Use normal conditions
Enter the task volume and timing you expect on a typical month, not the best-case week right after launch.
Use this page for early-stage screening. It will not tell you the future, but it will make weak economics harder to hide. If the math only looks good before you include review burden or setup drag, that is the point.
Inputs
Monthly estimate
What the calculator is doing
The model is intentionally plain:
Gross time saved = manual minutes minus AI-assisted minutes, multiplied by monthly task volume.
Retained time saved = gross time saved minus review time and monthly maintenance time.
Monthly setup burden = one-time setup hours spread across the number of months you choose.
Confidence-adjusted value = retained monthly value multiplied by your confidence score, then reduced by setup and tool cost.
This last step matters because many AI workflows work well enough in demos but not consistently enough in production. The confidence slider is a way to price that uncertainty instead of ignoring it.
How to use it well
Be honest about review
If the output needs careful human checking, count that time. Review is one of the biggest sources of false-positive ROI.
Discount shaky workflows
If the process is new, messy, or hard to trust, lower the confidence score. That is often more realistic than pretending every run will go smoothly.
Three scenarios to compare
1. Strong candidate
High-volume draft work, cheap review, stable inputs, and a clear owner. This is where AI ROI tends to survive contact with reality.
2. Borderline candidate
Moderate task volume, noticeable tool cost, and some review drag. The result may still be positive, but only if the saved time becomes real output elsewhere.
3. Weak candidate
Low-volume, messy, high-risk work with heavy checking requirements. Even if the draft appears fast, the economics usually collapse once you include the full workflow.
What this calculator still cannot see
- cost of subtle mistakes that slip through review
- adoption problems when the workflow depends on one enthusiast
- downstream rework caused by low-trust output
- vendor lock-in, security constraints, or compliance overhead
- quality gains that matter, but are hard to express in hourly-value math
That is why the calculator works best when paired with the deeper guides on this site, especially how to estimate AI ROI and when AI automation is worth it.
FAQ
What hourly value should I use?
Use a realistic loaded value for the person doing the work, not a vanity number. For a founder, it may be tied to sales capacity or strategic time. For a staff role, use a rough fully loaded hourly cost.
Why include a confidence adjustment?
Because early AI estimates are uncertain. A workflow that only works under ideal conditions should not receive full credit for theoretical savings.
Should setup be treated as monthly cost?
Usually no. But spreading setup across a few months is a practical way to compare opportunities and understand likely payback speed.
What is a good rule of thumb?
If the confidence-adjusted gain is thin, treat the workflow as a pilot, not a strategic bet. Strong opportunities usually remain attractive even after conservative assumptions.