How the calculation works
- Monthly revenue = paid hours per day × days × hourly rate
- Electricity = paid hours × power draw (kW) × rate per kWh
- Net per month = revenue − electricity − maintenance − share of fixed costs
- Payback period = total PC cost ÷ net per month
- Lifetime ROI = (net per month × working life − PC cost) ÷ PC cost
Paid hours are the whole game
A PC that is booked two extra hours a day pays for itself much sooner than one with better specs. Measure real paid hours per station rather than estimating — CR Cafe reports revenue by station, so you can see which machines earn and which sit idle.
Cutting running costs
- Shut down idle PCs between sessions, and wake them remotely when needed
- Price peak times higher rather than discounting quiet ones — see gaming cafe pricing
- Track maintenance per machine to spot the ones costing more than they earn