Transparent pricing, quoted in writing before anything starts.
Two engagement models, one rule: every cost is line-itemed and shown separately. Vendor invoices pass through at cost. Our fee is always a visible line on the same page.
Two ways to work with us.
The right model depends on the size and complexity of the program, plus how much of the scope your internal team wants to keep. Both are quoted before any work begins.
Flat Planning Fee
A fixed fee scoped against the deliverables in the engagement. Best for events with a defined scope and a stable budget, where you want cost certainty from day one.
- Fee locked before work begins
- Vendor invoices passed through at cost
- Change orders quoted separately
- Best for budgets of $40k and above
Percentage of Spend
A percentage of total event spend, typically between 12 and 18 percent. Best for larger, more complex programs where scope will evolve and the budget is fluid.
- Aligned incentive on total cost
- Scoped against a budget band upfront
- Vendor invoices passed through at cost
- Best for budgets above $200k
What programs usually cost, all in.
These ranges reflect the total event budget — venue, vendors, production and our fee combined. They are the numbers we quote most often, based on the last twelve months of engagements.
Workshop & Intimate
Team workshops, executive dinners, small receptions
- 20 – 80 guests
- Half-day or single evening
- Local venue or private dining
- 3 – 6 week planning window
Standard Programs
Company celebrations, offsites, holiday parties, previews
- 100 – 600 guests
- Full venue buyout with production
- Catering, entertainment, staging
- 4 – 8 month planning window
Flagship Programs
Conferences, launches, gala events, multi-day programs
- 400 – 4,000+ guests
- Multi-day, multi-track, multi-venue
- Broadcast, hybrid and full production
- 6 – 14 month planning window
Where the money typically goes.
A rough breakdown of how budget is allocated across a typical engagement. Actual splits vary by program type, city and scope.
| Category | Workshop & Intimate | Standard Programs | Flagship Programs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue rental | 15 – 25% | 18 – 28% | 12 – 20% |
| Catering & bar | 30 – 40% | 25 – 35% | 18 – 28% |
| Production & AV | 8 – 15% | 15 – 25% | 20 – 30% |
| Entertainment & content | 5 – 10% | 8 – 15% | 10 – 18% |
| Staffing & logistics | 5 – 10% | 6 – 12% | 8 – 14% |
| Meridian planning fee | 12 – 18% | 12 – 18% | 12 – 18% |
| Contingency | 5% | 5 – 8% | 8 – 10% |
What sits inside the fee.
Every engagement includes the following, regardless of budget band or which engagement model you choose.
What a $180,000 corporate event budget looks like.
A 350-guest company celebration in a major U.S. market, planned over six months. Below is a simplified view of how the budget breaks down on a typical engagement at this scale.
Sample Budget Breakdown · $180,000
A 5 – 8 percent contingency of $9,000 – $14,400 is typically reserved on top of the working budget. Unused contingency is released back or reallocated before the final invoice.
Answers to the questions we get most.
If you do not see your question here, the full FAQ page covers contracts, change orders and payment terms.
The percentage band is not, but the specific percentage within that band is, depending on program complexity and scope. For flat-fee engagements, the fee is derived from the deliverables and hours required, and we can trim scope to hit a target number.
Typically 40 percent on contract signature, 40 percent at the halfway point and 20 percent within 30 days of the event. Larger programs can be invoiced in monthly installments if preferred.
Local site visits within a market we already serve are included. Site visits that require travel are billed at cost with the trip agreed in advance.
Change orders are quoted in writing before any additional work proceeds. If the change is significant, we reissue the budget and confirm the new total before moving forward.
Get a real number.
Give us the headcount, date and city, and we will come back within one business day with a budget band and a quote structure.
Start with a 45-minute planning call.
Tell us about the event and we will come back within one business day with availability, a rough budget range and next steps.
- One senior producer assigned from day one
- Transparent line-item budget within 72 hours
- Vendor invoices passed through at cost
- Full on-site management on event day