Business decision tool
Cost of Delay Calculator
Estimate foregone benefits and continuing team burn caused by delaying a project.
Inputs and results stay in this browser. Currency symbols are illustrative; use any consistent currency.
Understand Cost of delay
One idea, three depths
Choose how deeply to explain Cost of delay
Cost of delay: Estimate foregone benefits and continuing team burn caused by delaying a project.
Age 5Explain it to a 5-year-oldStart with a picture
Imagine using Cost of delay to answer this question: estimate foregone benefits and continuing team burn caused by delaying a project? Enter Expected monthly benefit after launch, Delay duration, Monthly team and holding cost during delay, and 1 other input; the calculator shows Estimated cost of delay. Try changing one number and watch what happens to Estimated cost of delay. The answer tells you Estimated cost of delay.
Age 15Explain it to a 15-year-oldConnect it to the formula
This makes schedule economics visible but depends on counterfactual assumptions. Use a range for benefits and avoid counting costs that would occur regardless of delay. The rule is Cost of delay = monthly benefit × delay months + monthly team burn × delay months + one-time loss. Its input values are Expected monthly benefit after launch, Delay duration (months), Monthly team and holding cost during delay, One-time opportunity loss, and the main result is Estimated cost of delay. Try changing one number and watch what happens to Estimated cost of delay.
CollegeExplain it at college levelState the model precisely
This tool models one operating decision from explicitly supplied company assumptions. The implemented relation is Cost of delay = monthly benefit × delay months + monthly team burn × delay months + one-time loss, evaluated from Expected monthly benefit after launch, Delay duration (months), Monthly team and holding cost during delay, One-time opportunity loss to produce Estimated cost of delay. This makes schedule economics visible but depends on counterfactual assumptions. Use a range for benefits and avoid counting costs that would occur regardless of delay. The model omits unentered taxes, cash timing, legal constraints and market uncertainty. Compare the output with company records and a downside scenario before committing resources.
The decision this tool supports
Estimate foregone benefits and continuing team burn caused by delaying a project.
Why the business model works
This makes schedule economics visible but depends on counterfactual assumptions. Use a range for benefits and avoid counting costs that would occur regardless of delay.
Inputs and operating assumptions
This model uses Expected monthly benefit after launch (at least 0), Delay duration (at least 0), Monthly team and holding cost during delay (at least 0), One-time opportunity loss (at least 0). Keep currencies, accounting treatment and time periods consistent with one another.
The formula
Cost of delay = monthly benefit × delay months + monthly team burn × delay months + one-time loss
What the calculator produces
The primary output is Estimated cost of delay; it also exposes Foregone benefit, Continuing delay-period cost, Cost per week of delay. Change one assumption at a time so the comparison remains explainable.
Before using the result in a decision
This compact model cannot capture every tax, accounting, legal, market or operational condition. Compare the output with current company records, cash timing and the downside scenario before committing resources.
Supporting sourcesAcademic referencesPrimary standards, textbooks and complete citations
Standards, reading and academic references
Use the calculator as the worked interaction, then consult the primary standards and academic textbooks listed below. MW SysArc links to the original sources; the explanation on this page is original and does not reproduce them.
Introduction to Business 2e
Read the free OpenStax business textbookCite this book
- APA 7
- Gitman, L. J., McDaniel, C., Shah, A., Reece, M., Koffel, L., Talsma, B., & Hyatt, J. C. (2026). Introduction to business 2e. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business-2e/pages/1-introduction
- MLA 9
- Gitman, Lawrence J., et al. Introduction to Business 2e. OpenStax, 2026, https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business-2e/pages/1-introduction.
- Chicago author-date
- Gitman, Lawrence J., Carl McDaniel, Amit Shah, Monique Reece, Linda Koffel, Bethann Talsma, and James C. Hyatt. 2026. Introduction to Business 2e. Houston, TX: OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business-2e/pages/1-introduction.
OpenStax entries are free to read online. Follow the licence shown on each linked source before redistributing or adapting its content.
Reuse the page responsiblyCite this pageAPA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, BibTeX and RIS
These formats cite this calculator page itself. They are separate from the academic references above, which support the mathematical method and terminology.
APA 7
MW SysArc. (2026, July 21). Cost of Delay Calculator. MW SysArc Tools. https://business.mwsysarc.com/cost-of-delay
MLA 9
MW SysArc. “Cost of Delay Calculator.” MW SysArc Tools, 21 July 2026, https://business.mwsysarc.com/cost-of-delay. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.
Chicago 17
MW SysArc. “Cost of Delay Calculator.” MW SysArc Tools. Published July 21, 2026. Accessed August 30, 2026. https://business.mwsysarc.com/cost-of-delay.
Harvard
MW SysArc (2026) ‘Cost of Delay Calculator’, MW SysArc Tools. Published 21 July 2026. Available at: https://business.mwsysarc.com/cost-of-delay (Accessed: 30 August 2026).
BibTeX and RIS records
BibTeX
@misc{mwsysarc_cost_of_delay_2026,
author = {{MW SysArc}},
title = {Cost of Delay Calculator},
howpublished = {MW SysArc Tools},
year = {2026},
url = {https://business.mwsysarc.com/cost-of-delay},
note = {Published July 21, 2026; accessed August 30, 2026}
}RIS
TY - ELEC
AU - MW SysArc
TI - Cost of Delay Calculator
T2 - MW SysArc Tools
PY - 2026
DA - 2026-07-21
Y2 - 2026-08-30
UR - https://business.mwsysarc.com/cost-of-delay
N1 - Published July 21, 2026
ER -Clear answers
Frequently asked questions
What does the Cost of delay do?
Estimate foregone benefits and continuing team burn caused by delaying a project.
How does the Cost of delay work?
The calculator applies Cost of delay = monthly benefit × delay months + monthly team burn × delay months + one-time loss. This makes schedule economics visible but depends on counterfactual assumptions. Use a range for benefits and avoid counting costs that would occur regardless of delay.
What can I learn from the Cost of delay?
It connects company inputs to a transparent business result. Change one value at a time to compare operating scenarios.
Does MW SysArc receive or store what I enter?
No. The calculation runs locally in your browser. MW SysArc does not receive or store your calculation inputs.
How should I use the result?
Use the result as a practical reference. Review the inputs, assumptions and stated limitations before relying on it.
Last reviewed . Calculations tested .