What would an AI employee really cost?
Put in your own numbers. The math is shown line by line, review time is subtracted, and nothing is assumed for you. If it does not pay back, it says so.
The math, line by line
What this task costs you today
10 h x $30 x 48 wks
$14,400/yr
Handed to the employee
10 h x 50%
5 h/wk
Minus your review time
5 h - 1 h
4 h/wk
Value of the net time
4 h x $30 x 48 wks
$5,760/yr
Running cost (Starter)
($195 + $0) x 12
$2,340/yr
One-time setup
$495
Year 1 net
value - running - setup
$2,925
Every year after
value - running
$3,420
Break-even
2 months
| Share handed off | Net hours/wk | Year 1 net | After year 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% | 1.5 h | -$675 | -$180 |
| 50% | 4 h | $2,925 | $3,420 |
| 75% | 6.5 h | $6,525 | $7,020 |
Assumptions, in plain sight
- Every figure is yours. We add no benchmark and no industry average.
- Plan prices are the current prices on our pricing page (setup plus monthly).
- Net time saved is worth money only if you use it on something else, or avoid a hire. The calculator values it at your hourly cost.
- It does not count quality gains, faster replies or missed work, because those are hard to measure honestly.
How to read your result
Year 1 net is the value of the time saved, minus the running cost for twelve months, minus the one-time setup. Every year after drops the setup. Break-even is how many months of net monthly value it takes to earn back the setup fee.
The share handed off is the number that moves the result most, and the one people overestimate. The table under the result shows 25, 50 and 75 percent so you can see how sensitive the answer is. If the result only works at 75 percent, treat it as a bet, not a plan.
Why review time is subtracted
An AI employee that asks for approval saves you the work, not the glance. Every draft you approve takes some time. We subtract it so the result is not flattered. In the first weeks, review time is usually higher while you correct and teach it, then falls.
What this calculator leaves out
- Quality and speed. A reply sent in minutes instead of hours can matter more than the hours saved. It is real, and we do not put a number on it for you.
- The cost of your own tools. Use the software line for upgrades or usage fees you will pay on top of the plan.
- The cost of doing nothing. Missed follow-ups and slow replies cost money too, but only you know how much.
- Value you cannot redeploy. Saved minutes scattered across a day are hard to turn into money. The result values them at your hourly cost, which is generous if they stay scattered.
When an AI employee is a poor deal
When the task takes only a few hours a month, when most cases are exceptions that need a person, or when a mistake would be costly and every output needs careful review. The calculator will often show this on its own. The AI delegation score helps you judge the task itself, not just the cost.
Where the plan prices come from
Starter and Pro use the current prices on our pricing page, read from the same configuration the checkout uses. Choose “My own numbers” to compare a freelancer, a hire or another tool, and enter its setup and monthly cost.