How Much to Charge for Private Catering?

Wedding caterers in Delhi can feel tricky, especially when every event, menu, and client expectation is different. The goal is to set a rate that covers your costs, values your skills, and still feels fair and competitive. Below is a clear breakdown to help you price confidently and profitably.

The Art of Pricing: How Much to Charge for Private Catering?
Setting the price for a private catering event is far more than just totaling up your ingredients. It's a strategic blend of detailed cost calculation, understanding your market value, and ensuring a healthy profit margin for a sustainable business. To craft a confident, profitable quote, you must first master the science of your costs and then layer on the art of value.

Phase 1: The Science of Cost Calculation (Your Non-Negotiables)
Before you can determine your profit, you must know your total cost for every single job. This is the foundation of your pricing.

1. Direct Costs (Cost of Goods Sold - COGS)
These are the expenses tied directly to the event you are quoting.

**Food & Beverages: **This includes every ingredient, down to the last spice, and must account for portion sizes and an inevitable percentage of food waste (spoilage, mismeasurements, etc.).

Direct Labor: The hourly wages, including taxes and benefits, for all staff working at the event (chefs, servers, bartenders, set-up, and clean-up).

Tip: Determine the cost of labor per hour and multiply by the estimated hours for the event.

Event-Specific Supplies: Disposable plates, napkins, single-use containers, specialty equipment rentals for that day, and fuel/transport for the event itself.

2. Indirect Costs (Overhead)
These are the general, ongoing costs of running your business that must be distributed across all your catered events.

Final Thoughts

There’s no one “correct” price for private catering. Your rate should reflect your skills, the quality of your ingredients, your time, and the experience you provide. As long as you calculate your costs and add a profitable margin, your pricing will be both fair and sustainable.

How Many Platters Do You Need for 100 People?

The number of platters you need for 100 people depends on the type of food you’re serving, the event style, and the portion sizes. However, you can use a few reliable catering guidelines to estimate the right amount.

General Rule of Thumb

Most full-size party platters serve 20–25 people (depending on food type).
So for 100 guests, you typically need 4–5 platters per type of food you plan to serve.

That's an excellent question! Planning food for a large group like 100 people is a blend of art and science. The exact number of platters you need depends heavily on several factors beyond just the guest count.

Here is a guide to help you determine the right amount of food and the necessary serving platters for your event.

The Formula: It's Not Just About the Platters
Don't calculate the number of platters based on the number of people; calculate the total amount of food needed, and then determine how many platters you need to hold and display that food attractively.

Essential Pro-Tip: The Flow of The biggest factor is the flow of traffic. If you put all the food on one long line, the serving area will get congested.

Instead, use this strategy: Duplicate the Line: Set up two identical buffet lines (e.g., Line A and Line B). Split the Guests: Direct $50$ guests to Line A and $50$ guests to Line B.

This means you will need to double the number of platters for the hot food and sides (e.g., 4 platters of chicken instead of 2), but it will cut the waiting time in half and dramatically improve the guest experience. Would you like me to help you plan the menu by suggesting specific food items for your 15-platter spread?