Templates

What templates are

A template is a saved invoice structure that you can reuse when making API calls. Instead of sending all your invoice details with every request, you can reference a template and just fill in the parts that change.

Think of it like a form with some fields already filled in.

When templates are useful

Templates make sense when:

• • You generate invoices programmatically through the API
• • You have recurring invoice types with the same line items
• • You want to standardize invoice formats across different systems

If you're only creating a few invoices a month through the dashboard, templates add complexity without much benefit.

When templates are NOT needed

You don't need templates if:

• • You create invoices through the Finvo dashboard
• • Each invoice is different enough that reusing a template wouldn't save time
• • You're comfortable sending full invoice details with each API request

If you only use the dashboard, feel free to ignore the Templates section entirely.

Why templates use JSON

Templates are defined in JSON because that's what the API speaks. When you create a template, you're essentially pre-defining part of an API request that you can reference later.

JSON is a standard format for structured data. If you're using the API, you're already working with JSON, so templates fit naturally into that workflow.

Example template

Here's a simple template for a monthly consulting invoice:

{
  "name": "Monthly Consulting",
  "line_items": [
    {
      "description": "Consulting services",
      "quantity": 1,
      "unit_price": 2500.00
    }
  ],
  "notes": "Payment due within 30 days."
}

When you use this template, Finvo fills in these defaults. You just need to provide the recipient and invoice number.

Managing templates

If you do use templates, you can create and manage them from the Templates page under Settings.

For details on using templates with the API, see the API documentation.