diff --git a/docs/billing.md b/docs/billing.md
index 8971c82..0772cf1 100644
--- a/docs/billing.md
+++ b/docs/billing.md
@@ -57,6 +57,13 @@ aggregate; it must not touch the hot status path). Reads the rollup only. Return
 `{ month, days_in_month, days_elapsed, provisioned_screens, billable_screens,
 billable_screens_final?, is_final, tier, rate_usd, cost_usd, daily:[{day, active_screen_days}] }`.
 
+**Minting a `billing:read` token — owner only:** billing tokens are minted server-side by
+the platform owner via `node scripts/mint-billing-token.js --name "<label>"` (printed ONCE;
+`--list` / `--revoke <id>` to manage). They are **intentionally NOT** in the workspace
+API-Tokens UI (that surface is workspace-scoped and self-service; a billing token grants
+platform-wide billing-read). The token authorizes ONLY `GET /api/billing/usage` — off the
+read/write/full ladder, refused everywhere else.
+
 **Month-to-date rule:** for the current month the average is computed over **completed
 calendar days only** — today accrues live and appears in `daily` but is excluded from the
 running average until it completes, so a partial today doesn't drag the estimate.
diff --git a/scripts/mint-billing-token.js b/scripts/mint-billing-token.js
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..ce1a412
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/mint-billing-token.js
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+'use strict';
+
+// #146 BILLING — owner-only CLI to mint / revoke / list `billing:read` API tokens.
+//
+//   node scripts/mint-billing-token.js --name "Bold invoicing"   # mint (prints secret ONCE)
+//   node scripts/mint-billing-token.js --list                    # list billing tokens
+//   node scripts/mint-billing-token.js --revoke <id>             # revoke one
+//
+// OWNER-ONLY BY CONSTRUCTION: this is a server-side script with NO network endpoint. The
+// access control IS filesystem/shell access to the host — i.e. the platform owner. It is
+// deliberately NOT in the workspace API-Tokens UI (that surface is workspace-scoped, self-
+// service; a billing token grants platform-wide billing-read and must be issued by the owner).
+// On the container: `docker exec screentinker node ../scripts/mint-billing-token.js --name "…"`.
+//
+// The logic lives in server/lib/billing-token.js (unit-tested); this file is a thin wrapper.
+
+const { db } = require('../server/db/database');
+const { mintBillingToken, revokeBillingToken, listBillingTokens } = require('../server/lib/billing-token');
+
+function arg(flag) {
+  const i = process.argv.indexOf(flag);
+  return i !== -1 ? (process.argv[i + 1] || '') : undefined;
+}
+const has = (flag) => process.argv.includes(flag);
+
+function fmtTime(t) { return t ? new Date(t * 1000).toISOString() : '—'; }
+
+function main() {
+  if (has('--help') || has('-h')) {
+    console.log('Usage:\n  --name "<label>"   mint a billing:read token\n  --list             list billing tokens\n  --revoke <id>      revoke a billing token');
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  if (has('--list')) {
+    const rows = listBillingTokens(db);
+    if (!rows.length) { console.log('No billing:read tokens.'); return 0; }
+    for (const r of rows) {
+      console.log(`${r.id}  ${r.prefix}…  "${r.name}"  created=${fmtTime(r.created_at)}  last_used=${fmtTime(r.last_used_at)}  ${r.revoked_at ? 'REVOKED ' + fmtTime(r.revoked_at) : 'active'}`);
+    }
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  const revokeId = arg('--revoke');
+  if (revokeId !== undefined) {
+    if (!revokeId) { console.error('ERROR: --revoke needs a token id (see --list)'); return 1; }
+    const res = revokeBillingToken(db, revokeId);
+    if (!res.ok) { console.error(`ERROR: ${res.reason}`); return 1; }
+    console.log(res.alreadyRevoked ? `Token ${revokeId} was already revoked.` : `✔ Revoked billing token ${revokeId}. It is refused on the next request.`);
