Running cost
Model usage, infrastructure and review work all affect the cost of running an agent. This page explains those underlying costs. Outproduce's managed worker includes unlimited agents, model usage and infrastructure under one monthly fee.
Three layers
Every run sends context to a model and gets tokens back. Cost scales with how much context is sent, how many steps the agent takes, and which model handles each step.
The agent calls your systems and runs somewhere. Hosting, queues, storage, logging and the APIs it touches each have their own meter.
Someone reviews approvals, works the exception queue, tunes rules and repairs breaks. Count that work alongside the technology costs.
Relative cost
The widest band is the step that deserves the most attention. Route the cheap steps to small models and spend the capable model where judgment is needed.
Bands show relative order only. Your unit costs come from your own runs.
Leaks
Whole documents sent on every step
Retrieve only the relevant passages and cache what repeats
The largest model used for every step
Route classification and extraction to smaller models; keep the capable model for judgment
Unbounded loops when a tool fails
Cap steps per run and escalate after the limit
Silent retries that multiply spend
Retry with a budget and make the retry count visible
Exceptions nobody works
A named owner and a queue that is emptied daily
No cost per action
Log tokens, tool calls and time per run so the unit cost is known
Self-managed cost controls
Use these checks when your team is responsible for the operating bills. They are not extra metered charges on an Outproduce managed-worker fee.
Tokens in and out, tool calls, duration and outcome, recorded per run.
InstrumentedCost per resolved ticket, per processed document, per report, so each class has a unit cost.
Unit cost knownA ceiling per run and per day. Runs that approach it escalate instead of continuing.
CappedCompare unit cost against the manual baseline and tune the step that costs the most.
ReviewedA running cost only means something next to the cost of the manual version it would replace. The manual process cost calculator gives you that baseline in hours and money, in your own currency, before any comparison.
The underlying costs include model usage, tools and infrastructure, and the people who review and maintain it. A self-managed setup can involve separate bills. For the Outproduce managed worker, one monthly fee covers the agreed work with model usage and infrastructure included.
They count tokens and forget people, or they assume the largest model on every step, or they ignore retries and loops. The leaks above are where real spend hides.
At Outproduce, one monthly fee covers as many workers and roles as the work needs, with model usage and infrastructure included. Usage is not metered onto your bill. Compare other providers against their own written terms.
For a self-managed setup, define budgets, step limits and an escalation path before letting runs continue unattended. A budget alert alone is not a hard spending limit. These controls are separate from Outproduce's included-usage monthly fee.
We do not publish a price. An assessment is optional depending on the engagement. The agreed scope and commercial terms belong in the engagement agreement.
Start here
Tell us what starts it, who owns the result, which tools carry it, and where it stalls. We will tell you whether it is ready to map.
The workflow repeats
One person owns the result
The records exist
Several tools carry the work