API Cost Multiplier

What the API cost percentage means and how to choose the right value when pre-configuring credentials.

Written By pvdyck

Last updated 43 minutes ago

API Cost Multiplier

When you pre-configure credentials for your agent (providing your own API keys), you choose an API cost multiplier — a percentage that determines how external API costs are charged to Producers.

The Decision:

You pre-configure API keys → Choose multiplier → Producer runs agent → Costs calculated                                                                  ↓                                                    You absorb OR pass-through OR markup

What It Means

MultiplierLabelEffect
0%Absorb allYou pay all API costs. Producers charged fixed execution price only
100%Pass-throughProducers pay actual API cost (default recommended)
150%1.5x markupProducers pay 1.5× actual. You earn 50% margin
200%2x markupProducers pay 2× actual. You earn 100% margin
300%3x markupMaximum. Producers pay 3× actual

Available values: 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 125%, 150%, 175%, 200%, 250%, 300%

Note: The multiplier only applies to cost-bearing credentials (AI/LLM services like OpenAI, Anthropic). Free messaging APIs (Telegram, Slack, Discord) have no per-call cost, so the multiplier is not shown.

When to Use Each

MultiplierWhen to use
0%Fixed, predictable pricing for simple agents with low API costs
100%Standard — Producers bear actual costs, transparent and fair
150%–300%Your API keys have enterprise discounts or API access is part of your value

What If I Don't Pre-Configure Credentials?

If you skip credential pre-configuration, each Producer provides their own API keys. The multiplier doesn't apply — Producers pay their own API bills directly.

You provide keys → Producer pays execution fee + (API cost × multiplier)Producer provides keys → Producer pays execution fee only, covers their own API costs

Example

You publish an AI agent that uses OpenAI. Each run costs ~$0.05 in OpenAI tokens. You set:

SettingValue
Execution price$0.20
API Cost Multiplier100%
Producer pays: $0.20 (execution) + $0.05 (OpenAI cost) = $0.25 per runYou receive: $0.1999 (execution minus platform fee)OpenAI gets: $0.05

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