Harness Cost Multiplier
The Harness Cost Multiplier framework holds that for agent builders, the orchestration layer, not the underlying model, is the primary driver of unit economics. Agencies evaluating platforms like FormWise, Chipp, or Workflow Builder must assess not just feature fit but the cost profile of the harness itself. A FrontierHarness evaluation of 12 coding harnesses running the same model found pass rates from 50.0% to 66.7% while cost per task ranged from $1.05 to $17.85, a 17x spread. For agencies packaging agent services into retainers, choosing a harness with poor cost efficiency erodes margin before delivery begins. The framework demands that agencies model total cost per completed task, not per API call, and pressure-test harnesses against real client workflows. A harness that costs 7.5x more for equivalent pass rates can turn a profitable retainer into a loss leader.
By InnovaAI ResearchPublished
“Harness choice → cost variance up to 17x”
The Harness Cost Multiplier framework holds that for agent builders, the orchestration layer, not the underlying model, is the primary driver of unit economics. Agencies evaluating platforms like FormWise, Chipp, or Workflow Builder must assess not just feature fit but the cost profile of the harness itself. A FrontierHarness evaluation of 12 coding harnesses running the same model found pass rates from 50.0% to 66.7% while cost per task ranged from $1.05 to $17.85, a 17x spread. For agencies packaging agent services into retainers, choosing a harness with poor cost efficiency erodes margin before delivery begins. The framework demands that agencies model total cost per completed task, not per API call, and pressure-test harnesses against real client workflows. A harness that costs 7.5x more for equivalent pass rates can turn a profitable retainer into a loss leader.