Last verified: September 28, 2026.
The short answer
$2 per million input tokens. That is the pricing for Claude Sonnet 5.5. Anthropic replaced Sonnet 5 from June with Sonnet 5.5 as its best medium-sized model, bringing output speeds more than 30 percent faster while adding cybersecurity safeguards comparable to their Opus models, as 9to5Mac reported.
What this means for your software business valuation
$87,000 is what I paid for my first business, owner financed. $40,000 of it went to a broker who barely knew the business. That day I decided the industry was done wrong, and it is why BusinessOwner.com exists. Half the reason I bought it was out of spite. People said I would only ever ride their coattails. When you look at your software company valuation, you have to follow the math, not your passion. My read is that transferability matters more than which model you use today. Claude Sonnet 5.5 retains pricing of $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens. If your recurring revenue is tied to a third party provider that can change pricing or features overnight, you are putting yourself in a bad situation. You know what fixes that? Systems. Get the business running without you in it every day. Own your software instead of renting it.
How this impacts your software architecture
Let us talk about the tech stack. The company reports that Sonnet 5.5 generates output more than 30 percent faster than Sonnet 5. I promise you, speed and cost stability only help your valuation if you own the integration layer. You need to be proactive with what you are doing. You need to have software that you own ready to go for the next ownership group so you can actually sell your business when it comes time.
Frequently asked questions
Does Claude Sonnet 5.5 replace Sonnet 5?
Yes, Anthropic replaced Sonnet 5 from June with Sonnet 5.5 as its best medium-sized model. The new version generates output more than 30 percent faster while keeping the same pricing of $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens.
How does this affect your business transferability?
Transferability matters more than which model you use today. If your value is tied to a specific provider, the deal gets complicated. You need to have software that you own ready to go for the next ownership group so you can actually sell your business when it comes time.
Should I switch AI models to increase valuation?
Ownership beats renting. You should focus on owning your software and IP so buyers can swap providers easily. Transferability matters more than which model you use today. If the deal is not transferable, the price does not matter.
Sources
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