> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.saasybill.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Create a subscription
> Creates the subscription and its first invoice, and sends the invoice to Xero, under the same rules as the New Subscription form. **`Idempotency-Key` is required**: a repeat of this request would otherwise be a second subscription and a second bill. A retry with the same key and body returns the first response. If Xero refuses the invoice the subscription still exists and the response is 201 with `invoice.xero.sync_status` of `failed`.
Requires the `subscriptions:write` scope. See [Authentication](/api-reference/authentication#scopes).
## OpenAPI
````yaml /api-reference/openapi.json post /v1/subscriptions
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
title: Saasybill API
version: 1.0.0
description: >-
Create and manage subscriptions in Saasybill from your own platform.
Every request is authenticated with an API key sent as `Authorization:
Bearer saasybill_live_…`.
Writes accept an `Idempotency-Key` header. It is required to create a
subscription.
Webhooks, errors, pagination and idempotency are covered in the guides
alongside this reference.
servers:
- url: https://app.saasybill.com/api
description: Production
security: []
tags:
- name: Organisation
description: The organisation an API key belongs to.
- name: Customers
description: >-
Customers are synced from Xero. Create one only where the organisation
allows it.
- name: Plans
description: Read the pricing plans you can sell.
- name: Charges
description: Read the one-off fees that can be added to a new subscription.
- name: Subscriptions
description: Create subscriptions, change units, and end or restore them.
- name: Invoices
description: Read the invoices Saasybill raises in Xero.
paths:
/v1/subscriptions:
post:
tags:
- Subscriptions
summary: Create a subscription
description: >-
Creates the subscription and its first invoice, and sends the invoice to
Xero, under the same rules as the New Subscription form.
**`Idempotency-Key` is required**: a repeat of this request would
otherwise be a second subscription and a second bill. A retry with the
same key and body returns the first response. If Xero refuses the
invoice the subscription still exists and the response is 201 with
`invoice.xero.sync_status` of `failed`.
operationId: post_v1_subscriptions
parameters:
- name: Idempotency-Key
in: header
required: true
description: >-
1 to 255 printable characters. A retry with the same key and body
returns the first response.
schema:
type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 255
example: signup_8f3a2c1d
requestBody:
required: true
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
properties:
customer:
description: The Saasybill customer id. Give this or `customer_code`.
type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 100
customer_code:
type: string
description: >-
The organisation's own reference for the customer. Unique
per organisation.
create_customer:
description: >-
Create the customer in Xero if no customer has
`customer_code`. Needs the organisation to have allowed it.
type: object
properties:
name:
type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 255
email:
anyOf:
- type: string
maxLength: 255
format: email
pattern: >-
^(?:[A-Za-z0-9_'+\-]+\.)*[A-Za-z0-9_'+\-]*[A-Za-z0-9_+-]@(?:[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9\-]*\.)+[A-Za-z]{2,}$
- type: 'null'
required:
- name
additionalProperties: false
plan:
description: The plan id. Give this or `plan_code`.
type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 100
plan_code:
type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 100
units:
description: Not for a flat fee plan.
type: integer
minimum: 0
maximum: 999999999
flat_fee_price:
description: Only where the plan allows its price to be overridden.
anyOf:
- type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 20
- type: number
start_date:
description: Defaults to today in the organisation's timezone.
type: string
pattern: ^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$
end_after_cycles:
anyOf:
- type: integer
minimum: 1
maximum: 1000
- type: 'null'
discount_percent:
description: 0 to 100. Defaults to 0.
anyOf:
- type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 20
- type: number
label:
anyOf:
- type: string
maxLength: 255
- type: 'null'
invoice_reference:
anyOf:
- type: string
maxLength: 255
- type: 'null'
minimum_units:
anyOf:
- type: integer
minimum: 0
maximum: 999999999
- type: 'null'
minimum_invoice_amount:
anyOf:
- anyOf:
- type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 20
- type: number
- type: 'null'
invoice_due_days:
anyOf:
- type: integer
minimum: 1
maximum: 365
- type: 'null'
charges:
maxItems: 50
type: array
items:
type: object
properties:
charge:
type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 100
price:
description: >-
Only where the charge allows its price to be
overridden.
