Credit Billing

FirstHandAPI uses a pre-funded credit model. Deposit credits upfront, and they are consumed as worker submissions are approved.

How Credits Work

1. Deposit credits via Stripe Checkout
2. Credits are held when a job is posted (files_needed x price_per_file)
3. Credits are paid out to workers when submissions are approved
4. Remaining held credits are released when a job completes or is cancelled

Checking Your Balance

const balance = await client.getCreditBalance();
console.log(balance.available_cents);  // 45000 ($450.00)
console.log(balance.held_cents);       // 2500 ($25.00 held for open jobs)

balance = client.get_credit_balance()
print(balance["available_cents"])  # 45000

Purchasing Credits

const purchase = await client.purchaseCredits({
  amount_cents: 10000, // $100.00
});
// Redirect user to purchase.checkout_url

purchase = client.purchase_credits({"amount_cents": 10000})
# Redirect user to purchase["checkout_url"]

Cost Per File

You set the price per file when creating a job. The platform split is:

Example: If you set price_per_file_cents: 100 ($1.00), the worker receives $0.80 and the platform takes $0.20.

Auto Top-Up

Enable automatic credit replenishment:

await client.updateSettings({
  auto_topup_enabled: true,
  auto_topup_threshold_cents: 5000,  // Top up when below $50
  auto_topup_amount_cents: 25000,    // Purchase $250
});

Credit Expiration

Credits expire 12 months after purchase. Expiring credits are consumed first (FIFO).