Event Budget Estimate Template

An event budget estimate lets a client see the full cost of an event before any vendor is booked. This template estimates a 150-guest customer conference by category, from the venue and catering per guest to AV, entertainment, and staffing, adds a contingency, and lists the planning fee on its own line.

  • Venue and food
  • Production
  • Logistics
  • Planning
  • Online approval by your client
Free, no account needed to start. Not legal advice.

Use it in discovery, when a client needs a realistic budget to approve before you source the venue and vendors.

The full template

Every line, price, and note is yours to change when you use the template in Clientary, and your client's details fill in from their record.

In the editor, the totals add up as you type. Once you send it, your client accepts it online, and it's ready to become an invoice. Edit this template online

Customer Conference Budget

An estimated budget for a one-day customer conference for 150 guests, with keynotes, breakout sessions, lunch, and an evening reception. Vendor costs are estimates until vendors quote and you sign their contracts, and you'll pay vendors directly. Our planning fee is listed separately.

Venue and food
Venue rental with breakout rooms$9,500.00
Catering: breakfast, lunch, breaks, and reception (per guest) (150)$17,250.00
Production
Audio visual and stage production$12,500.00
Decor and floral$4,800.00
Reception entertainment$3,500.00
Logistics
Shuttle transportation$2,400.00
Printing and signage$1,800.00
Registration and event staffing$2,200.00
Contingency (10% of vendor costs)$5,395.00
Planning
Planning fee (Full event planning)$20,000.00
Total$79,345.00

Notes

This estimate is valid for 30 days. It assumes 150 guests. Catering changes with the guest count, at about $115 per guest. Vendor amounts are our estimates from similar events, and we'll replace each with the vendor's quote before you sign.

Not included: travel and hotel for speakers or guests, alcohol beyond the reception, and taxes and service charges that venues and caterers add.

How to use this template in Clientary

  1. Edit it online. Change any line item, price, or note, or add your own. No account needed.
  2. Preview it as your client will see it. Fill in who it's for and pick a design.
  3. Start your free trial to send it. Confirm you'll have it reviewed, since templates aren't legal advice, and your estimate is waiting in your new account with your client's details filled in.
  4. Send it for approval. Your client accepts it online, and you can turn it into an invoice or a project.

Learn more about estimates in Clientary.

Frequently asked questions

How much contingency should an event budget include?

Many planners hold back 5 to 15% of vendor costs for surprises such as added guests, last-minute rentals, or overtime. Ten percent is a common starting point for a first-time event.

Why estimate catering per guest?

Catering is usually priced per person, and it's often the largest cost that moves with the guest count. Pricing it per guest shows the client how changes to the guest list affect the budget.

Is this event budget estimate template free?

Yes. Read and copy the full text on this page, or edit it online and see it as your client will. When it's ready, start a free Clientary trial to send it or download it as a PDF.

Has a lawyer reviewed this template?

No. It's a general starting point written by Clientary, not legal advice, and it hasn't been reviewed by a lawyer for your situation or the laws where you and your client work. Have your own counsel review it before you use or sign it.

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