If you’re a manager or owner of a large company, you’re likely interested in ways to save money and increase your profits. That’s a reasonable goal, but sometimes this can lead to short-term solutions that end up costing you more in the end.

And would you believe that keyboards are one of these bad decisions?

You probably don’t give these devices as much thought as you should, but here’s why a smart investment in quality keyboards could help you save money in the long run.

The Basics

Yes, computers and their hardware are expensive, and it’s likely that to save money, you usually purchase a mass order of computer monitors, towers, mice, and keyboards from a distributor instead of buying individual machines.

However, while your average monitor and tower can last a while with proper maintenance, standard keyboards are less likely to withstand the daily use they receive from their workers. This means you’ll have to be purchasing new keyboards more often to replace them as they break.

But how does that work out financially?

For the purposes of this post, let’s assume the following:

1. That you have 300 employees in your company.

2. That the average employee uses 6000 keystrokes a day.

3. That a standard keyboard costs about $15 (you can buy them anywhere from $5-$30).

4. That a mechanical keyboard costs about $75 (you can buy them anywhere from $50-$200).

5. That standard keyboards last 5 million clicks (most last anywhere from 5-10 million) with 6000 keystrokes a day.

6. That mechanical keyboards last 35 million clicks (many can last up to 50 million) with 6000 keystrokes a day.

The Computation and Results

With the above assumptions in place, your average employee will hit at least 2 million keystrokes a year at the 6000 keystroke rate.

If they’re working on a standard 5-million-click keyboard, that keyboard will break after 2 1/2 years of use. With 300 employees at $15 per keyboard, you’re spending $4500 each time you need to buy new keyboards. That adds up to $27,000 after a 15-year span.

But your average employee who’s working on a mechanical keyboard with 35 million clicks won’t see it break until 15 years later (maybe longer, if the keyboards are rated for higher keystrokes). With 300 employees at $75 per keyboard, you’re spending $22,500 up front, but you won’t be paying for new keyboards for another 15 years.

That’s a difference in savings of $4500. To some companies, that may not seem like a lot, but to others, that extra cash can go a very long way.

The Conclusion

We realize that these numbers will change depending on the number of employees you have, the type of keyboards you’re considering, and how many keystrokes they’re rated for.

We also realize that not every company has the initial funds to pay for high-quality keyboards up front.

But overall, if your company’s able to buy better keyboards than the standard-package ones, it’s one of the best decisions you can make, because you will notice a return on your investment in the end. Your keyboards will last longer, and they’ll help your employees be more productive (more on that later), which will in turn probably save you more money and cause your company to reap even higher profits.

It’s a win-win all around.