Calculator Inputs
The page is stacked in a single vertical flow, while the calculator fields use three columns on large screens, two on tablets, and one on mobile.
Example Data Table
| Task | Expected Gain | Total Cost | Person Hours | Adjusted Benefit | ROI Per Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Work Sprint | $250.00 | $161.25 | 2.75 | $264.00 | $37.36 |
| Client Proposal Review | $600.00 | $245.00 | 3.50 | $540.00 | $84.29 |
| Automation Cleanup | $180.00 | $118.00 | 2.00 | $170.10 | $26.05 |
Formula Used
1. Total Person Hours = ((Setup Minutes + Execution Minutes + Follow-Up Minutes) ÷ 60) × People Assigned
2. Labor Cost = Hourly Labor Cost × Total Person Hours
3. Base Expected Value = Expected Gross Gain × (Success Probability ÷ 100)
4. Adjusted Benefit = Base Expected Value × (Quality Multiplier ÷ 100) × (Strategic Weight ÷ 100)
5. Total Cost = Direct Cost + Overhead Cost + Opportunity Cost + Labor Cost
6. Net Benefit = Adjusted Benefit − Total Cost
7. ROI (%) = (Net Benefit ÷ Total Cost) × 100
8. ROI Per Hour = Net Benefit ÷ Total Person Hours
This method helps compare tasks with different benefits, uncertainty levels, staffing, and time demand using one normalized hourly return figure.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter a task name so exported reports stay easy to identify.
- Select the currency symbol that matches your financial estimates.
- Add the expected gain produced if the task succeeds.
- Enter direct, overhead, opportunity, and labor costs carefully.
- Provide setup, execution, and follow-up time in minutes.
- Adjust probability, quality multiplier, and strategic weight to reflect reality.
- Submit the form to display the result directly below the header.
- Use CSV or PDF export buttons to keep the summary.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does ROI per hour show?
ROI per hour shows the net benefit created for every person-hour invested in a task. It helps compare short, profitable tasks against longer but less efficient work.
2. Why include opportunity cost?
Opportunity cost represents the value you give up by choosing one task over another. Including it prevents inflated ROI estimates and improves prioritization decisions.
3. What is the quality multiplier used for?
The quality multiplier adjusts expected value up or down based on delivery standard. Use higher values for premium, polished outcomes and lower values for rushed work.
4. What does strategic weight mean?
Strategic weight reflects non-cash importance, such as learning, retention, branding, or long-term leverage. It helps prioritize tasks that create future value beyond immediate revenue.
5. Should I use person-hours or elapsed hours?
This calculator uses person-hours because staffing intensity affects cost and productivity. A two-hour task handled by three people consumes six person-hours, not two.
6. Can this calculator handle team tasks?
Yes. Enter the number of people assigned and each person’s hourly labor cost. The calculator multiplies time by staffing level to estimate total person-hours and labor expense.
7. When is a negative ROI per hour useful?
A negative result is still useful because it flags waste, underpriced work, poor assumptions, or excessive staffing. It tells you the task currently destroys value.
8. How accurate are the results?
The results are only as accurate as your inputs. Update assumptions regularly, especially gain estimates, success probability, and opportunity cost, to maintain reliable comparisons.