Free calculator · Instant result
How Much Time Is Social Media Costing My Business?
Add up the time social media takes each week, from planning and photos to replying and checking. Know what your current approach costs, so you can decide whether it's worth it.
Your result
Enter your figures to see your result straight away. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Saved on this device only, for 30 days. Nothing is sent to BuzzBrain.
If it's more time than you want to spend, BuzzBrain Social turns your real work into a steady online presence, so social media doesn't take over your week. Now in early access.
See BuzzBrain Social →Your results, explained
How it's worked out
The weekly hours for each task are added up, plus the time it takes to get back into work after checking, then scaled to a year.
- Task hours a weekThe sum of the hours for each task
- Switching time a weekTimes a day × minutes to refocus × working days ÷ 60
- Hours a year(Task hours + switching time) × working weeks
- Working days a yearHours a year ÷ hours in a workday
- Value of that timeHours a year × the value of an hour of your time
This measures time, not results. Social media can bring in work: whether that time pays off is your call.
Worked example
An owner spends about 8.5 hours a week on social media tasks, and stops to check 4 times a day, taking 5 minutes to get back into work each time, 5 days a week. Their time is worth $95 an hour, over 48 weeks.
| Task hours a week | 8.5 |
|---|---|
| Checks a day / refocus | 4 / 5 minutes |
| Value of an hour | $95 |
| Hours a week | 10.2 |
|---|---|
| Hours a year | 488 |
| Working days a year | 61 |
| Value of that time | $46,360 |
Checking platforms and switching back into work take more time than posting itself.
Assumptions
- Your estimates are the only input. Include time anyone in the business spends.
- The result doesn't suggest social media is wasted time.
- The value of your time is what it could be worth elsewhere, not money you've lost.
- Switching time is optional. Leave it blank if checking doesn't pull you away from work.
This calculator estimates time from the figures you enter. The value shown is the time's potential worth, not a cost you've paid or a saving. It's a guide based only on the figures you enter, not financial, accounting, tax or legal advice.
FAQ
Social Media Time questions. Answered.
Is this saying social media is a waste of time?
No. For many businesses it brings in work. This shows what the time costs, so you can decide whether your current approach is worth it.
What is switching time?
The time it takes to get properly back into a job after stopping to check your phone. It's optional, and often goes unnoticed.
Should I include staff time?
Yes, include time anyone in the business spends on social media, and use a value per hour that reflects who does most of it.
What value should I put on my time?
Your charge-out rate is a common choice. Leave it blank if you only want the hours.
Your next step
BuzzBrain Social
If it's more time than you want to spend, BuzzBrain Social turns your real work into a steady online presence, so social media doesn't take over your week. Now in early access.
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