How to Price AI Agent Packages for Clients
Agencies typically price AI agent packages one of two ways: a flat monthly fee covering a set number of minutes and messages, or usage-based billing at a per-minute and per-message rate above platform cost. Most successful packages combine both — a base retainer for setup and management, plus metered usage billed through built-in rebilling.
The most common pricing mistake agencies make with AI is copying whatever number a competitor quotes instead of working backward from their own cost and the value the assistant actually creates for the client. Here’s how to build a number that holds up.
The three pricing models agencies use
- Flat monthly fee. A single price covers setup, a set number of minutes/messages, and ongoing management. Simple to sell, but risks eating margin if a client’s volume spikes.
- Usage-based (rebilled). The client pays a per-minute and per-message rate directly tied to what they use, marked up from the platform’s base cost. Scales cleanly but is a less familiar pitch to some clients.
- Hybrid. A base retainer for setup, monitoring and knowledge-base upkeep, plus metered usage on top. This is what most agencies land on once they have a few clients live.
Starting from cost, not from a guess
Assistantz.ai’s usage cost is from 9¢ per minute all-in for voice and 2¢ per AI message for chat, or free per chat message when the client connects their own OpenAI or other LLM key. Build your price from there:
| Client monthly volume | Platform cost | Client price at 20¢/min, 5¢/msg | Your margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 voice min, 500 messages | $27 + $10 = $37 | $60 + $25 = $85 | $48 |
| 600 voice min, 1,000 messages | $54 + $20 = $74 | $120 + $50 = $170 | $96 |
| 1,500 voice min, 3,000 messages | $135 + $60 = $195 | $300 + $150 = $450 | $255 |
These are usage margins only — add a base retainer on top for the setup work, knowledge-base building and ongoing management, which is where most of an agency’s actual labour goes.
What to bundle into a retainer vs meter separately
- Bundle into the retainer: initial setup, prompt writing and knowledge-base build, monthly reporting, minor script edits.
- Meter separately: voice minutes, chat messages, phone numbers. These scale with the client’s own success, so it’s fair and expected for them to pay more as volume grows.
Framing usage as a scaling line item, not a hidden cost, also makes the pitch easier: “your AI receptionist costs more this month because it booked more appointments” is a good problem for a client to have.
Sample package tiers
| Tier | Setup | Included usage | Overage | Typical monthly price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | One assistant, one channel | 200 voice min or 1,000 messages | Billed at your per-unit rate | $149–$249 |
| Growth | Multiple channels, full booking flow | 500 voice min + 2,000 messages | Billed at your per-unit rate | $299–$499 |
| Full service | Everything above plus outbound campaigns, monthly optimization | 1,000+ voice min + 5,000+ messages | Billed at your per-unit rate | $599+ |
Adjust these to your market — a competitive metro will support different pricing than a small regional market, and vertical (legal, solar, HVAC) affects what clients expect to pay given the value of a single converted lead.
What NOT to do
Don’t price below your platform cost hoping volume will make up for it later — it won’t, since margin per unit stays negative regardless of scale. Don’t quote a flat fee without checking what the client’s likely usage will actually be; a client that goes from 5 minutes a day to 50 will blow past a flat fee built for the smaller number within a month.
Frequently asked
Should I show clients the per-minute rate, or just a flat monthly number? Either works; usage-based line items build trust with analytical clients, while a flat number is simpler to sell to clients who just want a predictable bill.
How do I handle a client who suddenly has a big spike in call volume? If they’re on usage-based billing, the invoice reflects it automatically. If they’re on a flat fee, either build in overage pricing from the start or plan to revisit pricing at renewal.
What margin should I target? Most agencies aim for 50–70% gross margin on usage alone, before accounting for setup and management time in the retainer.
Does rebilling work automatically, or do I have to invoice manually? Rebilling is metered automatically per client and connects to Stripe, so usage is tracked and billed without spreadsheets; see how to rebill AI voice minutes to clients.
See full base rates on the pricing page, model a specific client’s usage with the calculator on the features page, or book a demo call to walk through pricing for your first client.
