← Mobile Bartender Event Quote

How to price a mobile bar event

Enter your own numbers in the Mobile Bartender Event Quote calculator. This is the method behind it.

Start from drinks, then staff

Plan about two drinks per guest in the first hour and one to one and a half per hour after. Staffing follows guest count: one bartender per 50 guests for a full bar is a common starting point. Pay each bartender for the event plus setup and teardown, and apply your call minimum.

Cost every line, then add margin

Add alcohol (if you supply it), mixers, ice, cups, travel and insurance or permit costs. Divide total cost by one minus your target margin to get the price. The cost itself is your walk-away floor.

Test the per-head ask

Clients often anchor on a dollars-per-guest figure. Multiply it by guests and subtract your cost: if it is negative, decline or change the service model, for example client-supplied alcohol.

Is this a quote I can send a client as-is?

It is planning arithmetic. It prices staffing, drinks, supplies, travel and insurance, then adds your target margin. Check every input against your own supplier prices before you send anything.

How many bartenders does a party need?

A common rule of thumb is one bartender per 50 guests for a full bar and one per 75 to 100 for beer and wine. The calculator uses 50 by default and you can change it.

How many drinks per guest should I plan for?

About two in the first hour and one to one and a half per hour after that. Daytime, dry crowds and weddings with a signature cocktail all move this, so adjust it.

Does this tell me what licence or insurance I need?

No. Alcohol licensing, server certification and liability insurance rules are set by your state or country and by the venue. The insurance and permit field is just a dollar figure you enter.