anyOf:
- type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 20
- type: number
apply_discount:
type: boolean
required:
- charge
additionalProperties: false
additionalProperties: false
examples:
Per unit plan, by code:
summary: Per unit plan, by code
description: >-
The usual signup: find the customer and the plan by your own
codes.
value:
customer_code: ACME-001
plan_code: TEAM-MONTHLY
units: 10
start_date: '2026-09-30'
discount_percent: '10'
label: Acme – Team plan
invoice_reference: PO-4471
With a one-off charge:
summary: With a one-off charge
description: >-
Bill a charge once, on the first invoice. Charges are sent by
id. The second charge overrides its price.
value:
customer_code: ACME-001
plan_code: TEAM-MONTHLY
units: 25
charges:
- charge: e2a7d5c8-91b3-4d16-a0f4-7c8b6e5d3a22
apply_discount: false
- charge: a8c4e1f7-3d92-4b05-8e6a-1c7f9d2b5e30
price: '300.00'
apply_discount: true
Flat fee, fixed term:
summary: Flat fee, fixed term
description: >-
A flat fee plan takes no units. Set flat_fee_price only where
the plan allows its price to be overridden.
value:
customer: 3b9f1c1e-6a52-4c0e-9d7e-1f6f2f0b7a11
plan: 2f6b9d3a-8c14-4e75-a0b2-6d1e7f3c9a48
flat_fee_price: '2400.00'
end_after_cycles: 12
invoice_due_days: 14
Create the customer if missing:
summary: Create the customer if missing
description: >-
Uses customer_code, and creates the customer in Xero if no
customer has that code. Needs the organisation to have allowed
it.
value:
customer_code: NORTH-100
create_customer:
name: Northwind Traders
email: ap@northwind.example
plan_code: TEAM-MONTHLY
units: 5
responses:
'201':
description: Success.
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
properties:
id:
type: string
object:
type: string
const: subscription
customer:
type: string
customer_code:
type:
- string
- 'null'
plan:
type: string
status:
type: string
enum:
- pending
- active
- complete
- ended
currency:
type: string
interval:
type: object
properties:
unit:
type: string
enum:
- day
- week
- month
- year
count:
type: integer
required:
- unit
- count
additionalProperties: false
timezone:
type: string
start_date:
type: string
description: YYYY-MM-DD, in the subscription's own timezone.
renewal_date:
anyOf:
- type: string
description: YYYY-MM-DD, in the subscription's own timezone.
- type: 'null'
end_date:
anyOf:
- type: string
description: YYYY-MM-DD, in the subscription's own timezone.
- type: 'null'
units:
type: integer
minimum_units:
type: integer
discount_percent:
type: string
description: A decimal string, e.g. "19.9900".
cancel_at_period_end:
type: boolean
end_after_cycles:
anyOf:
- type: integer
- type: 'null'
label:
type:
- string
- 'null'
invoice_reference:
type:
- string
- 'null'
renewal_value:
type: string
description: A decimal string, e.g. "19.9900".
created:
type: string
format: date-time
description: ISO 8601, UTC.
invoice:
anyOf:
- type: object
properties:
id:
type: string
object:
type: string
const: invoice
customer:
type: string
subscription:
type:
- string
- 'null'
number:
description: Xero's invoice number, once it is in Xero.
type:
- string
- 'null'
reference:
type:
- string
- 'null'
status:
type: string
enum:
- draft
- awaiting_approval
- approved
- paid
- voided
- deleted
- scheduled
- not_in_external
currency:
type: string
invoice_date:
type: string
format: date-time
description: ISO 8601, UTC.
due_date:
anyOf:
- type: string
format: date-time
description: ISO 8601, UTC.
- type: 'null'
subtotal:
type: string
description: Excluding tax.
total:
type: string
description: Including tax, as Xero returns it.
credit_note_amount:
type: string
description: A decimal string, e.g. "19.9900".
amount_paid:
anyOf:
- type: string
description: A decimal string, e.g. "19.9900".
