What is your busywork costing you?

List the repetitive jobs, how long they take each week, and how much could be handed to automation or an AI agent.

Hourly cost ($)People doing itWorking weeks / yr

Hours per week (each person)Could be automated: 70%

Hours per week (each person)Could be automated: 85%

Hours per week (each person)Could be automated: 75%

Hours per week (each person)Could be automated: 80%

Hours per week (each person)Could be automated: 50%

Ask the helper

Stuck on a number?

Ask how to estimate your hours, percentages or hourly cost. AI-powered, answers are a guide only.

How to estimate

Four numbers, filled in honestly

Hourly cost

What an hour of that person's time really costs. Use their wage plus about 20–30% for super, leave and overheads. Owner's time? Use what you'd pay someone to replace you.

Hours per week

Track one normal week. Each time someone does the task, jot down the minutes. Or ask: "How many times a day, and how long each time?"

Could be automated (%)

Be honest, not hopeful. Same steps every time → 70–90%. Needs a two-way chat → 50–70% with an AI agent. Emotional, money owed or health → 0–20%.

People & weeks

Count everyone who does these tasks. Use 48 weeks to allow for leave and public holidays.

Worked example

A physio clinic with one receptionist

Receptionist paid $35/hr; with super and overheads that's about $45/hr. One person, 48 working weeks.

Answering enquiries

3.0 hrs saved

15 a day × 4 min × 5 days = 5 hrs/week · 60% automatable

Booking reminders

2.7 hrs saved

30 a week × 6 min = 3 hrs/week · 90% automatable

Chasing quotes

1.5 hrs saved

10 a week × 12 min = 2 hrs/week · 75% automatable

Data entry into CRM

3.2 hrs saved

1 hr a day × 4 days = 4 hrs/week · 80% automatable

Total: 14 hrs/week10.4 hrs saved

Task	How we counted it	Hrs / week	Automatable	Hrs saved / week
Answering enquiries	15 a day × 4 min × 5 days	5	60%	3.0
Booking reminders	30 a week × 6 min	3	90%	2.7
Chasing quotes	10 a week × 12 min	2	75%	1.5
Data entry into CRM	1 hr a day × 4 days	4	80%	3.2
Total		14		10.4

Hours saved a year = 10.4 hrs × 48 weeks = 499 hrs (≈ 66 work days)

Dollar value = 499 hrs × $45 = $22,464 a year

That's time the receptionist gets back for patients in the room — not necessarily a cut in wages. Start with the biggest savings (here, data entry and reminders) in your 30-day plan.

Tips for a believable number

Count small, frequent tasks — 2 minutes, 40 times a day, is over 6 hours a week.
Leave out one-off projects; only count work that repeats every week.
If unsure, pick the lower percentage. A conservative estimate is easier to trust and to beat.
Don't forget after-hours work — enquiries answered at night still cost time.

665 hrs saved a year$29,916See estimate ↓