> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.usenumero.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create Invoice

> Create an invoice with a dedicated one-time virtual account for the customer to pay into.

Create an invoice for a fixed `amount`. Numero mints a one-time virtual account for it and returns the account details (and a hosted pay-page token). When the account is funded, the invoice is marked paid and a `FUNDING_NOTIFICATION` webhook fires.

## Endpoint

```
POST /api/v1/business/invoices
```

**Signature required:** Yes

## Headers

| Header                       | Required | Description                                                                                                                                                                    |
| ---------------------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `X-Numero-Api-Key`           | Yes      | Your API key                                                                                                                                                                   |
| `X-Numero-Signature`         | Yes      | Base64 HMAC-SHA256 over the exact raw request body (POST) or the canonicalised query string (GET), keyed with your **Public Key**. See [Request signing](/03-request-signing). |
| `X-Numero-Signature-Version` | Yes      | Always `v2`.                                                                                                                                                                   |

## Request body

| Field              | Type     | Required | Description                                    |
| ------------------ | -------- | -------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| `amount`           | number   | Yes      | Invoice amount in major units (naira)          |
| `currency`         | string   | No       | Defaults to `NGN`                              |
| `description`      | string   | No       | What the invoice is for                        |
| `customerName`     | string   | No       | Bill-to name                                   |
| `customerEmail`    | string   | No       | Bill-to email (the invoice email is sent here) |
| `dueDate`          | datetime | No       | When payment is due                            |
| `expiresInMinutes` | integer  | No       | Validity window for the payment account        |

## Request example

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST "https://api.usenumero.com/numeroaccount/api/v1/business/invoices" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "X-Numero-Api-Key: your_api_key" \
  -H "X-Numero-Signature: $SIGNATURE" \
  -H "X-Numero-Signature-Version: v2" \
  -d '{
    "amount": 25000,
    "currency": "NGN",
    "description": "Design retainer — January",
    "customerName": "John Doe",
    "customerEmail": "john.doe@example.com",
    "dueDate": "2024-01-31T23:59:59Z"
  }'
```

## Response

```json theme={null}
{
  "data": {
    "invoiceNumber": "INV-2024-000123",
    "currency": "NGN",
    "amount": 25000,
    "status": "Pending",
    "description": "Design retainer \u2014 January",
    "customerName": "John Doe",
    "customerEmail": "john.doe@example.com",
    "dueDate": "2024-01-31T23:59:59Z",
    "publicToken": "pay_9fbc\u2026",
    "paymentAccountNumber": "8012345678",
    "paymentAccountName": "Your Business Ltd",
    "paymentBankName": "Providus Bank",
    "dateCreated": "2024-01-15T12:00:00Z"
  },
  "error": null,
  "meta": {
    "request_id": "req_365123ebc73323f1482508560ce6400e",
    "pagination": null
  }
}
```

| Field                                    | Type   | Description                                       |
| ---------------------------------------- | ------ | ------------------------------------------------- |
| `invoiceNumber`                          | string | Use this on all `/invoices/{invoiceNumber}` calls |
| `status`                                 | string | `Pending` until funded                            |
| `publicToken`                            | string | Token for the hosted pay page                     |
| `paymentAccountNumber`                   | string | NUBAN the customer pays into                      |
| `paymentAccountName` / `paymentBankName` | string | The payment account's name + bank                 |