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  const name = arg('--name');
+  if (name === undefined) { console.error('ERROR: nothing to do. Use --name "<label>" to mint, --list, or --revoke <id>.'); return 1; }
+
+  let minted;
+  try { minted = mintBillingToken(db, { name }); }
+  catch (e) { console.error(`ERROR: ${e.message}`); return 1; }
+
+  console.log('');
+  console.log(`✔ Minted billing:read token "${minted.name}"`);
+  console.log(`  id:      ${minted.id}        (use this to revoke)`);
+  console.log(`  token:   ${minted.secret}`);
+  console.log('           ^^^ STORE THIS NOW — it will NOT be shown again ^^^');
+  console.log(`  scope:   ${minted.scope}   (read-only; authorizes ONLY GET /api/billing/usage)`);
+  console.log(`  bound:   owner=${minted.owner_email || minted.owner_id}  workspace=${minted.workspace_id}  (vestigial — billing is platform-global)`);
+  console.log('');
+  console.log('  ⚠  Run only as the platform OWNER on the host. Anyone holding this token can read');
+  console.log(`     billing figures until revoked:  node scripts/mint-billing-token.js --revoke ${minted.id}`);
+  console.log('');
+  return 0;
+}
+
+process.exit(main());
diff --git a/server/lib/billing-token.js b/server/lib/billing-token.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b403fb4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/lib/billing-token.js
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+'use strict';
+
+// #146 BILLING — owner-only minting of a `billing:read` scoped token. The logic lives here
+// (testable); scripts/mint-billing-token.js is a thin CLI wrapper. Reuses the EXACT existing
+// token shape — same secret format (st_ + 32 random bytes base64url), same SHA-256 hashing,
+// same api_tokens columns — so a minted token verifies through the normal apiTokenAuth path.
+//
+// NOTE ON HASHING: the codebase hashes token secrets with SHA-256 (middleware/apiToken.js
+// hashToken), NOT bcrypt, and stores a single `scope` TEXT column (not a JSON `scopes`
+// array). We reuse that exact path rather than introduce a second token format.
+//
+// NOTE ON BINDING: api_tokens.user_id and workspace_id are BOTH NOT NULL — there is no
+// platform-level (workspace-less) token today. A `billing:read` token's workspace binding
+// is VESTIGIAL: the scope is off the read/write/full ladder, so tokenScopeGate/agencyGate
+// reject it on every workspace router; it authorizes ONLY GET /api/billing/usage, which is
+// platform-global and ignores the binding. Rather than loosen that NOT NULL for every token
+// type right before release, we bind to the platform OWNER + their workspace and record why.
+
+const crypto = require('crypto');
+const { generateToken, hashToken, displayPrefix } = require('../middleware/apiToken');
+
+const BILLING_SCOPE = 'billing:read';
+
+// The platform OWNER = highest-privilege user. #14 collapsed superadmin → platform_admin,
+// so PLATFORM_ROLES is the top tier; there is no finer "owner" tier. Oldest such user wins.
+function resolveOwner(db) {
+  return db.prepare(
+    "SELECT id, email FROM users WHERE role IN ('platform_admin','superadmin') ORDER BY created_at ASC, rowid ASC LIMIT 1"
+  ).get();
+}
+
+// A workspace to satisfy the NOT NULL FK — the owner's first workspace (as tenancy resolves
+// it), else any workspace. Vestigial for billing (see header).
+function resolveWorkspaceId(db, ownerId) {
+  const own = db.prepare(
+    'SELECT wm.workspace_id AS id FROM workspace_members wm WHERE wm.user_id = ? ORDER BY wm.joined_at ASC LIMIT 1'
+  ).get(ownerId);
+  if (own) return own.id;
+  const any = db.prepare('SELECT id FROM workspaces ORDER BY rowid ASC LIMIT 1').get();
+  return any ? any.id : null;
+}
+
+// Mint a billing:read token. Returns { id, secret, prefix, name, scope, owner_id,
+// workspace_id }. The secret is plaintext and returned ONCE — the caller must surface it and
+// never store it. Throws if no owner/workspace exists.
