"What's the ROI?" is the question every AI initiative gets stopped by. This calculator gives you four defensible answers — pick the one(s) that fit your situation and walk into your CFO meeting with numbers, not promises.
The four ROI methods
- Time Savings — hours saved × loaded labor cost, adjusted by a realistic value-capture rate. Best for general productivity tools (writing assistants, summarization).
- Capacity — additional output without adding headcount. Best for content, sales outreach, support response.
- Avoided Cost — hiring or outsourcing you didn't have to do. CFOs love this one because it's a real budget line.
- Quality Improvement — error reduction, rework eliminated, compliance penalties avoided. Often overlooked, often the largest impact.
Each method is on its own tab. Enter values in the blue cells; everything else calculates automatically. The Summary Dashboard rolls them up for a side-by-side comparison.
How to use it
- Don't pick one number — pick a range. Run conservative, base, and optimistic scenarios. That's the spread you can defend.
- Pressure-test the value-capture rate. If your tool "saves 5 hours a week," only 25–50% of that time typically converts to real output. Be honest, or your CFO will be honest for you.
- Use the right method for the right tool. A coding copilot is Method 1. A sales-content generator is Method 2. A compliance reviewer is Method 4. Mixing them up makes the case look weaker than it is.