Free workplace tool
Business Downtime Cost Calculator
A quick planning tool for small business owners. Estimate the approximate operational and labour impact of an unexpected power outage or interruption. This is a planning aid — not an accounting tool, and not a promise of exact figures.
Frequently asked questions
How much can one hour of downtime cost?+
It varies widely. For a small café or shop it may be a few hundred euros in lost sales and wages. For a busy restaurant, warehouse or manufacturing line it can quickly run into thousands once you include idle staff, missed orders and any spoiled goods. This tool gives an estimated range, not an exact figure.
What causes business downtime?+
Power outages are the most common cause for small businesses, but internet failures, payment system outages, equipment breakdowns, water issues, staff shortages and severe weather all create downtime. Preparing once for any interruption usually covers most of them.
How can businesses reduce outage costs?+
The biggest gains come from planning what can continue without power, having offline copies of key documents and contacts, agreeing a first-hour response, and pre-deciding whether staff stay, close early or move to other work. Backup power helps but is not always required.
Is generator power always necessary?+
No. Many small businesses do fine with battery backups for tills, routers or medical equipment, plus a clear plan for everything else. A full generator is usually only worth it when even short outages create serious safety, compliance or spoilage risk.
How should businesses prepare before an outage?+
Keep printed contact lists and key documents on-site, know which equipment is critical, agree who decides to close or continue, and run a quick drill each year. The WorkplaceReady Power Outage Readiness Assessment walks through this step by step.