specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: CharlieHR
providerId: charliehr
created: '2026-06-21'
modified: '2026-06-21'
reconciled: false
tags:
- HR
- HRIS
- People
- Leave
- Time Off
- FinOps
- Cost Management
- FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of CharlieHR spend. CharlieHR bills a monthly subscription per
  company, stepped by team-member headcount bracket, plus optional add-ons
  (Charlie Recruit, Charlie Advice). The REST API is included with the platform
  subscription and is not separately metered, so the primary cost driver is
  headcount, not API usage. Prices are in GBP and exclude UK VAT (+20%).
notes: >-
  Pricing brackets and add-on rates change; verify against the CharlieHR pricing
  page during reconciliation. Because billing is headcount-based rather than
  usage-based, cost optimization centers on right-sizing seats and add-ons.
sources:
- https://www.charliehr.com/pricing/
- https://www.charliehr.com/api_docs/
- https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: CharlieHR
serviceCategory: Business Applications
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Subscription
  billingFrequency: Monthly
  billingCurrency: GBP
  chargeCategories:
  - Usage
  - Purchase
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: CharlieHR
  ServiceCategory: Business Applications
  ProviderName: CharlieHR
  PublisherName: CharlieHR
  InvoiceIssuerName: CharlieHR
  BillingCurrency: GBP
  ChargeCategory: Purchase
  PricingCategory: Subscription
meters:
- name: platform_subscription
  description: Monthly Charlie HR platform subscription, priced by headcount bracket.
  unit: subscription
  aggregation: max
  dimensions:
  - company
  - headcount_bracket
- name: team_member_count
  description: Number of team members in the company, which determines the pricing bracket.
  unit: team_members
  aggregation: max
  dimensions:
  - company
- name: recruit_addon
  description: Optional Charlie Recruit add-on subscription.
  unit: subscription
  aggregation: max
  dimensions:
  - company
- name: advice_addon
  description: Optional Charlie Advice add-on subscription.
  unit: subscription
  aggregation: max
  dimensions:
  - company
principles:
- name: Visibility
  description: Track the active headcount bracket and any add-ons against the monthly CharlieHR invoice.
- name: Allocation
  description: Map the company subscription and add-ons to the HR / People cost center.
- name: Optimization
  description: Right-size seats, archive offboarded team members promptly, and review whether Recruit / Advice add-ons are still needed.
- name: Accountability
  description: Assign an owner (typically People / Ops) to review the CharlieHR subscription tier monthly as headcount changes.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com