The short answer
For a full-service independent planner running a mid-size private or corporate event, expect $1,500–$10,000 per event, with a typical engagement landing around $3,500. The market spreads out by how much of the job you hand over:
| Tier | Range | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| DIY with software | $0–$500 | Checklists, spreadsheets, and your own weekends. Works for small, simple events. |
| Day-of / month-of coordination | $800–$2,500 | You plan; a pro runs the timeline, wrangles vendors, and absorbs the chaos on the day. |
| Full-service independent planner | $1,500–$6,000 | Venue search, vendor sourcing and negotiation, budget management, day-of execution. |
| Premium / large-scale production | $6,000–$10,000+ | Multi-day or high-headcount events, design direction, staffing, production management. |
What actually moves the price
Pricing model. Planners charge flat fees, hourly rates, or a percentage of the event budget (commonly 10–20%). Percentage pricing scales with your spend, which is fine on a $20,000 event and painful on a $100,000 one. Ask for the model upfront and get it in writing — flat fees are easier to compare across quotes.
Scope, not hours. The gap between day-of coordination and full-service planning is months of vendor calls, contract reviews, and negotiation. A good full-service planner often claws back part of their fee through vendor pricing you wouldn’t get on your own. If you’ve already booked most vendors, don’t pay full-service rates — see event planner vs. event coordinator for where the line sits.
Complexity. Guest count matters less than moving parts: number of vendors, venue restrictions, custom builds, and how firm your date is. Ten vendors at one venue is a different job than four vendors in a backyard.
How this guide is priced
Ranges are compiled from published market data and public rate listings — see the source below and our data methodology. As the Mindhyv marketplace grows, these figures will be based on real, anonymized project data from the platform.
Before you hire
Read the event planner hiring guide for the questions that separate pros from hobbyists, and work through how to budget an event first — planners quote faster and tighter against a real number.