The short answer
For the example below, charge about $7.50 a ticket.
That covers $150 in costs for 20 people; the break-even price is $7.50. With One Ticket’s booking fee passed on, buyers pay $8.40 and you receive $7.50 a ticket.
This is an example, not a quote or an average: use your own costs in the calculator below.
The example budget
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Venue, its share of a minimum spend | $50 |
| Tea or coffee | $5 a person ($100 for 20) |
| Total costs | $150 |
| People expected | 20 |
| Profit wanted | None: break even |
Worked example
At $7.50 a ticket, what you receive and keep if fewer than 20 come:
| Attendance | You receive | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| Half (10 people) | $75 | -$25 |
| Three quarters (15 people) | $112.50 | -$12.50 |
| All 20 people | $150 | $0 |
And at the prices either side:
| Ticket price | Buyer pays | Profit at 20 people | People to break even |
|---|---|---|---|
| $6.50 | $7.38 | -$20 | 34 people |
| $7 | $7.89 | -$10 | 25 people |
| $7.50 | $8.40 | $0 | 20 people |
| $8 | $8.91 | $10 | 17 people |
| $8.50 | $9.41 | $20 | 15 people |
Try your own numbers
The calculator starts with the example’s figures: change any of them.
- Break-even price
- $7.50
- Suggested price
- $7.50
- Buyer pays
- $8.40
- You receive a ticket
- $7.50
Charge $7.50 a ticket. Buyers pay $8.40 with One Ticket’s booking fee, and you receive $7.50 a ticket. At 20 people you receive $150, exactly the $150 in costs.
If fewer people come
| Attendance | You receive | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| Half (10 people) | $75 | -$25 |
| Three quarters (15 people) | $112.50 | -$12.50 |
| All 20 people | $150 | $0 |
Prices either side
| Ticket price | Buyer pays | Profit if all come | People to break even |
|---|---|---|---|
| $6.50 | $7.38 | -$20 | 34 people |
| $7 | $7.89 | -$10 | 25 people |
| $7.50 | $8.40 | $0 | 20 people |
| $8 | $8.91 | $10 | 17 people |
| $8.50 | $9.41 | $20 | 15 people |
Tips for a silent book club
Many silent book clubs are free, with guests buying their own drinks. If the venue asks for a minimum spend, a small ticket that includes a drink covers it.
More in the guide: How do I run a silent book club?.
A refund policy to match: Refund policy template for a silent book club.
The booking fee
One Ticket adds a booking fee at checkout: $0.90 on a $7.50 ticket, paid by the buyer, so you receive the whole price. It is the same on every plan, free tickets carry none and the Free plan has no monthly cost. See One Ticket pricing.
Common questions
- How much should I charge for a silent book club?
- For the example budget on this page ($150 in costs for 20 people), about $7.50 a ticket. It is an example: use your own costs.
- What should a silent book club ticket cover?
- In this example: venue, its share of a minimum spend, tea or coffee. Count the costs paid for each person apart from the ones paid once, and add any profit you want.
- What if fewer people come?
- At $7.50 a ticket the example makes a loss of $25 with 10 people and a loss of $12.50 with 15.
- Who pays the booking fee?
- The buyer, on top of the ticket price: $0.90 on a $7.50 ticket, so you receive the whole $7.50.