You do not need a developer. You just need a computer and twenty dollars a month.
Step 1: Create your Anthropic account
Go to anthropic.com and create an account. Use your business email. Verify it, log in, and you are in.
Once you are in, go to the billing section and upgrade to the Max plan. This unlocks Claude Code. The subscription renews monthly and you can cancel any time.
Step 2: Install Node.js
Claude Code needs Node.js to run. Node is a piece of software that lets your computer run JavaScript programmes. You do not need to know what that means. You just need to install it.
Go to nodejs.org and download the version marked “LTS”. LTS stands for Long Term Support, which means it is the stable, recommended version. Run the installer. Accept the defaults. It takes about two minutes.
Once it is done, you will not need to think about Node.js again.
Step 3: Install Claude Code
This is the one step that involves a terminal. A terminal is just a text window where you type commands directly to your computer. On a Mac, it is called Terminal and you can find it in Applications > Utilities. On Windows, use Command Prompt or PowerShell.
Open your terminal and type this exactly:
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-codePress Enter. You will see some text scroll past. Wait for it to finish. It takes about a minute.
If you see an error that says “permission denied” on a Mac, type this instead:
sudo npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-codeIt will ask for your computer password. Type it in and press Enter. The password field will not show any characters as you type, but it is working.
That is it. Claude Code is now installed on your computer.
Step 4: Log in to Claude Code
In your terminal, type:
claudePress Enter. Claude Code will ask you to log in with your Anthropic account. It will open a browser window where you can confirm access. Once you do, come back to the terminal.
You are now logged in. Claude Code is running.
Step 5: Start your first conversation
You are now talking to Claude Code in your terminal. It works exactly like Claude in the browser, except it can see and edit files on your computer.
Try typing this:
What can you help me with in my business?It will respond. Ask it follow-up questions. Tell it what kind of business you run. It does not remember anything from previous sessions yet, but that changes once you build a brain for it, which is the next step.
I remember the first time I ran this on my own machine. I typed something completely basic like “can you help me write a client email” and it just did it. No frills, no setup, just answered. It felt like the first time I used Google and realised how different it was from a library card catalogue. Not revolutionary, just immediately, obviously better.
Step 6: Navigate to your working folder
Claude Code works inside whichever folder you are in when you launch it. This matters because it can only see and edit files in that folder and its subfolders.
Before you start any real work, create a dedicated folder for your business brain. On a Mac, you might put it in Documents. On Windows, in your user folder. Name it something simple: my-business-brain or [YourBusinessName]-brain.
In your terminal, navigate to that folder using the cd command. For example:
cd Documents/my-business-brainThen type claude again to start Claude Code inside that folder.
Now when you ask Claude to create files, save notes, or build systems, it will put them in your business brain folder rather than wherever the terminal happened to be open.
What does it cost to run Claude Code every month?
The $20 Anthropic Max subscription covers your usage, but there are limits. Heavy users who run Claude Code for several hours a day across big files will hit those limits. For most small business owners using it for a few hours a week, the Max plan is more than enough.
If you run into limits, Anthropic offers a usage-based option where you pay per token. For most people reading this, the $20 plan is the right starting point.
There are no other required costs to get started. Node.js is free. The terminal is already on your computer. The folder you create costs nothing.
What to do once Claude Code is running
Getting Claude Code installed is the first step. Getting it to actually know your business is the second one, and that is where most people stop.
Without any context about who you are, what your business does, or how you work, Claude Code is a powerful general tool. It will write great emails, summarise documents, and help you think through problems. But it will not know your clients, your tone, your pricing, or your priorities.
That is what the Brain Builder is for. It is a skill pack that walks you through seven steps: building the workspace, teaching Claude your business, mapping your automation opportunities, documenting your processes, building an AI team, equipping them with skills, and setting your first automations running.
The whole thing takes a few hours across a couple of sessions. Once it is done, Claude Code stops being a general assistant and starts being something that knows your business as well as you do.
If you want to find out more, [visit the Brain Builder page here].
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know how to code to use Claude Code?
No. The setup requires one command in a terminal, which this guide covers step by step. After that, you talk to Claude Code in plain English like any other chat tool.
What operating systems does Claude Code support?
macOS and Windows. Linux is also supported but is not covered in this guide.
Is $20 a month enough for a small business owner?
For most people getting started, yes. The Max plan covers several hours of active use per day. If you are running heavy automations all day, you may want to look at the usage-based plan instead.
Can I use Claude Code without an internet connection?
No. Claude Code runs locally on your computer but the AI model runs in the cloud. You need an internet connection.
What is the difference between Claude.ai and Claude Code?
Claude.ai is the browser-based chat product. Claude Code is the terminal-based tool that can read, write, and manage files on your computer. They use the same underlying AI model, but Claude Code is significantly more powerful for building business systems.
What should I do first once Claude Code is set up?
Start by telling it about your business. Describe what you do, who your clients are, and what takes the most time in your week. Then look into the Brain Builder, which structures all of that into a permanent, growing knowledge base.
