finops:
  provider: BrightLocal
  description: Financial operations guidance for managing BrightLocal API costs, optimizing usage, and controlling spend across local SEO operations.
  url: https://www.brightlocal.com/pricing/

  costStructure:
    - type: subscription
      description: Base platform subscription (Track, Manage, or Grow plan) required for API access. Billed monthly or annually. Annual plans save 25%.
      billingCycle:
        - monthly
        - annual
      annualDiscount: 25%
      pricingPage: https://www.brightlocal.com/pricing/

    - type: api-usage
      description: API usage fees are charged in addition to the base subscription. Charged on a per-request basis. Custom agreement required after 250 free trial requests.
      pricingModel: per-request
      trialCredits: 250
      pricingPage: https://www.brightlocal.com/platform/api-solutions/
      note: Pricing varies based on data type requested; contact sales for custom agreement

    - type: citation-building
      description: Pay-as-you-go citation submissions charged per citation. No recurring fee.
      pricePerUnit: 2
      priceUnit: USD per citation

    - type: managed-services
      description: Optional full-service local SEO management at a flat monthly rate.
      price: 1299
      currency: USD
      billingCycle: monthly

  costOptimization:
    - strategy: Use GET caching
      description: Cache GET responses locally where possible since GET requests have a higher rate limit (300/min). Avoid redundant reads against the API.

    - strategy: Batch operations
      description: Use batch API endpoints (POST /v4/batch, PUT /v4/batch) to group multiple operations into single requests, reducing total request count and associated costs.

    - strategy: Annual billing
      description: Switch to annual billing on base platform plans to receive a 25% discount over monthly billing.

    - strategy: Plan alignment
      description: Choose the minimum plan tier that provides required API access. Track plan is the entry point for API access at the lowest cost.

    - strategy: Monitor trial usage
      description: Track consumption of 250 free trial Data API requests carefully before committing to a custom agreement. Use trial period to validate integration value.

    - strategy: Request profiling
      description: Profile which API methods your integration uses most. Optimize high-frequency write operations (limited to 100/min) to avoid throttling and potential retry costs.

    - strategy: Review API scope
      description: Only enable API methods and endpoints required for your use case. Unnecessary broad access may lead to higher per-request costs under custom agreements.

  billing:
    contact: https://www.brightlocal.com/platform/api-solutions/
    helpCenter: https://help.brightlocal.com/
    notes:
      - API fees are in addition to monthly platform subscription costs
      - Custom pricing agreements required for Data API after trial credits
      - Pricing increased July 1, 2026 (5% Track; 10% Manage and Grow)
      - MCP server access is included with Grow plan and BrightLocal Labs access at no additional cost