{"id":4999,"date":"2015-10-14T10:00:25","date_gmt":"2015-10-14T14:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/womensministrytoolbox.com\/?p=4999"},"modified":"2020-08-26T09:52:20","modified_gmt":"2020-08-26T13:52:20","slug":"charge-for-your-retreat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/womensministrytoolbox.com\/charge-for-your-retreat\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 14 – What should you charge for your retreat?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"What<\/a><\/p>\n

We\u2019re getting into some sticky and uncomfortable territory today.<\/p>\n

Pricing your retreat right is a big deal. And it\u2019s hard. And if this is your first retreat, this part probably has your shaking in your boots.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve got to cover your costs, but you also have to make sure you keep your expenses minimal so most women can attend.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You may have money in your budget to cover some of the costs of your retreat. I\u2019ve got some tips below, if you don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to list out what we\u2019ve typically covered with our budget monies, what we\u2019ve asked our women to cover, and expenses the church has incurred.<\/p>\n

Our retreat budget has varied between $1500 and $3000 depending upon the church and retreat location.<\/p>\n

Covered by our women\u2019s ministry budget<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Speaker fees and expenses (I think the most we\u2019ve spent was $800)<\/li>\n
  2. Decorations for the retreat<\/li>\n
  3. Goodie bags for each attendee (typically $2-5 per person \u2013 keep in mind I\u2019m a bargain shopper)<\/li>\n
  4. Special publicity \u2013 postcards, custom flyers, etc.<\/li>\n
  5. Tech rental<\/li>\n
  6. Scholarship needs<\/li>\n
  7. Programming supplies (retreat-in-a-box, book, etc.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Expenses our attendees cover<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Room costs (usually we offer a single room and double room option)<\/li>\n
    2. Food expenses for the weekend (if we will be eating out, we let them know that will be an additional expense)<\/li>\n
    3. Free time activity costs, should they choose to shop, take a tour, etc.<\/li>\n
    4. T-shirts (if we printed them)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      From church general budget<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Copies of our program<\/li>\n
      2. Name tags<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        If I had my way, I\u2019d charge between $75 and $90 (double occupancy) for a one night retreat. If you\u2019re going to charge $90, you need to include 3 meals, a really nice goodie bag and\/or t-shirt, and the accommodations should be 4 stars.<\/p>\n

        I have paid\/charged anywhere from $125 to $230 to attend a two night retreat.<\/p>\n

        If I had my way, I’d charge\u00a0between $150 and $200 for\u00a0a two-night retreat.\u00a0Again, at the high end, you need to include all meals, really nice lodgings, and evening activities. We charged $175 for double occupancy in a 3 bedroom oceanfront condo. We included 4 hotel meals (dinner was on your own Saturday night), tickets to a Christmas production, goodie bags, and a t-shirt.<\/p>\n

        A note about scholarships:<\/em> Partial scholarships were always available and donations to the scholarship fund were almost always solicited. Sometimes one woman would cover the bill for another. Even if women could pay very little, we asked them to do so – otherwise we found they were more likely to back out at the last minute, not realizing we were often going to have to pay for them anyway.<\/p>\n

        I know some of you don\u2019t have a women\u2019s ministry budget.<\/p>\n

        I also know $200 for a retreat would be unheard of at some of your churches.<\/p>\n

        \"9<\/a><\/p>\n

        Here are some ideas for keeping costs to a minimum:<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. \u00a0Minimize your lodging and food costs \u2013 church member\u2019s rental home, Christian retreat center, etc. Hotel food can be terribly expensive.<\/li>\n
        2. Prepare your own food if possible and stick to a strict budget.<\/li>\n
        3. Omit t-shirts.<\/li>\n
        4. Bring your own tech equipment.<\/li>\n
        5. Provide your own worship team, rather than hiring someone.<\/li>\n
        6. Utilize your own women to speak and\/or lead the sessions. You should still pay them an honorarium.<\/li>\n
        7. Keep the decorations to a minimum.<\/li>\n
        8. Enlist your best budget-minded shoppers to help find stuff for goodie bags.<\/li>\n
        9. Skip door prizes and give every woman a small favor instead.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Other money tips:<\/strong><\/p>\n