Developed and maintained by ProWorkstack · Development and review process
Compare ongoing procedure-related support time with documentation upkeep and a one-time writing budget.
Your results
Enter your inputs and select Calculate.
How this calculator works
Freed up hours = events × (current minutes − proposed minutes) ÷ 60. Net monthly value = freed up hours × hourly cost × capture fraction − upkeep hours × hourly cost. One-time investment = writing/checking hours × hourly cost. First-year value = 12 × monthly net value − investment.Worked example
Twenty events saving 15 minutes release five hours monthly. At 50 per hour and 60% capture, value is 150. Two upkeep hours cost 100, leaving 50 monthly net value. Twelve writing hours cost 600; first-year net value is zero and simple payback is 12 months.Assumptions
Defaults are illustrative. Replace them with your own measured quantities and documented assumptions. Use matching periods and a consistent currency wherever monetary amounts are entered.Interpreting your results
This does not generate SOPs or predict downtime. It values entered support time and excludes revenue losses, safety outcomes and ramp-up. Documentation must be accurate, accessible and tested in the actual process; time freed up is not automatically cash saved.Calculation formulas
- released
events*(now-after)/60- net
released*rate*capture/100-upkeep*rate- investment
writing*rate- First-year value after writing and upkeep
net*12-investment- Monthly value after upkeep
net- One-time writing and checking cost
investment- Time to recover the writing cost
SAFE_DIV(investment,net,0)
Frequently asked questions
What should I check before using the result?
Use a specific support or recovery task with a measurable start and finish. Avoid counting the same event under both downtime and support hours. Measure what people actually need help with before writing a broad manual.
Does this tool connect to my records?
No. This is a local calculation from the figures you enter. It does not scan accounts, import private records or verify legal, regulatory or exam requirements.
Maintained by ProWorkstack · Last reviewed: 2026-10-04 · Development and review process