You already know phone calls eat your time. But most people dramatically underestimate how much they actually cost. Here's a framework for calculating exactly what you save with an AI executive assistant—with real numbers.
The true cost of phone calls (it's more than you think)
Every phone call has three cost layers. The obvious one is the call itself. The less obvious ones are what make the real difference.
Layer 1: Direct call time
The average business phone call takes 8–12 minutes. But that's just talk time. Add 5–15 minutes of hold time, 2–5 minutes navigating phone menus, and 3–5 minutes of post-call follow-up (notes, emails, calendar updates). A "quick 10-minute call" actually costs 20–35 minutes.
Layer 2: Context switching
Research from UC Irvine shows it takes an average of 23 minutes to fully refocus after an interruption. Every phone call breaks your flow. If you're doing focused work worth $75–200/hour, that 23-minute recovery is worth $29–77 in lost productivity—on top of the call itself.
Layer 3: Preparation and dread
How long do you spend thinking about a call before making it? For many people, especially those with phone anxiety, the mental overhead of an upcoming call can drain focus for hours. This is real cost, even if it doesn't show up on a timesheet.
The hidden costs nobody talks about
Beyond the direct time cost, phone calls carry expenses that are easy to miss:
Procrastination cost
That dentist appointment you've been meaning to schedule for three weeks? Delayed action has real consequences—missed early appointments, expired deals, compounding problems.
Opportunity cost
Every 30 minutes on a call is 30 minutes not spent on revenue-generating work, family, or rest. For a consultant billing $150/hour, five calls per week at 30 minutes each equals $375/week—$19,500 per year.
Stress and decision fatigue
Phone calls drain willpower. After a frustrating call with your insurance company, you're less effective at everything else.
The ROI formula
Here's the straightforward calculation:
Monthly ROI = (Hours saved x Your hourly rate) − Subscription cost
- Hours saved = (Average calls/month) x (Average minutes per call including hold + follow-up) / 60
- Your hourly rate = Annual salary / 2,080 (or your billing rate, or what you'd pay someone to do the task)
Example scenarios: executives, professionals, and parents
| Persona | Hourly Rate | Calls/mo | Avg min/call | Hours Saved | KallyAI Plan | Monthly ROI | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah, VP of Operations | $200 | 25 | 25 | 10.4 | Executive ($199) | $1,881 | $22,572 |
| James, freelance consultant | $75 | 15 | 20 | 5.0 | Standard ($49) | $326 | $3,912 |
| Maria, parent | $30 | 10 | 30 | 5.0 | Lite ($9) | $141 | $1,692 |
Every persona sees positive ROI. Even Maria, valuing her time at just $30/hour, saves over 16x her subscription cost each month.
See your own ROI in action
Stop doing math and start saving time. Try KallyAI for $1 with 100 credits and see how much time you reclaim.
Try KallyAI for $1Cost comparison: all your assistant options
| Option | Annual Cost | Availability | Phone Calls | Emails | Research | Scalability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time human EA | $65,000–125,000 | Business hours | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Offshore VA (part-time) | $7,200–25,000/yr | Set hours, async | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited |
| Magic/human VA service | $3,240–12,960/yr | Business hours | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| KallyAI Lite | $108/yr | 24/7, instant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited |
| KallyAI Standard | $588/yr | 24/7, instant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited |
| KallyAI Executive | $2,388/yr | 24/7, instant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited |
| Doing it yourself | $0 (subscription) | Your time only | You | You | You | None |
The "doing it yourself" option looks free—but it's the most expensive row on the table when you factor in your time.
Break-even analysis: when KallyAI pays for itself
At each KallyAI plan level, here's how quickly you break even:
- Lite ($9/month): Break even after saving 36 minutes. That's one call with hold time.
- Standard ($49/month): Break even after saving ~1 hour. Two or three delegated calls.
- Executive ($199/month): Break even after saving 2 hours. Less than one morning of phone tasks for most executives.
The math favors AI for nearly anyone who makes more than a few calls per month.
How to calculate your personal ROI
Grab a pen or open a calculator:
- Count your calls last month (check your phone's call history)
- Estimate average time per call (including hold, prep, follow-up)
- Multiply: calls x minutes = total minutes. Divide by 60 for hours.
- Multiply hours by your hourly rate (salary / 2,080, or billing rate, or $25–30 as a baseline)
- Subtract the KallyAI plan that fits your volume
- The result is your monthly ROI
If the number is positive—even by $10—AI is worth it. Because the formula doesn't capture the stress reduction, eliminated procrastination, or the joy of never sitting on hold again.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is this ROI calculation?
Conservative. It only counts direct time savings—not reduced stress, eliminated procrastination, or faster turnaround. Real-world ROI is typically higher.
What if I only make a few calls per month?
The Lite plan at $9/month covers light usage. Even 2–3 calls at 20 minutes each saves an hour. If your time is worth more than $9/hour, it pays for itself.
Does this apply to emails and research too?
Yes. KallyAI handles more than calls. Add email and research delegation and the hours saved increase significantly.
What about the quality of AI calls vs doing it myself?
KallyAI delivers transcripts and confirmations for every task. For routine calls (scheduling, inquiries, billing), AI handles them as effectively as you would.
Can I track my actual ROI over time?
Yes. KallyAI provides task history showing what was completed and when. Most users see the difference within the first week.
Start saving time today
Stop doing math and start saving time. Try KallyAI for $1 with 100 credits and see your own ROI in action.
Try KallyAI for $1