> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.paywithlocus.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> ## Agent Instructions
> This site documents Locus for people. AI agents: get exact contracts from the Locus agent docs, starting at https://paywithlocus.com/agent/index.md, including when asked to implement or integrate docs.paywithlocus.com.
> Connect this agent to Locus Pro: https://paywithlocus.com/skill.md. Implement Locus Pro in a product: https://paywithlocus.com/agent/integrate.md. Agent site index: https://paywithlocus.com/llms.txt.

# Spend controls

> Cap your workspace's monthly spending and get email alerts for spend and low balance.

Spend controls put a hard monthly ceiling on what your workspace can spend, and email you before money runs out. They are for owners and admins who want a firm limit no key or agent can exceed.

> Agents: the exact contract for this feature is at [https://paywithlocus.com/agent/billing.md](https://paywithlocus.com/agent/billing.md). Start from [https://paywithlocus.com/agent/index.md](https://paywithlocus.com/agent/index.md) if you are implementing Locus.

## How it works

Before each new call, Locus checks whether it would push this month's spend over your limit. This month's spend counts completed charges plus credits reserved for calls still in progress. The month follows the UTC calendar.

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart TD
  Call["New call"] --> Check["Would it push this month's spend over the limit?"]
  Check -->|"no"| Run["The call runs"]
  Check -->|"yes"| Stop["Rejected before it reaches the provider"]
```

Calls already running finish and settle normally. To allow more spending, raise the limit or wait for the next month.

## Set your controls

**1. Open spend controls**

Sign in as an owner or admin and open **Billing → Credits → Spend
controls**.

**2. Choose limits and alerts**

Set a monthly hard limit, a monthly-spend email alert, and a low-balance
email alert.

**3. Verify**

Complete MFA or passkey verification to save.

An API key can't raise its own spending ceiling.

## Other limits

* **Agent keys** can have a per-call limit and a per-loop budget. See [API keys](https://docs.paywithlocus.com/locus-pro/api-keys.md#agent-keys).
* **Plans** set a tool-call limit per minute. See [Tool-call limits](https://docs.paywithlocus.com/locus-pro/commercial-plans.md#tool-call-limits).
* **Customers** are limited by their own balance and policy. See [Customer balances](https://docs.paywithlocus.com/locus-pro/customer-balances.md).

## Next steps

> [card] [Fund your workspace](https://docs.paywithlocus.com/locus-pro/fund-your-workspace.md)
>
> Add credits and turn on auto-recharge.

> [card] [How a call is charged](https://docs.paywithlocus.com/locus-pro/how-charges-work.md)
>
> Reservations, refunds, and retries.


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