# The cost gate that runs before any API call

Status: DRAFT, nothing posted. Single-image infographic, 2 slide(s), no cover.

## What it shows

How every script that calls a paid AI API is forced through a cost preflight: estimate, cap, run, log. Slide 2 contrasts working with and without it.

No numbers appear on the slides.

## Sources

| Claim | Source file (agency-operator) | Read-date |
|---|---|---|
| estimate_and_confirm before the first API call; exit if not ok | `.claude/rules/15-anthropic-api-cost.md` | 2026-10-11 |
| --hard-cap-usd flag with a conservative default | `.claude/rules/15-anthropic-api-cost.md` | 2026-10-11 |
| record_actual after the run; variance over 20 percent means fix the estimator | `.claude/rules/15-anthropic-api-cost.md` | 2026-10-11 |
| A pre-tool hook blocks ungated consumers | `.claude/rules/15-anthropic-api-cost.md` | 2026-10-11 |
| End-of-run summary for any skip logic | `.claude/rules/15-anthropic-api-cost.md` | 2026-10-11 |