Jonáš SvětlíkWhat AI costs and how to work out the return
AI does not have to be expensive, but it does have hidden costs. Here is what to count in and how to work out simply whether it pays off for you.
Direct costs
- Tool subscriptions (a few hundred CZK, roughly €10-25 a month per user).
- API charges - tokens, when you build something of your own.
- A one-off investment in a custom-built solution.
Hidden costs
These get forgotten: the time to set it up and learn it, ongoing maintenance and checking the output. Budget for them so they do not surprise you.
A simple ROI calculation
Work out how many hours or how much money it saves per month and compare that with the monthly cost. Payback = investment / monthly saving. If an automation saves 5 hours a month, it pays for itself in a few months.
What to watch out for
The first month is learning, not saving. And the value is not only the time saved - speed and fewer mistakes often matter more.
Do not ask "what does AI cost". Ask "how much does it save me and how long until it pays back". That is the only number that matters.
Want to know whether AI pays off for you?
I will tell you straight where investing makes sense and where it does not - and we will do the maths together. Get in touch.