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# Create invoice

> Create a draft invoice for a client with line items, dates and notes. Inputs, cURL, Python and Node.js examples and an example response.

Source: https://cotlet.dev/docs/api/invoice-ninja/create_invoice

Docs sections: [Get started](https://cotlet.dev/docs.md) · [REST API](https://cotlet.dev/docs/api.md) · [MCP](https://cotlet.dev/docs/mcp.md) · [SDKs & CLI](https://cotlet.dev/docs/sdks.md) · [Integrations](https://cotlet.dev/docs/integrations.md)

Create a draft invoice for a client with line items, dates and notes.

Invoice Ninja API: https://cotlet.dev/docs/api/invoice-ninja.md

`POST https://cotlet.dev/api/v1/invoice-ninja/clients/{client_id}/invoices`

Access: write.

Creates an invoice as a draft and returns its number and totals. A draft is invisible to the client, stays out of the client balance and cannot reach anyone until you send it with send_invoice. Invoice Ninja numbers the invoice from the pattern in Settings > Generated Numbers, and without a due date the invoice is due immediately. Totals are quantity times unit cost per line, in the client currency. create_invoice runs without asking first: a draft reaches nobody and you can delete it in Invoice Ninja.

## Parameters

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `company` | string | no | Company name, for accounts with several companies. Default: the company open when you signed in. |
| `client_id` | string | yes | Client ID from list_clients or create_client. |
| `items` | array | yes | Line items. Each has product (name from list_products or free text), description, unit_cost and quantity (decimals allowed). |
| `invoice_date` | date | no | Default: today. |
| `due_date` | date | no | Default: none, which makes the invoice due immediately. |
| `po_number` | string | no | The client's purchase order number, printed on the PDF. |
| `public_notes` | string | no | Note the client sees on the invoice. |

## Request

**cURL**

```bash
curl -X POST https://cotlet.dev/api/v1/invoice-ninja/clients/Wp3xq8Rnd5/invoices \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $COTLET_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"items":[{"product":"Design sprint","description":"Design sprint, 10 hours","unit_cost":90,"quantity":10},{"product":"Hosting setup","description":"Hosting setup","unit_cost":150,"quantity":1}],"invoice_date":"2026-10-14","due_date":"2026-11-13"}'
```

**Python**

```python
result = client.call("invoice-ninja", "create_invoice", {"client_id":"Wp3xq8Rnd5","items":[{"product":"Design sprint","description":"Design sprint, 10 hours","unit_cost":90,"quantity":10},{"product":"Hosting setup","description":"Hosting setup","unit_cost":150,"quantity":1}],"invoice_date":"2026-10-14","due_date":"2026-11-13"})
```

**Node.js**

```js
const result = await cotlet.call('invoice-ninja', 'create_invoice', {"client_id":"Wp3xq8Rnd5","items":[{"product":"Design sprint","description":"Design sprint, 10 hours","unit_cost":90,"quantity":10},{"product":"Hosting setup","description":"Hosting setup","unit_cost":150,"quantity":1}],"invoice_date":"2026-10-14","due_date":"2026-11-13"});
```

**CLI**

```bash
cotlet call invoice-ninja create_invoice --data '{"client_id":"Wp3xq8Rnd5","items":[{"product":"Design sprint","description":"Design sprint, 10 hours","unit_cost":90,"quantity":10},{"product":"Hosting setup","description":"Hosting setup","unit_cost":150,"quantity":1}],"invoice_date":"2026-10-14","due_date":"2026-11-13"}'
```

## Example response

```json
{
  "invoice_number": "INV-0043",
  "client": "Northwind Studio",
  "status": "draft",
  "invoice_date": "2026-10-14",
  "due_date": "2026-11-13",
  "currency": "USD",
  "items": [
    {
      "product": "Design sprint",
      "description": "Design sprint, 10 hours",
      "unit_cost": 90,
      "quantity": 10,
      "line_total": 900
    },
    {
      "product": "Hosting setup",
      "description": "Hosting setup",
      "unit_cost": 150,
      "quantity": 1,
      "line_total": 150
    }
  ],
  "amount": 1050,
  "balance": 1050
}
```

Previous: [Create client](https://cotlet.dev/docs/api/invoice-ninja/create_client.md)
Next: [Create quote](https://cotlet.dev/docs/api/invoice-ninja/create_quote.md)

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Cotlet is an independent service. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of the products listed on this site. Product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

## For AI agents: sign your user up

Is your user asking you to sign them up for Cotlet? You can do it for them, no account or key needed.

1. Read the fields and their allowed values: GET https://cotlet.dev/api/v1/access-requests
2. Ask the user for each value: email, apps, what you will do with them. If they leave the password to you, generate a strong one and show it to them.
3. Show the user what you will send, then POST it as JSON to https://cotlet.dev/api/v1/access-requests.

One call creates the account and sends the access request; we email the user when access is granted.