How Do You Price AI Agent Services Based on Requirements & Tools Used?

Hi everyone,

I’d love to hear how experienced builders and agency owners approach pricing AI agent services when each project has different requirements.

Specifically:

How do you factor in complexity (simple task agents vs multi-step workflows)?
Do you price differently based on the tools involved (LLMs, APIs, CRMs, automation platforms, vector DBs, voice, etc.)?
How do you separate setup/build cost from ongoing management, hosting, and maintenance?
Do you prefer one-time fees, monthly retainers, or hybrid models for managed agents?

I’m trying to build a pricing structure that’s fair, scalable, and easy for clients to understand—without underpricing advanced automation work.

Would really appreciate insights, frameworks, or examples that have worked well for you. Thanks in advance.

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