+function mintBillingToken(db, { name } = {}) {
+  const label = (name || '').trim();
+  if (!label) throw new Error('a token --name is required');
+  if (label.length > 100) throw new Error('name too long (max 100)');
+
+  const owner = resolveOwner(db);
+  if (!owner) throw new Error('no platform-admin/owner user exists — create one before minting a billing token');
+  const workspaceId = resolveWorkspaceId(db, owner.id);
+  if (!workspaceId) throw new Error('no workspace exists to satisfy the api_tokens FK');
+
+  const secret = generateToken();
+  const id = crypto.randomUUID();
+  db.prepare(`
+    INSERT INTO api_tokens (id, token_hash, prefix, name, user_id, workspace_id, scope, created_at)
+    VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, strftime('%s','now'))
+  `).run(id, hashToken(secret), displayPrefix(secret), label, owner.id, workspaceId, BILLING_SCOPE);
+
+  return { id, secret, prefix: displayPrefix(secret), name: label, scope: BILLING_SCOPE, owner_id: owner.id, owner_email: owner.email, workspace_id: workspaceId };
+}
+
+// Soft-revoke (mirrors routes/tokens.js DELETE): sets revoked_at; apiTokenAuth refuses on
+// the next request. Only revokes billing:read tokens (a safety rail for the CLI).
+function revokeBillingToken(db, id) {
+  const row = db.prepare('SELECT id, scope, revoked_at FROM api_tokens WHERE id = ?').get(id);
+  if (!row) return { ok: false, reason: 'not found' };
+  if (row.scope !== BILLING_SCOPE) return { ok: false, reason: `token ${id} has scope '${row.scope}', not ${BILLING_SCOPE} — refuse (use the dashboard to revoke workspace tokens)` };
+  if (row.revoked_at) return { ok: true, alreadyRevoked: true };
+  db.prepare("UPDATE api_tokens SET revoked_at = strftime('%s','now') WHERE id = ?").run(id);
+  return { ok: true };
+}
+
+function listBillingTokens(db) {
+  return db.prepare(
+    'SELECT id, prefix, name, created_at, last_used_at, revoked_at FROM api_tokens WHERE scope = ? ORDER BY created_at DESC'
+  ).all(BILLING_SCOPE);
+}
+
+module.exports = { mintBillingToken, revokeBillingToken, listBillingTokens, BILLING_SCOPE };
diff --git a/server/test/billing-token-mint.test.js b/server/test/billing-token-mint.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0522dea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/test/billing-token-mint.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+'use strict';
+
+// #146 — owner-only billing:read token minting (server/lib/billing-token.js + the CLI it
+// backs). Booted server + in-process mint function. Verifies the minted row's exact shape
+// (scope + SHA-256 hash, nothing else), that the token reads billing but is refused
+// elsewhere (scope isolation), and that revocation takes effect.
+
+const { test, before, after } = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const { spawn } = require('node:child_process');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const os = require('node:os');
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const crypto = require('node:crypto');
+const Database = require('better-sqlite3');
+
+const PORT = 4021;
+const BASE = `http://127.0.0.1:${PORT}`;
+const DATA_DIR = path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'st-billmint-' + crypto.randomBytes(4).toString('hex'));
+process.env.DATA_DIR = DATA_DIR;   // so requiring lib/billing-token's deps resolves this db too
+
+const { mintBillingToken, revokeBillingToken, listBillingTokens } = require('../lib/billing-token');
+const { hashToken } = require('../middleware/apiToken');
+
+let proc, db, minted;
+
+before(async () => {
+  const logFd = fs.openSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'st-billmint.log'), 'w');
+  proc = spawn('node', ['server.js'], {
+    cwd: path.join(__dirname, '..'),
+    env: { ...process.env, DATA_DIR, SELF_HOSTED: 'true', PORT: String(PORT), NODE_ENV: 'test' },
+    stdio: ['ignore', logFd, logFd],
+  });
+  let up = false;
+  for (let i = 0; i < 80; i++) { try { const r = await fetch(BASE + '/api/status'); if (r.ok) { up = true; break; } } catch { /* */ } await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 250)); }
+  if (!up) throw new Error('server did not boot');
+  db = new Database(path.join(DATA_DIR, 'db', 'remote_display.db'));
+
+  // Register a user and promote to platform_admin so an OWNER + a workspace exist.
