How to Calculate ROI on Internet Upgrades for Your Business

Faster Internet Sounds Nice – But Is It Worth It?

Every provider talks about better speed, better uptime, better support. But when you’re staring at a quote for a leased line that’s two, three, or even five times the cost of broadband, it’s natural to ask:

What’s the actual return on this investment?

The good news is you can calculate it. And if your business depends on cloud systems, remote access, or customer service tools, the numbers will often make the case for you.

What Counts as “Return” in ROI?

Most people think ROI means cutting costs. But in business connectivity, the return is often found in time saved, downtime avoided, and productivity unlocked. Specifically:

• Staff efficiency – Less waiting for uploads, fewer interruptions
• Customer experience – No dropped calls, faster service, better reputation
• Operational resilience – Fewer outages, smoother hybrid work, stronger uptime guarantees
• Revenue protection – No missed orders, broken systems, or poor user experience

If your internet connection underpins any of these (and let’s be honest, it probably does) then upgrading it can have a clear commercial value.

A Simple ROI Framework

To calculate ROI, compare the added value against the additional cost. Here’s a simplified formula:

ROI = (Annual Gain – Annual Cost) ÷ Annual Cost

1. Calculate Additional Cost

If broadband is £75/month and the leased line is £350/month:

Additional cost: £275/month = £3,300/year

2. Estimate Gains

Let’s say:

• 10 employees save 15 minutes/day = 625 hours/year
• Average staff cost is £25/hour = £15,625 value
• Add in 1 saved sales opportunity/month worth £500 = £6,000/year

Total value gained: £21,625/year

3. Plug It In

ROI = (£21,625 – £3,300) ÷ £3,300 = 5.55 = 555%

Even with conservative estimates, that leased line pays for itself several times over.

What to Include in Your ROI Model

Remember, not every metric is visible – but that doesn’t mean it’s not costing you.

Real ROI Triggers We See All the Time

• Businesses shifting to cloud-first infrastructure
• Teams using VoIP or Microsoft Teams/Zoom daily
• Hybrid/remote setups relying on secure VPNs or remote desktops
• IT teams dealing with support tickets caused by poor connectivity
• Businesses scaling rapidly – adding users, data, or locations

Each of these introduces new risk and overhead unless your connection can keep up.

How to Know if You’re Ready for an Upgrade

Ask yourself:

• Has internet performance held back a project in the last six months?
• Do your team members regularly complain about slowness or dropouts?
• Are you growing fast enough that your tools are starting to feel sluggish?
• Have you ever hesitated to adopt a better platform because of your connection?

If any of those land – it’s time to run the numbers.

Next Steps

Use our quote tool to see real leased line pricing for your location. Compare providers and packages.

Final Word

Most businesses don’t realise how much time and money they’re losing to mediocre internet – until they stop losing it.

If your team, systems, and customers rely on staying connected, a leased line isn’t just an upgrade. It’s an investment in your business’s ability to perform at its best, every day.