How to Price Paint and Sip Events (Without Undercharging)

When I started out, I priced my seats by gut feel — and by what other local studios were charging. It took me about a year to realise both were wrong. Here's the pricing framework I'd give my past self.

Start with your true cost per seat

Add up: canvas + paint + brushes + apron + your hourly rate (paid to yourself) + a fair share of venue and marketing. For most studios this lands between £12 and £18 per seat. Anything you charge below that is a hobby, not a business.

Public events — the £30 to £45 sweet spot

In the UK, £30 to £45 is the price most casual painters happily pay for a 2-hour BYOB session. Bundle drinks and you can comfortably reach £50 to £60. Push past £60 and you need a clear reason — a premium venue, longer session, or higher-end painting.

Private parties — flat-rate the room

Private bookings (hen dos, birthdays, baby showers) should never be priced per seat. Flat-rate the room: £350 to £500 for up to 12 guests, with an extra-head charge above that. You're selling exclusivity and a guaranteed slot — not a discount on public seats.

Corporate — premium, every time

Corporate budgets are not personal budgets. A team-building paint and sip should start at £55 to £75 per seat with a minimum spend (often £600+). Include branding on the canvas, a project manager experience, and a per-seat takeaway photo for the team Slack.

How to raise prices without losing customers

Raise once a year. Announce the new price 4 weeks out. Offer one final 'old price' weekend. Almost no-one cancels — and the new price floor pulls the next 12 months of revenue up with it.

What goes inside the ticket

The most under-rated upgrade you can make to your ticket price is the painting itself. A polished, on-trend painting with marketing photos that look like an event you'd want to attend is worth £5–£10 more per seat. Every Paint n Sip Designs painting ships with that exact marketing pack.