OBJECTIVES: Though economics is usually outcome-oriented, it is often argued that processes matter as well. Utility is not only derived from outcomes, but also from the way this outcome is accomplished. Providing care on a voluntary basis may especially be associated with such process utility. In this paper we discuss the process utility from providing informal care. We test the hypothesis that informal caregivers derive utility not only from the outcome of informal care, i.e. that the patient is adequately cared for, but also from the process of providing informal care. METHODS: We measure process utility as the difference in utility between the current situation in which the care recipient is cared for by the caregiver and the hypothetical situation that someone else takes over the care tasks, all other things equal. We present empirical evidence of process utility on the basis of a large sample of Dutch caregivers (n = 950) and analyse these. RESULTS: Our results show that process utility exists and is substantial and therefore important in the context of informal care. Almost half of the caregivers (48.2%) derive positive utility from informal care and on average happiness would decline if informal care tasks were handed over to someone else. The multivariate analysis shows that process utility is significantly related to, amongst other things, age and gender of the caregiver. Male caregivers have lower process utility than female caregivers. Closer relationship (partner, parent, child) elicit lower process utility than others. CONCLUSIONS: Process utility is impotant in the context of informal care. Our results strengthen the idea of supporting informal care, but also that of keeping a close eye on the position of carers.