BASIC BUDGET

REVENUE
Registration
Exhibit Sq. Feet
Sponsorship

Unit Price

800
5,000

Totals

$378.50
$30.00
$50,000.00

$302,800.00
$150,000.00
$50,000.00

TOTAL REVENUE
FIXED EXPENSES

$502,800.00

AV & PC Rental/Labor
Buses
Convention Staff Salaries
Decorations
Decorator
Entertainment
Flowers/Plants
Internet & Networking
Lead Retrieval
Meeting Room Rental
Microphones
Miscellaneous
Photocopies
Photographer
Security
Signage
Stage Set
Telephone
Trucking/Shipping

TOTAL FIXED EXPENSES

VARIABLE EXPENSES
Sunday Reception
Monday Continental Bkfst
Monday AM Break
Monday Lunch
Monday PM Break
Monday Reception
Tuesday Continental Bkfst
Tuesday AM Break
Tuesday Lunch
Tuesday PM Break
Tuesday Banquet
Wednesday Continental Bkfast
Wednesday Brunch

TOTAL VARIABLE EXPENSES

VARIABLE COSTS/PERSON
TOTAL EXPENSES

$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

Attn.
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800

Cost/Pp
$55.00
$20.00
$14.00
$45.00
$12.00
$40.00
$20.00
$14.00
$45.00
$12.00
$100.00
$20.00
$28.00

62,000.00
7,500.00
8,000.00
6,000.00
15,000.00
6,000.00
800.00
8,000.00
5,000.00
10,000.00
4,500.00
1,000.00
1,000.00
2,000.00
2,500.00
6,000.00
10,000.00
5,500.00
2,000.00

162,800.00
Totals
$44,000.00
$16,000.00
$11,200.00
$36,000.00
$9,600.00
$32,000.00
$16,000.00
$11,200.00
$36,000.00
$9,600.00
$80,000.00
$16,000.00
$22,400.00

$340,000.00
$425.00
$502,800.00

Basic Budget
This workbook is designed to provide the meeting
professional the ability to calculate registration
revenues, based on the Break Even Analysis model.
This model is used throughout the industry, and is
recognized as the method to determine registration
fees when sitting for the CMP (Certified Meeting
Professional) exam.
This is the Basic Budget, from which all calculations
are derived. The second worksheet, Break Even
Analysis, will discuss how these formulas work, as
well as provide information about the four budget
worksheets that follow.
The last worksheet, Quick Calculator, is designed to
provide a quick calculation for those who know their
budget numbers.
Notice that the key cells from each spreadsheet are
highlighted, so that the planner can clearly see from
where the data is taken.

Critical budget information on each worksheet is

identified with text formatting similar to this text box.
Blue text, yellow background and bold are used to
indicate the formula components that need to be
used.

TOTAL REVENUE
PROFIT - LOSS

$502,800.00
$0.00

Break Even Analysis

Break Even Analysis is a method by which meeting organizers can determine at which poin
There are a number of ways that a planner can use this tool. They can use it to:
Determine registration fees required to break even
Determine registration fees required to produce a desired profit margin
Estimate attendance required to cover costs based on pre-determined registration fee.
The Break Even Price formula is given below. In order to use the formula, three pieces of
be able to establish a registration fee:
Total Fixed Expenses
Anticipated Number of Attendees
Variable Costs. This is the sum of the per person variable expenses from the budget.
Total Fixed Expenses
Break Even Price = -------------------------------- + Variable Costs
Number of Attendees

The most critical part of working with this formula on any budget is to separate fixed from v
stated, variable expenses are those which fluctuate with the changing number of attendees
variable expenses reflect food & beverage events, where a per person cost is charged.

This spreadsheet will use the BasicBudget worksheet as a standard budget for this meetin
worksheets are contained, each one showing how the Break Even Analysis works. The fou
Registration Fee Only
Adding Extra Revenue
Budgeting for Desired Profit Margin
Working with Varied Guarantee Numbers

Additional Tool - QuickCal

provides a quick calculatio
determining the appropria
enter the numbers, and se
fee.

REGISTRATION FEE ONLY

REVENUE
Registration
TOTAL REVENUE
FIXED EXPENSES

Unit Price

$0.00
$0.00

AV & PC Rental/Labor
Buses
Convention Staff Salaries
Decorations
Decorator
Entertainment
Flowers/Plants
Internet & Networking
Lead Retrieval
Meeting Room Rental
Microphones
Miscellaneous
Photocopies
Photographer
Security
Signage
Stage Set
Telephone
Trucking/Shipping

TOTAL FIXED EXPENSES

VARIABLE EXPENSES
Sunday Reception
Monday Continental Bkfst
Monday AM Break
Monday Lunch
Monday PM Break
Monday Reception
Tuesday Continental Bkfst
Tuesday AM Break
Tuesday Lunch
Tuesday PM Break
Tuesday Banquet
Wednesday Continental Bkfast
Wednesday Brunch

