{
  "schema_version": "1.0",
  "surface_type": "guide_answer",
  "guide_id": "ai-cost-estimation",
  "question": "How do I estimate AI software, agent, or workflow cost before production usage is fully known?",
  "canonical_url": "https://www.unitcostai.com/guides/ai-cost-estimation",
  "related_tool_url": "https://www.unitcostai.com/tools/ai-workflow-cost",
  "formula": "monthly_ai_cost = active_units * requests_per_unit_month * cost_per_request + fixed_monthly_ai_costs; cost_per_request = generation + retrieval + reranking + vector_db + cache + infra; required_price = cost_per_unit_month / (1 - target_margin_pct / 100)",
  "assumptions": [
    "Choose one unit before estimating: request, workflow, active user, ticket, developer, or account",
    "Cost per request includes generation, retrieval, reranking, vector, cache, and infra terms where they exist",
    "Fixed monthly costs such as embedding refresh or hosting are amortized across active units",
    "Use p50 and p90 usage ranges before trusting a flat price"
  ],
  "example": "If 500 active users make 80 requests/month at 0.028 per request, variable cost is 1120. Add 180 fixed monthly overhead and total monthly AI cost is 1300, or 2.60 per active user. At 80% target margin, required price is 13.00."
}