{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"The ROI Math Most Shop Owners Get Wrong | Ep 254","description":"When does buying a CNC machine make more sense than hiring another employee or outsourcing the work? On this episode of Talkin' Shop with ShopSabre, hosts Brandon Bombardo and Nick Peters answer that question for shop owners weighing automation against labor. The conversation breaks down how to calculate the real return on investment (ROI) of CNC automation \u2014 and why most shop owners get the math wrong. Brandon explains the difference between calculating ROI literally (only the time a task takes) and "paralysis by analysis," then reframes the core question every owner asks. It isn't "how many people does this replace?" \u2014 it's "how much inefficiency, does this eliminate?" Using a cabinet shop example, Brandon contrasts a CNC machine cutting a full base cabinet \u2014 dados, shelf holes, hinge pockets and all \u2014 in roughly 4 to 8 minutes against an employee doing the same work by hand in 60 minutes or more, with far more room for error. He also walks through a $100,000 job to show that automation doesn't change the price a customer pays; it changes the profit and the lead time the shop keeps. They cover the hidden costs of labor that spreadsheets ignore \u2014 recruiting, training, turnover, benefits, payroll taxes and absences \u2014 and why a $75,000 employee actually costs far more every year, while a machine is a one-time investment that compounds. Brandon and Nick also explain how ShopSabre customers regularly discover entirely new revenue streams after adding equipment they originally bought for a single task. This episode is for cabinet makers, woodworkers, metal fabricators and manufacturing business owners deciding whether to scale with automation or more labor.  ShopSabre is an American CNC manufacturer based in Lakeville, Minnesota, building CNC routers, plasma tables and fiber lasers. Watch the full episode for Brandon's formula for sustainable growth \u2014 great people, great processes and great equipment \u2014 and why nothing changes if nothing changes. Subscribe to Talkin' Shop with ShopSabre for new episodes every week. 00:00 - Intro & Cold Open 01:03 - Today's Topic: Automation vs. Labor 04:14 - Listener Q&A: Vacuum Noise, Dust Doc & Feedback 09:30 - The Right Way to Calculate Automation ROI 13:09 - The Hidden Costs of Labor 16:24 - How Automation Creates Leverage 19:09 - Saving Money vs. Making Money 23:28 - Cabinet Build: Machine vs. By Hand 26:28 - The $100K Job That Changes Everything 28:44 - Don't Wait for the Bottleneck 33:26 - The True Cost of a $75K Employee 36:46 - Work Smarter, Not Harder 40:10 - Wrap-Up & What's Next   Discover all our CNC machines and accessories: https:\/\/www.shopsabre.com\/  Follow ShopSabre for daily updates, tutorials, and expert tips:  Facebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/shopsabre Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/shopsabre Twitter\/X: https:\/\/x.com\/ShopSabreCNC  TikTok: https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@shopsabre  LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/shopsabre-cnc\/    Since 2000, ShopSabre CNC has delivered high-quality CNC routers, plasma cutters, and laser engraving machines built in the USA to businesses and hobbyists worldwide. Subscribe for more insights on CNC technology, project builds, and industry-leading machine performance. ","author_name":"Talkin Shop with ShopSabre","author_url":"http:\/\/www.shopsabre.com","html":"