Is this just hours × rate with a coat of paint?

No. We factor in error-and-rework cost, your stated automation coverage percentage, monthly tooling cost, and one-off implementation. The output is a net-savings and a payback figure — not a vanity number designed to push you toward a sale.

What is a realistic automation coverage percentage?

On well-defined tasks with n8n, Zapier, or Make, 60–80% in the first pass is realistic. Above 85% usually requires custom code or a tighter input schema. If you have no idea, start at 70%.

Where does the rework adjustment come from?

Repetitive manual work has a known error rate; the rework factor inflates the hour count to capture cleanup time. If you don't know your real rework rate, 10% is the safe default for most SME teams.

Why not just trust a vendor's ROI calculator?

Vendors model the case where you buy them. We model the case where you implement, including the real implementation hours and the ongoing tooling bill. You should run their version too — the gap between the two numbers is the conversation.

Free tool · 2 min

Workflow Automation ROI Calculator

Cost out your repetitive work, model automation coverage, see payback in months — not a generic spreadsheet.

How this differs from a typical ROI calculator

Most online ROI calculators multiply hours × rate and call it done. That makes automation look free. In reality you pay for tooling (n8n cloud, Zapier, your AI provider) every month, and you pay an upfront implementation cost — whether that's your time or a contractor's. We model both, so the payback figure is honest.

How to read the result

Payback under 6 months is a no-brainer — start with the top task and let it self-fund the rest. 6–12 months is still attractive but warrants stakeholder buy-in; use the per-task table to make the case. Above 12 months, scope smaller — pick the one task with the highest waste figure and ship that alone.

Looking for stack-consolidation savings instead?

This tool quantifies per-task automation savings. If your problem is more "our software stack is fragmented and the bill keeps growing," the Stealth CTO systems audit covers that shape of question instead.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is this just hours × rate with a coat of paint?
No. We factor in error-and-rework cost, your stated automation coverage percentage, monthly tooling cost, and one-off implementation. The output is a net-savings and a payback figure — not a vanity number designed to push you toward a sale.
What is a realistic automation coverage percentage?
On well-defined tasks with n8n, Zapier, or Make, 60–80% in the first pass is realistic. Above 85% usually requires custom code or a tighter input schema. If you have no idea, start at 70%.
Where does the rework adjustment come from?
Repetitive manual work has a known error rate; the rework factor inflates the hour count to capture cleanup time. If you don't know your real rework rate, 10% is the safe default for most SME teams.
Why not just trust a vendor's ROI calculator?
Vendors model the case where you buy them. We model the case where you implement, including the real implementation hours and the ongoing tooling bill. You should run their version too — the gap between the two numbers is the conversation.

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