How Agent Billing Works
This page explains how agent work flows from tracked time to client invoices.
The Full Flow
Agent works → Time entry created → Manager approves →
Invoice generated → Client pays
↓
LLM expense created → Included in invoice (optional)
Rate Structure
Agent users have their own rates, separate from humans:
| Component | Set Where | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Agent hourly rate | Team → Agent User → Billable Rate | £75/hr |
| Agent cost rate | Team → Agent User → Cost Rate | £5/hr |
| LLM unit price | Expense Categories → LLM Usage | £0.003/1k tokens |
Margin Calculation
Revenue: Agent hours × billable rate + LLM cost pass-through
Cost: Agent hours × cost rate + actual LLM spend
Margin: Revenue - Cost
Example
| Line Item | Revenue | Cost | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6h agent work @ £75/hr | £450 | £30 | £420 |
| 180k tokens @ £0.003/k | £0.54 | £0.54 | £0.00 |
| Total | £450.54 | £30.54 | £420 |
Tips for Clients
- Be transparent about agent work on invoices.
- Use separate line items for agent time and LLM costs.
- Include a brief explanation the first time a client sees agent charges.
- Consider a lower rate for agent work to reflect the reduced human effort.
Related
- Invoicing Agent Work — how agent entries appear on invoices
- Managing Agent Users — setting agent rates
- Cost Allocation Patterns — advanced billing strategies