specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Layercode
providerId: layercode
created: '2026-06-21'
modified: '2026-06-21'
reconciled: false
tags:
- AI
- Voice
- Voice Agents
- Realtime
- Low Latency
- FinOps
- Cost Management
- FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of Layercode spend. Layercode bills usage-based per-minute rates
  for voice agent conversations. When using Layercode-managed STT (Deepgram)
  and TTS (ElevenLabs, Cartesia, Rime) keys, those costs are folded into the
  per-minute rate; with bring-your-own-keys (BYOK), STT/TTS and telephony are
  billed directly through your own provider accounts. Exact per-minute rates
  are not reconciled here.
notes: >-
  Per-minute rates and free allowances are subject to change and differ by
  managed vs BYOK configuration; verify against the Layercode pricing page
  during reconciliation.
sources:
- https://layercode.com/pricing
- https://docs.layercode.com
- 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: Layercode
serviceCategory: AI and Machine Learning
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Usage-Based
  billingFrequency: Monthly
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
  - Usage
  - Purchase
  - Adjustment
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Layercode
  ServiceCategory: AI and Machine Learning
  ProviderName: Layercode
  PublisherName: Layercode
  InvoiceIssuerName: Layercode
  BillingCurrency: USD
  ChargeCategory: Usage
  PricingCategory: Usage-Based
meters:
- name: conversation_minutes
  description: Minutes of voice agent conversation, billed per minute.
  unit: minutes
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - agent
- name: managed_stt_minutes
  description: Speech-to-text minutes on Layercode-managed keys, folded into the per-minute rate.
  unit: minutes
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - agent
- name: managed_tts_minutes
  description: Text-to-speech minutes on Layercode-managed keys, folded into the per-minute rate.
  unit: minutes
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - agent
- name: telephony_minutes
  description: Phone (Twilio) minutes for inbound/outbound calls; billed via provider account under BYOK.
  unit: minutes
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - agent
principles:
- name: Visibility
  description: Pull Layercode usage exports and per-session duration; inspect per-agent minute burn.
- name: Allocation
  description: Tag agents per workload/team; map session minutes to internal cost centers.
- name: Optimization
  description: Tune turn-taking and latency settings to shorten calls; choose BYOK vs managed STT/TTS for best effective per-minute cost.
- name: Accountability
  description: Assign owners per agent; review monthly minute spend against budget.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com