Most AI vendors promise vague "efficiency gains" and "productivity improvements." We're going to do something radical: show you the actual math.
The Formula
AI agent ROI is straightforward:
ROI = (Hours Saved × Hourly Value) − (Setup Cost + Ongoing Cost)
Starter Package: The Two-Week Payback
Let's calculate for our most common deployment — the $2,000 Starter package (Email Triage + Calendar Briefing):
Time Savings Breakdown
| Task | Before → After |
|---|---|
| Email triage & sorting | 1.5 hrs/day → 15 min |
| Response drafting | 45 min/day → 10 min |
| Calendar review & prep | 30 min/day → 5 min |
| Total daily savings | ~2.5 hours/day |
| Weekly savings | ~12.5 hours/week |
ROI Calculation
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Your time value (conservative) | $50/hour |
| Weekly value saved | $625/week |
| Monthly value saved | $2,500/month |
| Setup cost | $2,000 (one-time) |
| Ongoing API costs | ~$20-30/month |
| Payback period | ~13 days |
After the first two weeks, every hour saved is pure profit. Over 12 months, the Starter package delivers roughly $28,000 in time value on a $2,000 investment. That's a 14x return.
Pro Package: The Security Multiplier
The $5,000 Pro package adds security monitoring, executive assistant, and ops alerting. The ROI calculation changes because you're now preventing losses, not just saving time:
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Time savings (all Starter + EA) | ~20 hrs/week = $1,000/week |
| Security incident prevention | $5,000-50,000 per avoided breach |
| Downtime prevention | $500-5,000 per avoided outage |
| Payback period | ~5 weeks (time only), instant (with one prevented incident) |
The Hidden ROI: Headspace
The hardest thing to quantify — but the most valuable — is cognitive freedom. When you stop worrying about whether your servers are secure, whether you missed an important email, whether you're prepared for tomorrow's meetings... you think better. You make better strategic decisions. You're less stressed.
Our clients consistently report this as the #1 benefit, even above the time savings.
Comparison: Agents vs. Alternatives
| Solution | Monthly Cost | Hours Covered | 24/7? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time VA | $800-2,000 | 20-40 hrs/wk | No |
| Full-time hire | $4,000-8,000 | 40 hrs/wk | No |
| SaaS tools (5+) | $200-500 | Still manual | No |
| AgentForge Starter | $20-30 (after setup) | 168 hrs/wk | Yes |
Try the Math Yourself
Here's a quick exercise:
- How many hours/week do you spend on email? Multiply by your hourly rate.
- How many hours on meeting prep and calendar management? Same calculation.
- What would a security breach cost your business? Even a rough estimate.
- Add it up. Compare to our one-time setup fees.
For most small business owners, the answer is the same: AI agents pay for themselves in weeks, not months.
Want a custom ROI analysis? Our free assessment includes a personalized ROI calculation for your specific business. Book a free assessment →
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