The short answer
For the example below, charge about $17 a ticket.
That covers $400 in costs for 30 people and leaves $100 profit; the break-even price is $13.34. With One Ticket’s booking fee passed on, buyers pay $18.32 and you receive $17 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 hire | $100 |
| Host | $100 |
| Name tags and cards | $20 |
| A drink on arrival | $6 a person ($180 for 30) |
| Total costs | $400 |
| People expected | 30 |
| Profit wanted | $100 |
Worked example
At $17 a ticket, what you receive and keep if fewer than 30 come:
| Attendance | You receive | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| Half (15 people) | $255 | -$55 |
| Three quarters (23 people) | $391 | $33 |
| All 30 people | $510 | $110 |
And at the prices either side:
| Ticket price | Buyer pays | Profit at 30 people | People to break even |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15 | $16.28 | $50 | 25 people |
| $16 | $17.30 | $80 | 22 people |
| $17 | $18.32 | $110 | 20 people |
| $18 | $19.33 | $140 | 19 people |
| $19 | $20.35 | $170 | 17 people |
Try your own numbers
The calculator starts with the example’s figures: change any of them.
- Break-even price
- $13.34
- Suggested price
- $17
- Buyer pays
- $18.32
- You receive a ticket
- $17
Charge $17 a ticket. Buyers pay $18.32 with One Ticket’s booking fee, and you receive $17 a ticket. At 30 people you receive $510, $110 more than the $400 in costs.
If fewer people come
| Attendance | You receive | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| Half (15 people) | $255 | -$55 |
| Three quarters (23 people) | $391 | $33 |
| All 30 people | $510 | $110 |
Prices either side
| Ticket price | Buyer pays | Profit if all come | People to break even |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15 | $16.28 | $50 | 25 people |
| $16 | $17.30 | $80 | 22 people |
| $17 | $18.32 | $110 | 20 people |
| $18 | $19.33 | $140 | 19 people |
| $19 | $20.35 | $170 | 17 people |
Tips for a speed friending night
The night works best when numbers are even, so cap tickets and keep a waitlist. A low price lowers the barrier for people coming on their own.
More in the guide: How do I sell tickets for a speed friending night?.
A refund policy to match: Refund policy template for a speed friending night.
The booking fee
One Ticket adds a booking fee at checkout: $1.32 on a $17 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 speed friending night?
- For the example budget on this page ($400 in costs for 30 people, $100 profit), about $17 a ticket. It is an example: use your own costs.
- What should a speed friending night ticket cover?
- In this example: venue hire, host, name tags and cards, a drink on arrival. 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 $17 a ticket the example makes a loss of $55 with 15 people and a profit of $33 with 23.
- Who pays the booking fee?
- The buyer, on top of the ticket price: $1.32 on a $17 ticket, so you receive the whole $17.