The Event Budget Template That Will Save You Time and Stress

Your event’s budget is the foundation of the entire planning process. This is why having a tried and true event budget template is imperative to your overall success. The event budget determines what is or isn’t realistically possible, making it especially important to minimize errors from the get-go.

Thankfully, your event budget is a living, breathing figure that can be adjusted along the way. However, it’s critical that you remember this rule: you can always trim costs, but you can’t reverse a deficit. So make sure you’re spending smartly and considering all the potential expenses. To avoid any financial surprises down the road, you’ve got to have a solid event budget template first.

Check out these event budget basics to help you stay on track when planning. We’ll discuss how to create an event budget and provide a template to make it easy. We’ll also share how our platform, Peerspace, the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, can make planning and executing your event a breeze.

Creating your event budget template

Before you begin to list off possible costs, here are four things you should consider:

1. Don’t be afraid of spreadsheets

Trust us when we say that spreadsheets will and should become your new best friend. They provide a visual breakdown of all your expenses and simplify budgeting down to the smallest detail.

Google Sheets makes it easy to create, edit, and share, but Excel will also do.

2. You may have to use budgeting software

If you already know that your event budget will go beyond that of a typical soirée (e.g., special guests, entertainment, and an after-party), spreadsheets probably won’t cut it.

Instead, look into specialized programs, like EventPro, designed with more complex budgets in mind.

3. Don’t dismiss any smaller-ticket items

Remember that no detail is too small to include. Do yourself a favor and be as specific as possible when noting your expenses.

For example, grouping all beverages into a single category instead of breaking out “alcohol” into its own line may cause issues later.

4. Columns, columns, columns

You’ll find it extremely helpful to include separate expense columns (Estimated vs. Actual), as well as to dedicate sections to item details and deadlines.

That way, your client has a clear understanding of where their money is going. It also allows you to keep track of when payments are due.

Next, check out these 5 key steps to managing a successful event to hone your skills further.

Example of an event budget template

To make your life easier, we’ve provided you with a corporate event budget template to work off of below.

Notice how our spreadsheet breaks items into subcategories and includes a line for “Subtotal” for each expense area. This will help you see what the biggest chunks of your budget are being spent on and make it easier to identify any costs that need to be cut down.

And don’t underestimate the “details” column! Be as precise as you can because it’s easy to forget the details when you’re in the thick of event planning.

You don’t want to miss anything or make mistakes down the road due to negligent note-taking.

Experience from someone else in your shoes

Wondering how well this works out in the field? Don’t worry; we’ve talked to someone whose situation may sound similar to yours.

Just take it from Stephanie Thomas, Senior Field Marketing Manager at Demandbase, who plans and executes upwards of 100 B2B marketing events each year.

When Stephanie plans an event, she breaks down costs into four main buckets:

• The venue
• Food and beverages
• A/V equipment
• The decor

To help streamline the process and ensure that her events stay on budget every time, she looks to Peerspace to handle all four event areas.

“Considering my workload, any service that can combine my contracts and costs into one location has my business,” Stephanie says. “When tracking quarterly event costs, I am able to refer to a single, central location for all my event costs and modifications.”

Creating your own event budget planner from scratch

When crafting your event planning template, establishing the goal of your event will help you prioritize the most important expenses.

For example, the main focus of a company’s happy hour would be to entertain employees. This means calling for a fun and convenient venue location and plenty of booze.

On the other hand, a product launch party would require an entirely different focus, and its needs would be largely promotional.

Spreadsheet considerations

So how do you ensure you cover all your bases and budget wisely no matter the event your planning? We have you covered. In case you’re left to your own discretion, here are a few things to always include on your spreadsheet:

Expense categories and subcategories

Break out as much as possible within each category to avoid any potential missteps. Rather than simply listing “Food and Beverages,” create separate line items  — especially when multiple vendors are involved.

Details

Not only will this column keep you sane, but it’ll also minimize miscommunication if you’re working with a partner or if your client requires approval. Be as descriptive as possible. If you can’t quite explain why a particular item is essential, it may be worth reconsidering.

Estimated cost

As you reach out to various vendors for quotes, you’ll start to get an idea of how much every expense category will set you back.

Note a ballpark figure during the preliminary stages of planning to see where costs fit into your budget expectations.

Actual cost

This should be the final figure you’ve agreed to pay your vendor. In addition to helping you keep track of your budget, this column will be a valuable resource to refer back to when planning your next event.

Cost difference (Estimated vs. Actual)

Assuming that the total of your estimated costs is well within your budget, the Difference column will reveal how much over or under budget you are. Evaluate your most important expenses and trim costs as needed.

If you don’t quite know where to begin, it’s always helpful to ask your company or client for past figures. Knowing how much they allotted to each category for a similar event will serve as a great sample event budget and help guide you in the right direction in the future.

Hoping to rent a warehouse for the day for your event? Here’s precisely how to do so.

How Peerspace can help your event

As we’ve discussed before, you should expect your venue fees and catering fees to be the most expensive culprits. On that end, Peerspace makes it simple to explore and book unique spaces directly from local hosts.

On our platform, you will find stunning event spaces of every size and design. You can easily include filters to find a space that has exactly what you need, too. The hardest part is narrowing it down to just one!

You can find a venue that perfectly suits your event style, from rustic warehouses to elegant mansions and eclectic lofts to swanky ballrooms. You can even enlist the services of your venue’s local host to help track down event must-haves, such as catering and equipment.

Need a few examples to get started? Here are some of our favorite event spaces that you can book today:

• This 2,000-square-foot rooftop terrace in Midtown Manhattan, NY overlooking the Empire State Building with seating, A/V capabilities, and unique lighting
• This dynamic industrial event venue in El Segundo, CA with chic minimalist style, catering services, a PA system, and a furnished outdoor area
• This bright, blank and beautiful event space in Alexandria, NSW, Australia with an open layout and food, drink, and decor services on request
• This historic Bridgeport mixed-use space in Chicago, IL with cozy seating, a kitchen, and event-friendly add-on services
• This tropical zen oasis home in Miami, FL with about 4,500 square feet of space, a chic interior, and an outdoor area
• Moonlight Lounge in Toronto, ON (pictured above) with space for about 200 guests, vintage decor, and packages that include entertainment, food, and drinks
• This modern event space in Houston, TX with tables and chairs, barn-style doors, A/V equipment, and helpful add-on options

As you can see, Peerspace can connect you with amazingly unique and well-equipped event venues in cities around the world. And this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to amazing event venues available through our platform. Also, remember to keep an eye out for Peerspace hosts that offer catering and equipment rental services as add-ons.

Next, check out these 8 helpful websites for event planners!

A final note on using an event budget template

Once you plug all the figures into your event budget template, your job still isn’t quite finished yet. Your budget will likely adjust throughout the planning process. This makes real-time updates crucial. Keep your invoices organized and double-check that your most recent charges line up with your current costs.

By now, you should better understand what it takes to execute an event on a planned budget successfully. Remember: staying on top of your adjusted costs and anticipating all potential expenses are key to smooth planning.

And once you have the basics of event budgeting down, be sure to check out Peerspace for the perfect event venue. We have rentable event spaces in cities across North America and beyond that you can rent from local hosts. Many Peerspace event venues already offer these services, so if you need them, keep an eye out for those venues and hosts that include them!

Let Peerspace help you find the perfect event venue that will help you stay within your budget (without compromising style). From white-walled galleries to fully-decorated venues, we have thousands of unique spaces to choose from. It’s the perfect mix of ease and value while also ensuring you pull off a memorable event in a stylish, inviting, and clean setting.

Find unique event venues on Peerspace