- type: 'null'
sent:
type: boolean
xero:
type: object
properties:
sync_status:
type: string
enum:
- synced
- failed
- pending
description: >-
`failed` means the invoice exists here and
Xero refused it; the subscription that raised
it was still created.
invoice_id:
type:
- string
- 'null'
sync_error:
type:
- string
- 'null'
required:
- sync_status
- invoice_id
- sync_error
additionalProperties: false
lines:
type: array
items:
type: object
properties:
id:
type: string
type:
anyOf:
- type: string
enum:
- subscription
- addon
- charge
- type: 'null'
name:
type:
- string
- 'null'
description:
type:
- string
- 'null'
units:
anyOf:
- type: integer
- type: 'null'
amount:
type: string
description: A decimal string, e.g. "19.9900".
discount_amount:
type: string
description: A decimal string, e.g. "19.9900".
charge_amount:
type: string
description: >-
What is billed: `amount` less
`discount_amount`.
effective_date:
anyOf:
- type: string
format: date-time
description: ISO 8601, UTC.
- type: 'null'
required:
- id
- type
- name
- description
- units
- amount
- discount_amount
- charge_amount
- effective_date
additionalProperties: false
created:
type: string
format: date-time
description: ISO 8601, UTC.
required:
- id
- object
- customer
- subscription
- number
- reference
- status
- currency
- invoice_date
- due_date
- subtotal
- total
- credit_note_amount
- amount_paid
- sent
- xero
- created
additionalProperties: false
- type: 'null'
description: >-
The first invoice. Null in setup mode, where none is
raised. Check `xero.sync_status`.
required:
- id
- object
- customer
- customer_code
- plan
- status
- currency
- interval
- timezone
- start_date
- renewal_date
- end_date
- units
- minimum_units
- discount_percent
- cancel_at_period_end
- end_after_cycles
- label
- invoice_reference
- renewal_value
- created
- invoice
additionalProperties: false
example:
id: 9d4e2b7a-13c5-4f8e-b6a0-2e1d7c9f5b33
object: subscription
customer: 3b9f1c1e-6a52-4c0e-9d7e-1f6f2f0b7a11
customer_code: ACME-001
plan: b6c1e0a4-2f7d-4a61-8f0c-5d3e9a7b2c44
status: active
currency: AUD
interval:
unit: month
count: 1
timezone: Australia/Sydney
start_date: '2026-09-30'
renewal_date: '2026-10-30'
end_date: null
units: 10
minimum_units: 5
discount_percent: '10.00'
cancel_at_period_end: false
end_after_cycles: null
label: Acme – Team plan
invoice_reference: PO-4471
renewal_value: '108.0000'
created: '2026-09-30T04:12:00.000Z'
invoice:
id: 5f8a3c9d-7e21-4b04-9c6d-0a2b4e8f1d55
object: invoice
customer: 3b9f1c1e-6a52-4c0e-9d7e-1f6f2f0b7a11
subscription: 9d4e2b7a-13c5-4f8e-b6a0-2e1d7c9f5b33
number: INV-0042
reference: PO-4471
status: awaiting_approval
currency: AUD
invoice_date: '2026-09-29T14:00:00.000Z'
due_date: '2026-10-29T13:00:00.000Z'
subtotal: '558.0000'
total: '613.8000'
credit_note_amount: '0.0000'
amount_paid: null
sent: false
xero:
sync_status: synced
invoice_id: f0e9d8c7-b6a5-4f43-9210-fedcba987654
sync_error: null
lines:
- id: 0a1b2c3d-4e5f-4a6b-8c7d-9e0f1a2b3c77
type: subscription
name: Team
description: Team – 10 seats
units: 10
amount: '120.0000'
discount_amount: '12.0000'
charge_amount: '108.0000'
effective_date: '2026-09-29T14:00:00.000Z'
- id: 1b2c3d4e-5f6a-4b7c-9d8e-0f1a2b3c4d88
type: charge
name: Onboarding
description: One-off setup and training
units: null
amount: '450.0000'
discount_amount: '0.0000'
charge_amount: '450.0000'
effective_date: '2026-09-29T14:00:00.000Z'
created: '2026-09-30T04:12:01.000Z'
headers:
Request-Id:
$ref: '#/components/headers/Request-Id'
RateLimit-Limit:
$ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimit-Limit'
RateLimit-Remaining:
$ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimit-Remaining'
RateLimit-Reset:
$ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimit-Reset'
'401':
description: The key is missing, malformed, revoked or expired.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
error:
type: authentication_error
code: invalid_api_key
message: 'Provide a valid API key as `Authorization: Bearer `.'