+  const email = 'own' + crypto.randomBytes(4).toString('hex') + '@x.local';
+  await (await fetch(BASE + '/api/auth/register', { method: 'POST', headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' }, body: JSON.stringify({ email, password: 'Passw0rd123' }) })).json();
+  db.prepare("UPDATE users SET role = 'platform_admin' WHERE email = ?").run(email);
+
+  minted = mintBillingToken(db, { name: 'Bold invoicing' });   // the function the CLI wraps
+});
+after(() => { try { db && db.close(); } catch { /* */ } try { proc.kill('SIGKILL'); } catch { /* */ } });
+
+const S = (r) => r.status;
+const bearer = (t) => ({ headers: { Authorization: 'Bearer ' + t } });
+
+test('mint creates an api_tokens row: scope EXACTLY billing:read, correct SHA-256 hash', () => {
+  const row = db.prepare('SELECT * FROM api_tokens WHERE id = ?').get(minted.id);
+  assert.ok(row, 'row exists');
+  assert.equal(row.scope, 'billing:read', 'scope is exactly billing:read');
+  assert.equal(row.token_hash, hashToken(minted.secret), 'stored hash matches the SHA-256 verification path');
+  assert.ok(minted.secret.startsWith('st_'), 'same secret format as existing tokens');
+  // does NOT carry any workspace-level scope
+  for (const s of ['read', 'write', 'full', 'agency']) assert.notEqual(row.scope, s);
+  assert.ok(row.user_id && row.workspace_id, 'bound to owner + a workspace (FK satisfied)');
+  assert.equal(row.revoked_at, null, 'not revoked at mint');
+  // listBillingTokens surfaces it
+  assert.ok(listBillingTokens(db).some((t) => t.id === minted.id));
+});
+
+test('minted token reads billing (200) but is REFUSED elsewhere (scope isolation)', async () => {
+  assert.equal(S(await fetch(BASE + '/api/billing/usage', bearer(minted.secret))), 200, 'reads billing');
+  const body = await (await fetch(BASE + '/api/billing/usage', bearer(minted.secret))).json();
+  assert.equal(typeof body.billable_screens, 'number');
+  assert.equal(S(await fetch(BASE + '/api/devices', bearer(minted.secret))), 403, 'refused on a workspace router');
+  assert.equal(S(await fetch(BASE + '/api/admin/orgs', bearer(minted.secret))), 401, 'refused on an admin router');
+});
+
+test('revocation: a revoked minted token is refused', async () => {
+  assert.equal(S(await fetch(BASE + '/api/billing/usage', bearer(minted.secret))), 200, 'valid before revoke');
+  const res = revokeBillingToken(db, minted.id);
+  assert.equal(res.ok, true);
+  assert.equal(S(await fetch(BASE + '/api/billing/usage', bearer(minted.secret))), 401, 'refused after revoke');
+});
+
+test('mint requires a name; revoke refuses a non-billing token id', () => {
+  assert.throws(() => mintBillingToken(db, { name: '' }), /name is required/);
+  // revoke guard: a made-up id / non-billing scope is refused, not silently applied
+  assert.equal(revokeBillingToken(db, 'no-such-id').ok, false);
+});