Tool
Automation return calculator
Estimate whether automating follow-ups, reminders and admin will pay for itself: time saved, extra clients won, payback period and first-year return.
VAULT 33|27 · Updated 12 November 2026 · 1 min read
How it works
Automation pays back in two ways: hours your team no longer spends on repetitive work, and clients you win because follow-ups and replies now happen on time. Set those against what the automation costs to build and run.
Monthly gain = (hours saved per week × 4.33 × hourly cost) + (extra clients × client value) − monthly running cost
Payback = setup cost ÷ monthly gain
Calculator
Will automation pay for itself?
Use cautious numbers. Nothing is stored.
Net gain a month
£1,516
Pays back in
2.0 mo
First year, after setup
£15,192
An estimate from your own inputs, not a promise. Time saved is only worth money if it is used for paid work or replaces cost. Months are counted as 4.33 weeks.
Use cautious numbers
Start with the hours you can genuinely measure, and assume few extra clients. If automation still pays back at cautious numbers, it is a strong case. If it only pays back at optimistic ones, start smaller.
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