OBJECTIVES Multidisciplinary return-to-work (RTW) interventions effectively support cancer survivors to resume work and potentially increase quality of life, but are not or only partly reimbursed by health insurers. To ensure optimal support for cancer patients in resuming work, it is essential that hospitals can offer RTW in a financially viable way. We analysed the budget impact of a RTW intervention (counselling by occupational physicians + physical exercise) and explored how financing of a return-to-work intervention can be arranged. METHODS The budget impact analysis compared costs of RTW support for all patients able and willing to resume work versus no standardised support, for a large cancer centre serving a population of 1 million inhabitants. Costs and financial benefits relevant from a societal perspective were considered, including intervention costs, productivity losses, and patients´ costs. We identified which stakeholders, including hospitals, employers, health insurances, social security, and patients accrue what costs; and which enjoy the financial benefits under different financing arrangements. RESULTS RTW costs are ≈ €2,000 per patient. For a large cancer centre, the annual budget impact is €817k in 2014, rising to €14.7m in 2017.Ccosts for patients with a multidisciplinary rehabilitation need are typically covered by health insurance, leaving €735k to be financed by the cancer centre. Small improvements in return-to-work and quality of life led to substantial reductions in productivity loss and future health care costs. These savings outweigh the costs of the intervention, rendering RTW cost-saving from a societal perspective. CONCLUSIONS From a societal perspective return-to-work is expected to be cost-saving. Hospitals bear the largest share of the cost, while most financial benefits fall upon other stakeholders. Re-distributing costs and financial benefits among stakeholders would result in feasible financing of the intervention.