TOTAL VARIABLE EXPENSES

VARIABLE COSTS/PERSON
TOTAL EXPENSES
TOTAL REVENUE

Totals

800

Attn.
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800

Cost/Pp
$55.00
$20.00
$14.00
$45.00
$12.00
$40.00
$20.00
$14.00
$45.00
$12.00
$100.00
$20.00
$28.00

$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

62,000.00
7,500.00
8,000.00
6,000.00
15,000.00
6,000.00
800.00
8,000.00
5,000.00
10,000.00
4,500.00
1,000.00
1,000.00
2,000.00
2,500.00
6,000.00
10,000.00
5,500.00
2,000.00

162,800.00
Totals
$44,000.00
$16,000.00
$11,200.00
$36,000.00
$9,600.00
$32,000.00
$16,000.00
$11,200.00
$36,000.00
$9,600.00
$80,000.00
$16,000.00
$22,400.00

$340,000.00
$425.00
$502,800.00
$0.00

Registration Fee Only

No other sources of revenue (e.g. exhibit fees,
sponsorship) are added to the budget. The three
elements for this budget are:
Total Fixed Expenses - $162,800
Number of Attendees - 800
Total Variable Cost/Pp - $425

The Formula
Total Fixed Expenses
Break Even Price = ------------------------------+ Variable Costs
Number of Attendees

B.E.P.

$162,800
= --------------------------------+ $425
800

Break Even Price = $628.50

Enter this amount into cell C4 (Registration Fee). It
will completely balance the Profit Loss cell (D48).

PROFIT - LOSS

-$502,800.00

EXTRA REVENUE MODEL

REVENUE
Registration
Exhibit Sq. Feet
Sponsorship

Unit Price

800
5000

Totals
$0.00
$150,000.00
$50,000.00

$30.00
$50,000.00

TOTAL REVENUE
FIXED EXPENSES
AV & PC Rental/Labor
Buses
Convention Staff Salaries
Decorations
Decorator
Entertainment
Flowers/Plants
Internet & Networking
Lead Retrieval
Meeting Room Rental
Microphones
Miscellaneous
Photocopies
Photographer
Security
Signage
Stage Set
Telephone
Trucking/Shipping

TOTAL FIXED EXPENSES

VARIABLE EXPENSES
Sunday Reception
Monday Continental Bkfst
Monday AM Break
Monday Lunch
Monday PM Break
Monday Reception
Tuesday Continental Bkfst
Tuesday AM Break
Tuesday Lunch
Tuesday PM Break
Tuesday Banquet
Wednesday Continental Bkfast
Wednesday Brunch
TOTAL VARIABLE EXPENSES
VARIABLE COSTS/PERSON
TOTAL EXPENSES

Extra Revenue Model

$200,000.00

Attn.
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800

Cost/Pp
$55.00
$20.00
$14.00
$45.00
$12.00
$40.00
$20.00
$14.00
$45.00
$12.00
$100.00
$20.00
$28.00

$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

62,000.00
7,500.00
8,000.00
6,000.00
15,000.00
6,000.00
800.00
8,000.00
5,000.00
10,000.00
4,500.00
1,000.00
1,000.00
2,000.00
2,500.00
6,000.00
10,000.00
5,500.00
2,000.00

162,800.00
Totals
$44,000.00
$16,000.00
$11,200.00
$36,000.00
$9,600.00
$32,000.00
$16,000.00
$11,200.00
$36,000.00
$9,600.00
$80,000.00
$16,000.00
$22,400.00
$340,000.00

$425.00
$502,800.00

In this variation, the planner needs to integrate anticipated

sponsorship revenue and exhibit square footage revenue in
order to establish the registration fee. One more
component is required in this calculation, the total additional
revenue
Total Fixed Expenses (TFE)
- $162,800
Number of Attendees
- 800
Total Variable Cost/Pp
- $425
Total Additional Revenue (TAR) - $200,000

In order to make this work, the planner must subtract the

total additional revenue from the Total Fixed Expenses.
This may result in a negative number in the numerator,
which is OK.
TFE - TAR
Break Even Price = ------------------------------+ Variable Costs
Number of Attendees

B.E.P.

$162,800 - $200,000
= --------------------------------+ $425
800

B.E.P.

B.E.P.

-$37,200
--------------------------------- +$425
800
-$46.50 + $425

Break Even Price = $378.50

Note that in this budget there are 2 lines of additional revenue
(exhibit square feet and sponsorship). Any/all additional
revenues must be tallied here in order to allow this formula to
work properly.

TOTAL REVENUE
PROFIT - LOSS

$200,000.00
-$302,800.00

Note that in this budget there are 2 lines of additional revenue

(exhibit square feet and sponsorship). Any/all additional
revenues must be tallied here in order to allow this formula to
work properly.

