AI agent pricing
Know the build before the bill.
Member builds start as low as $500. You approve the architecture, scope, and estimate before work begins.
A typical Sagan agent engagement
Four visible buckets.
Initial build
The architecture, implementation, testing, and first useful release. The size depends on the number of tools, decisions, permissions, and edge cases involved.
Usage
Model calls, data providers, storage, and other metered services draw from prepaid credits. You can see the underlying drivers instead of getting one mysterious platform fee.
Hosting and maintenance
The cost to keep the agent available, monitored, and recoverable. Simple systems stay simple. More critical systems can have stronger support and visibility.
Future build cycles
New workflows, integrations, and material behavior changes are scoped as new build cycles. Small fixes and operational maintenance are not disguised as product strategy.
We present the estimate first. After approval, the authorized amount moves into your build bank and is drawn down as work ships.
What makes one build cost more?
Not the number of screens. The cost lives in how much reality the system has to handle.
More tools to connect
A spreadsheet and inbox is different from an ERP, CRM, phone system, and twelve municipal portals.
More judgment to encode
Clear rules are faster. Ambiguous decisions need examples, confidence thresholds, and better escalation.
Higher consequence actions
Sending a draft is different from moving money, filing a compliance record, or contacting a customer.
More custom interface work
Some agents can live quietly inside existing tools. Others need a purpose-built interface for customers or teams.
The owner test
A build should pay for itself in time, speed, or avoided mistakes.
We will help quantify the current drag before recommending a build. If the workflow is too small, too rare, or too risky to automate well, that is useful information too.
Straight answers.
The things an owner should know before approving an AI build.
Is $500 the price for every agent?
No. It is the low end for a tightly scoped member build. We estimate the real workflow after discovery, then show the scope and cost before authorization.
Do I have to be a Sagan member?
The AI build program is designed for Sagan members. If you are not a member, the first call can cover both the build opportunity and the right membership path.
What are prepaid credits?
Credits fund approved build work and metered usage. They make the authorization explicit and let the account draw down against work and services as they are used.
Who pays for third-party software?
Third-party services are shown separately and billed through the approved usage structure. We do not hide model, data, or vendor costs inside a vague subscription.
What happens after launch?
We monitor the system, address operating issues, and scope meaningful new behavior as future build cycles. Hosting and support are matched to the agent's importance.
Can my team maintain it?
We design for visible behavior, documented architecture, and practical ownership. The exact handoff depends on your technical capacity and the support model you choose.
Get a real number
Show us the work. We will price the first useful version.
One recurring workflow is enough for a useful discovery conversation.