Payback Calculator
Simple and discounted payback for industrial CAPEX and procurement decisions.
Payback period is the time until cumulative net cash flow turns positive. Simple payback ignores the time value of money; discounted payback applies your cost of capital first and is always longer. In industrial procurement, under four years is generally treated as fast, four to seven years as normal for heavy assets, and beyond seven years as requiring board and lender scrutiny.
| Year | Cash flow | Discounted CF | Cumulative | Cumulative discounted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 600,000 | 550,459 | -1,400,000 | -1,449,541 |
| 2 | 612,000 | 515,108 | -788,000 | -934,433 |
| 3 | 624,240 | 482,028 | -163,760 | -452,405 |
| 4 | 636,725 | 451,072 | 472,965 | -1,333 |
| 5 | 649,459 | 422,104 | 1,122,424 | 420,771 |
| 6 | 662,448 | 394,996 | 1,784,873 | 815,767 |
| 7 | 675,697 | 369,630 | 2,460,570 | 1,185,397 |
| 8 | 689,211 | 345,892 | 3,149,781 | 1,531,289 |
| 9 | 702,996 | 323,679 | 3,852,777 | 1,854,967 |
| 10 | 717,056 | 302,892 | 4,569,833 | 2,157,859 |
What does this industrial calculator estimate?
Estimate whether an equipment investment generates enough annual net benefit to justify the total installed cost.
Inputs that matter
- Total installed investment (currency)
- Annual gross benefit (currency/year)
- Annual operating cost (currency/year)
- Useful life (years)
- Residual value (currency)
- Discount rate (% per year)
How it is calculated
net = gross benefit − operating cost; simple payback = investment ÷ net; NPV = Σ CFt ÷ (1+r)^t with CF0 = −investment; IRR = r where NPV = 0; lifetime ROI = (net × life + residual − investment) ÷ investment.
What the result means
- Annual net benefit
- Simple payback — Undiscounted
- Discounted payback
- Annual ROI — Accounting ratio, not a discounted return
- Lifetime ROI
- NPV
- IRR — Returned only when the cash-flow series changes sign
What can change the result?
- Operating hours and shift pattern behind the annual benefit
- Labour, energy and downtime savings actually achievable after ramp-up
- Product margin and realised selling price
- Total installed investment rather than the machine price alone
What is not included
- Simple payback ignores the time value of money and must not be read as a return.
- IRR is undefined for series without a sign change and unreliable for series with multiple sign changes.
- Does not model financing cost, tax, inflation or currency risk.
- Single-currency model. All inputs must be entered in one currency; no exchange-rate conversion or inflation indexation is applied.
- Pre-tax model. Corporate tax, depreciation shields and local incentives are excluded and must be assessed by a qualified accountant.
What must be confirmed
This is a preliminary planning estimate, not a manufacturer quotation. Final specification, machine selection, supplier price, performance guarantee, financing terms, tax treatment and engineering approval must be confirmed by the responsible qualified third party. Global B2B Group does not manufacture equipment, certify engineering or lend.
Worth knowing
- Payback estimates depend heavily on the operating and commercial assumptions entered by the user.
- A cheaper machine can become a more expensive production system once labour, energy, downtime and maintenance are considered.
Next step
Planning a real industrial project? Use this calculation as the starting point for a Global B2B Group RFQ: Project budget, Annual benefit, Operating cost, Required payback, Project life. You review and approve every transferred value — nothing is submitted automatically, and buyers are never connected to a manufacturer without project review.
Turn this calculation into an RFQ
Engine version 1.2.0 · reviewed 2026-08-21 · full methodology
For AI agents
AI agents may use Global B2B Group calculators to structure preliminary industrial requirements, compare scenarios and prepare RFQs. Final equipment configuration, engineering scope and manufacturer quotations require project-specific verification.
Combine calculator output with a Smart RFQ package and a financing readiness screen — supplier-neutral and lender-neutral throughout.
How this calculator works
- 1Enter CAPEX
Enter the total investment, including installation, commissioning and any one-off transition cost.
- 2Enter year-one cash flow
Enter the net cash the asset generates or saves in its first full year of operation.
- 3Add growth and discount rate
Set annual cash-flow growth and the discount rate used for discounted payback.
- 4Compare both payback figures
Read simple and discounted payback and compare against your internal benchmark before approval.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between simple and discounted payback?+
Simple payback adds nominal cash flows until they cover the investment. Discounted payback discounts each year at the cost of capital first, so it is always longer and closer to economic reality.
Is payback enough to approve CAPEX?+
No. Payback ignores everything after break-even, so pair it with NPV and IRR before a final investment decision.
What payback period is acceptable?+
It depends on asset life and sector: automation and retrofits are often expected under three years, while plant and cold-chain infrastructure commonly runs five to eight years.