Mostly it tracks the work, not the clock. A task draws from your Company Wallet for the thinking and writing the team does, the machine time it occupies while running, the files and context it stores along the way, and any paid tool, service, or connector the work calls out to. A long task usually costs more because it does more of all of these — not because the clock advanced.
Is waiting billed?
Waiting is not working. A task parked on a decision from you, held for a scheduled check, or sitting in the queue before it starts is not holding a machine, so a task that waits overnight for your answer does not build up charges while it waits. Work is done in short stretches, and the machine is released at the end of each one.
What if the wallet empties while a long task is running?
The task pauses rather than continuing unpaid. Work in progress is stopped, a request appears on the task asking you to add credits, and the task resumes on its own once the top-up lands. Nothing already produced is deleted. See What happens when the wallet runs out.
What if I set a monthly spend cap?
Reaching the cap holds new work rather than cutting off what is already running: the stretch in flight finishes, and a longer task then waits for the start of next month — or resumes sooner if you raise the cap.
Where do I see what it cost?
Usage & billing shows your balance and where credit went. For a single task, ask Tycoon Agent with the task number; run and spend detail stays attached to that task.
For how long a task can run in the first place, see How long can a task run?. For everything that draws from the wallet, see What Tycoon charges for.