Credits Top-ups

On-demand MLC credit purchasing system enabling organizations to expand AI capacity beyond subscription limits through flexible pay-as-you-go transactions at $0.0135 per credit with automated Stripe billing and instant allocation.

Overview

The credits top-up system provides immediate access to additional MLC credits when organizations exhaust their pooled subscription credits or require surge capacity. All top-ups follow the standard 90-day expiration policy and integrate seamlessly with existing credit pools through FIFO consumption.

Pricing Structure

Top-up Rate

• Price: $0.0135 per MLC (35% markup over $0.01 raw compute)
• Minimum Purchase: 1,000 MLC ($13.50)
• Maximum Purchase: No limit (subject to payment method verification)
• Billing: Immediate charge to default payment method
• Expiration: 90 days from purchase date

Cost Economics

Purchase Amount	MLC Credits	Total Cost	Raw Compute Value	Platform Margin
Minimum	1,000	$13.50	$10.00	$3.50 (35%)
Standard	10,000	$135.00	$100.00	$35.00 (35%)
Enterprise	100,000	$1,350.00	$1,000.00	$350.00 (35%)

Purchase Workflow

Automatic Triggering

Top-up purchases can be initiated through multiple touchpoints:

1. Low Balance Alert: Dashboard prompt when credits drop below 10% of monthly allocation
2. Overage Prevention: Pre-purchase option before hitting zero balance
3. Manual Purchase: Direct buy button in billing settings
4. API Integration: Programmatic purchases via platform API
5. Workflow Requirement: Auto-purchase when workflow demands exceed available credits

Transaction Flow

1. Initiation: User selects top-up amount or system recommends based on usage patterns
2. Payment Authorization: Stripe processes payment using default method
3. Instant Allocation: Credits immediately added to organization pool
4. Notification: Email confirmation with transaction details
5. Dashboard Update: Real-time balance refresh showing new credits

Payment Methods

Accepted payment types through Stripe:

• Credit/Debit Cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
• ACH Bank Transfer: For purchases over $500 (US only)
• Wire Transfer: For purchases over $5,000 (Net-30 terms available)
• Invoice Billing: Pre-approved accounts only (minimum $10,000/month)

Credit Pool Integration

Consumption Priority

Top-up credits integrate with existing pools using FIFO logic:

1. Subscription Credits: Monthly allocation consumed first
2. Expiring Credits: Prioritizes credits nearing 90-day expiration
3. Top-up Credits: Consumed after subscription credits
4. Customer Kit Credits: Isolated pools, not affected by top-ups

Balance Tracking

Real-time credit ledger maintains:

interface TopupTransaction {
  transactionId: string;
  organizationId: string;
  purchaseDate: Timestamp;
  expirationDate: Timestamp; // purchaseDate + 90 days

  // Purchase details
  mlcPurchased: number;
  amountPaid: number; // mlcPurchased * 0.0135
  paymentMethod: string;
  stripeChargeId: string;

  // Consumption tracking
  mlcRemaining: number;
  mlcConsumed: number;
  lastUsedAt?: Timestamp;
}

Usage Scenarios

Overage Protection

Organizations approaching credit limits receive graduated alerts:

• 75% Consumed: Informational notice with top-up suggestion
• 90% Consumed: Warning with one-click purchase option
• 95% Consumed: Critical alert with auto-purchase recommendation
• 100% Consumed: Service interruption with immediate top-up requirement

Surge Capacity

Common high-demand scenarios requiring top-ups:

1. Campaign Launch: Marketing automation consuming 10x normal volume
2. Data Migration: Bulk library processing exceeding monthly allocation
3. Customer Onboarding: Mass deployment of Customer Kits
4. Testing Cycles: Intensive A/B testing burning through credits
5. Model Upgrades: Switching to premium models (GPT-4o, Claude Opus)

Budget Management

Strategic purchasing patterns:

• Monthly Buffer: Purchase 20% extra credits at month start
• Quarterly Bulk: Volume purchases aligned with fiscal quarters
• Project-Based: Dedicated top-ups for specific initiatives
• Emergency Reserve: Standing credit balance for unexpected needs

Billing Integration

Stripe Processing

All top-up transactions process through Stripe Billing API:

1. Charge Creation: Immediate payment capture (no authorization holds)
2. Invoice Generation: Detailed receipt with credit allocation
3. Tax Calculation: Automatic sales tax based on billing address
4. Refund Policy: No refunds on purchased credits (use-it-or-lose-it)

Accounting Records

Transaction data flows to financial systems:

• Revenue Recognition: Deferred over 90-day expiration period
• Breakage Accounting: Expired credits recognized as revenue
• Usage Attribution: Credits tagged to cost centers if configured
• Audit Trail: Complete transaction history with Stripe references

Analytics and Reporting

Purchase Analytics

Dashboard metrics for top-up behavior:

• Purchase Frequency: Average days between top-ups
• Purchase Volume: Typical MLC per transaction
• Trigger Analysis: What prompts purchases (overage vs planned)
• Expiration Rate: Percentage of top-up credits expiring unused

Consumption Patterns

Usage insights from top-up credits:

• Burn Rate: MLC consumed per day from top-ups
• Model Mix: Which AI models consume most top-up credits
• Feature Correlation: Platform features driving top-up needs
• Team Attribution: Which teams/projects require most top-ups

API Access

Purchase Endpoint

POST /api/credits/topup
Authorization: Bearer {token}

{
  "mlcAmount": 10000,
  "paymentMethodId": "pm_1234567890",
  "metadata": {
    "projectId": "proj-abc",
    "costCenter": "marketing"
  }
}

Balance Query

GET /api/credits/balance
Authorization: Bearer {token}

Response:
{
  "subscriptionCredits": 12500,
  "topupCredits": 5000,
  "totalAvailable": 17500,
  "expiringNext7Days": 2000,
  "currentBurnRate": 850  // MLC per day
}

Best Practices

Optimization Strategies

1. Monitor Burn Rate: Track daily consumption to predict top-up needs
2. Set Alerts: Configure notifications at 50%, 75%, 90% thresholds
3. Bulk Purchase: Larger top-ups reduce transaction overhead
4. Expiration Awareness: Purchase amounts aligned with 90-day usage
5. Model Selection: Balance quality vs cost when credits run low

Cost Management

• Budget Caps: Set monthly top-up limits in organization settings
• Approval Workflows: Require authorization for purchases over threshold
• Usage Policies: Define which features can trigger auto-top-ups
• Reporting Cadence: Weekly credit consumption reports to stakeholders

Future Enhancements

Planned improvements to top-up system:

1. Volume Discounts: Tiered pricing for purchases over $1,000
2. Auto-Replenishment: Scheduled monthly top-ups at discount
3. Credit Packages: Pre-defined bundles (Starter, Professional, Enterprise)
4. Rollover Options: Extend expiration for premium accounts
5. Partner Programs: Special top-up rates for certified partners