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Meeting Cost Calculator
Calculate the real dollar cost of your meetings. You might be shocked.
Calculate Meeting Cost
The Hidden Cost of Meetings
Meetings feel "free" because no one writes a check. But every minute 8 people sit in a conference room, the company is burning $6.67 at a $50/hr average rate. Most meetings? Totally unnecessary.
💡 Expert Tip from David Chen, CFA
"Amazon puts the meeting cost on a screen in every conference room. When people see '$800 and counting,' they get to the point faster. Visibility = accountability."
The Math That Hurts
Scenario: Your team has a weekly 1-hour "status update" meeting with 8 people averaging $50/hr.
- Per Meeting: 1 hour × 8 people × $50/hr = $400
- Per Month: $400 × 4 weeks = $1,600
- Per Year: $400 × 52 weeks = $20,800
Could that update be an email? A Slack message? A 5-minute Loom video people watch on their own time?
⚠️ The "Optional" Test
Make every recurring meeting optional for 1 month. If fewer than 50% show up, cancel it permanently. You just saved thousands without losing productivity.
How to Cut Meeting Costs in Half
1. Cut Time: Default to 30 minutes, not 60. Most meetings expand to fill the time allotted.
2. Cut People: 8 attendees → 4 attendees = 50% cost reduction. Invite only decision-makers.
3. Start on Time: Starting 5 minutes late wastes $33 (8 people × $50/hr × 5/60). Absolute madness.
4. Have an Agenda: No agenda = no meeting. Period.
5. Default to Async: Slack, Loom, email. Reserve meetings for decisions, not updates.
The 67% Rule
Studies show 67% of meetings fail (attendees rate them as "waste of time"). If your company spends $1M/year on meetings, that's $670,000 down the drain.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Inviting "FYI" participants: Adding 5 people "just so they're in the loop" costs the company $500/hour. Send them meeting notes afterwards instead. It's cheaper and they'll thank you.
- No agenda, no end time: A meeting without an agenda is just a coffee break. Without a hard stop, Parkinson's Law kicks in: "Work expands to fill the time available." 30-minute meetings often accomplish the same as 60-minute ones.
- Ignoring "Switching Costs": The cost isn't just the meeting time. It takes 23 minutes to refocus after an interruption. A 2pm meeting destroys the afternoon's deep work productivity.
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average meeting cost?
A typical 1-hour meeting with 8 mid-level employees ($50/hr average) costs $400. Ten such meetings per week = $208,000/year.
What percentage of meetings are wasteful?
Studies show 67% of meetings fail. That means 2 out of 3 meetings waste time and money.
How can I reduce meeting costs?
1) Cut time in half. 2) Invite fewer people. 3) Make meetings optional. 4) Default to async communication.
Should I charge meetings back to departments?
Some companies do. Amazon displays meeting costs on screens. When people see '$500,' they reconsider necessity.