# How to calculate the ROI of an AI project before you start

URL: https://businessleaders.ai/ai-roi/
Updated: 2026-08-29

A one-page method using hours, hourly cost and error rates, with a worked example.

## Count the hours

List the task, the people who do it and the hours each spends per week. Be conservative.

## Price the hours

Multiply by the loaded hourly cost, including benefits and overhead, not just salary. 25 people spending 6 hours a week at $45 an hour is $324,000 a year of time.

## Compare with the full cost

If 40% of that time is automated, the saving is about $129,600 a year. Set it against the build fee plus running costs. If payback is over 12 months, pick a different task.