Question 1

What costs go into the catering total cost figure?

Accepted Answer

Total cost is guest count times food cost per guest, plus total staffing cost, plus rentals and equipment cost.

Question 2

How is the price per guest calculated?

Accepted Answer

The total cost is marked up by your target margin to get a total event price, and that total event price is then divided by the guest count to get the price per guest.

Question 3

Is the margin the same as a markup on food cost?

Accepted Answer

No, the target margin percentage is applied to the full cost, including staffing and rentals, not just food cost, so the price reflects your whole event budget.

Catering Cost-Per-Head Calculator