AI API Gateway: Resell GPT-4o and Claude Access With 50% Markup

#ai #api #saas #tutorial

The $0 Infrastructure AI API Business

Here's a business model almost nobody is talking about: white-label AI API reselling.

You buy AI API credits at wholesale (OpenRouter, OpenAI), wrap them in your own API gateway, and sell access at retail prices with 30-50% markup.

How It Works

Your Customers → Your API Gateway → OpenRouter/OpenAI
                      ↓
                Usage tracking + Rate limiting
                      ↓
                PayPal billing ($9-29/mo)

The Numbers

Tier	Tokens	Your Cost	Sell At	Profit
Starter	100K	$0.15	Free (lead magnet)	-$0.15
Pro	1M	$1.50	$9/mo	$7.50
Business	10M	$15	$29/mo	$14

10 Pro customers = $75/month profit. 100 = $750/month.

Why This Works

OpenAI-compatible API — Drop-in replacement, zero migration
200+ models — GPT-4o, Claude, Gemini, Llama, DeepSeek
Growing market — AI API usage up 200% YoY
Recurring revenue — Monthly subscriptions, not one-time sales
$0 infrastructure — Runs on a Raspberry Pi

The Tech Stack

import http.server  # Python stdlib — no dependencies
# → Proxy requests to OpenRouter
# → Track per-key token usage  
# → Enforce rate limits
# → Bill via PayPal