Does automating your workflows
actually pay off?
See your monthly savings, how fast the setup pays for itself, and what you're left with after three years — before you spend a dollar.
Use our manual task cost calculator to find this number, or estimate it
How we calculate this
Annual savings are estimated at 70% of your current manual task cost — a conservative figure based on typical SME automation projects where 60–80% of repetitive workflows can be fully automated.
Setup cost is the midpoint of the selected tier range. Your actual quote may differ based on the complexity of your specific workflows, integrations required, and your existing tech stack.
Maintenance covers hosting, monitoring, updates, and minor adjustments as your processes evolve. This is factored into the 3-year net calculation.
Note: Setup costs and savings vary significantly by project. A scoping call will give you a specific fixed-price quote and a more accurate ROI projection.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the ROI of business automation?+
Calculate three numbers: (1) annual savings — 70% of your current annual task cost; (2) setup cost — the one-time investment to build the automation; (3) payback period — setup cost divided by monthly savings. If payback is under 12 months, the ROI is typically clear-cut.
What is a good payback period for a business automation project?+
Under 6 months is excellent and common for simple automations replacing high-volume manual work. 6–12 months is solid for most SME projects. 12–24 months is acceptable for complex automation with compounding benefits. Beyond 24 months, consider starting with a simpler automation to build the business case first.
How much does it cost to automate business processes in 2026?+
Automation costs depend on complexity. Simple automations (email sequences, form handling, notifications) cost $3,000–$8,000 to build. Process automations (CRM sync, automated reporting, multi-step workflows) cost $8,000–$20,000. AI integrations (chatbots, intelligent routing, data processing) cost $20,000–$50,000. Ongoing maintenance runs $100–$800/month.
Does automation require ongoing maintenance?+
Yes. Automations need maintenance as your tools, processes, and business change. Simple automations typically require $100–$200/month in upkeep. More complex automations need $200–$500/month. AI integrations typically require $400–$800/month. These costs are factored into the 3-year ROI calculation in this tool.
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