request_id: req_4f1a9c2e7b8d3a605e1c9f02
headers:
Request-Id:
$ref: '#/components/headers/Request-Id'
'403':
description: >-
The key lacks the scope, is a test key, or the organisation has not
allowed this.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
error:
type: permission_error
code: insufficient_scope
message: This API key does not have the `subscriptions:write` scope.
request_id: req_4f1a9c2e7b8d3a605e1c9f02
headers:
Request-Id:
$ref: '#/components/headers/Request-Id'
'404':
description: No such object.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
error:
type: not_found
code: subscription_not_found
message: There is no subscription with that id.
request_id: req_4f1a9c2e7b8d3a605e1c9f02
headers:
Request-Id:
$ref: '#/components/headers/Request-Id'
'409':
description: >-
The request conflicts with the current state, or with an earlier
request using the same `Idempotency-Key`.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
error:
type: conflict
code: idempotency_conflict
message: >-
This `Idempotency-Key` was used with a different request.
Use a new key for a different request.
request_id: req_4f1a9c2e7b8d3a605e1c9f02
headers:
Request-Id:
$ref: '#/components/headers/Request-Id'
'422':
description: A field is missing or invalid. `error.param` names it.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
error:
type: invalid_request_error
code: invalid_parameter
message: '`units`: Invalid input: expected number, received string'
param: units
request_id: req_4f1a9c2e7b8d3a605e1c9f02
headers:
Request-Id:
$ref: '#/components/headers/Request-Id'
'429':
description: 'Rate limited: 120 requests a minute per key. See `Retry-After`.'
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
error:
type: rate_limit_error
code: rate_limited
message: Too many requests. Try again in 12 seconds.
request_id: req_4f1a9c2e7b8d3a605e1c9f02
headers:
Request-Id:
$ref: '#/components/headers/Request-Id'
'500':
description: >-
Something went wrong on our side. Retry; quote `error.request_id` if
it persists.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
error:
type: api_error
code: internal_error
message: >-
Something went wrong on our side. Retry the request; if it
keeps failing, quote the request id.
request_id: req_4f1a9c2e7b8d3a605e1c9f02
headers:
Request-Id:
$ref: '#/components/headers/Request-Id'
security:
- bearerAuth:
- subscriptions:write
components:
headers:
Request-Id:
description: A unique id for the request. Quote it when you contact support.
schema:
type: string
example: req_4f1a9c2e7b8d3a605e1c9f02
RateLimit-Limit:
description: Requests allowed per minute for this key.
schema:
type: integer
example: 120
RateLimit-Remaining:
description: Requests left in the current window.
schema:
type: integer
example: 117
RateLimit-Reset:
description: Seconds until the oldest counted request stops counting.
schema:
type: integer
example: 41
schemas:
Error:
type: object
properties:
error:
type: object
properties:
type:
type: string
enum:
- authentication_error
- permission_error
- invalid_request_error
- not_found
- conflict
- rate_limit_error
- api_error
code:
type: string
description: Stable. Branch on this, never on `message`.
message:
type: string
param:
type: string
request_id:
type: string
required:
- type
- code
- message
- request_id
additionalProperties: false
required:
- error
additionalProperties: false
description: >-
Every failed request answers with this shape. Branch on `error.code`,
never on `error.message`.
securitySchemes:
bearerAuth:
type: http
scheme: bearer
description: >-
An API key. Its scopes decide what it may call: `customers:read` (List
and look up customers.) `customers:write` (Create customers, and Xero
contacts where the organisation allows it.) `catalogue:read` (List plans
and charges.) `subscriptions:read` (List and look up subscriptions.)
`subscriptions:write` (Create subscriptions, change units, end and
restore them.) `invoices:read` (List and look up invoices.)
````