PROFIT MARGIN
REVENUE
Registration
Exhibit Sq. Feet
Sponsorship

Unit Price
800
5000

Totals
$0.00
$150,000.00
$50,000.00

$30.00
$50,000.00

TOTAL REVENUE
FIXED EXPENSES
AV & PC Rental/Labor
Buses
Convention Staff Salaries
Decorations
Decorator
Entertainment
Flowers/Plants
Internet & Networking
Lead Retrieval
Meeting Room Rental
Microphones
Miscellaneous
Photocopies
Photographer
Security
Signage
Stage Set
Telephone
Trucking/Shipping

TOTAL FIXED EXPENSES

VARIABLE EXPENSES
Sunday Reception
Monday Continental Bkfst
Monday AM Break
Monday Lunch
Monday PM Break
Monday Reception
Tuesday Continental Bkfst
Tuesday AM Break
Tuesday Lunch
Tuesday PM Break
Tuesday Banquet
Wednesday Continental Bkfast
Wednesday Brunch

TOTAL VARIABLE EXPENSES

VARIABLE COSTS/PERSON
TOTAL EXPENSES

Profit Margin Model

$200,000.00

Attn.
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800
800

Cost/Pp
$55.00
$20.00
$14.00
$45.00
$12.00
$40.00
$20.00
$14.00
$45.00
$12.00
$100.00
$20.00
$28.00

$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

62,000.00
7,500.00
8,000.00
6,000.00
15,000.00
6,000.00
800.00
8,000.00
5,000.00
10,000.00
4,500.00
1,000.00
1,000.00
2,000.00
2,500.00
6,000.00
10,000.00
5,500.00
2,000.00

162,800.00
Totals
$44,000.00
$16,000.00
$11,200.00
$36,000.00
$9,600.00
$32,000.00
$16,000.00
$11,200.00
$36,000.00
$9,600.00
$80,000.00
$16,000.00
$22,400.00

$340,000.00
$425.00
$502,800.00

In addition to the TAR from the previous example, this

budget requires a profit to be made from the meeting.
Total Fixed Expenses (TFE)
- $162,800
Number of Attendees
- 800
Total Variable Cost/Pp
- $425
Total Additional Revenue (TAR) - $200,000
Desired Profit (Prof)
In order to make this work, once again$250,000
the planner must
$250,000
factor in this information as part of the TFE-TAR
numerator.

TFE - TAR + Prof

Break Even Price = -----------------------------+ Variable Costs
Number of Attendees

B.E.P.

$162,800 - $200,000 + $250,000

= -----------------------------------------+ $425
800

B.E.P.

B.E.P.

$212,800
--------------------------------- +$425
800
$266 + $425

$250,000 Profit Registration Fee = $691

Once you add the Registration Fee of $691 into
cell C4, the Profit/Loss cell (D49) will now reflect a
$250,000 profit, which is what we desired.

Once you add the Registration Fee of $691 into

cell C4, the Profit/Loss cell (D49) will now reflect a
$250,000 profit, which is what we desired.
TOTAL REVENUE
PROFIT - LOSS

$200,000.00
-$302,800.00

REVENUE
Registration
TOTAL REVENUE
FIXED EXPENSES

#
800

Unit Price
$562.38

Totals
$449,904.00
$449,904.00

AV & PC Rental/Labor
Buses
Convention Staff Salaries
Decorations
Decorator

$
$
$
$
$

62,000.00
7,500.00
8,000.00
6,000.00
15,000.00

Entertainment
Flowers/Plants
Internet & Networking
Lead Retrieval
Meeting Room Rental
Microphones
Miscellaneous
Photocopies
Photographer
Security
Signage
Stage Set
Telephone
Trucking/Shipping

$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

6,000.00
800.00
8,000.00
5,000.00
10,000.00
4,500.00
1,000.00
1,000.00
2,000.00
2,500.00
6,000.00
10,000.00
5,500.00
2,000.00

TOTAL FIXED EXPENSES

VARIABLE EXPENSES
Sunday Reception
Monday Continental Bkfst
Monday AM Break
Monday Lunch
Monday PM Break
Monday Reception
Tuesday Continental Bkfst
Tuesday AM Break
Tuesday Lunch
Tuesday PM Break
Tuesday Banquet
Wednesday Continental Bkfast
Wednesday Brunch

$
Attn.

Cost/Pp
650
800
700
750
700
800
750
650
700
500
600
650
600

TOTAL VARIABLE EXPENSES (PrVE)

VARIABLE COSTS/PERSON
TOTAL EXPENSES
TOTAL REVENUE
PROFIT - LOSS

$55.00
$20.00
$14.00
$45.00
$12.00
$40.00
$20.00
$14.00
$45.00
$12.00
$100.00
$20.00
$28.00

162,800.00
Totals
$35,750.00
$16,000.00
$9,800.00
$33,750.00
$8,400.00
$32,000.00
$15,000.00
$9,100.00
$31,500.00
$6,000.00
$60,000.00
$13,000.00
$16,800.00

$287,100.00
$425.00

This number replaces the Variable Cost Per

Person in the Varied Guarantees
Calculation.

$449,900.00
$449,904.00
$4.00

This number replaces the Variable Cost Per

Person in the Varied Guarantees
Calculation.

Steps to Calculate Revised Variable Costs (RevVC)

1 - Determine Variable Expenses for each event, based on the projected event
attendance. These numbers go directly into the budget. In this situation, each
event may have a different number of participants. Sum the total of this column
(PrVE).

3 - Subtract FuVE PrVE. This gives you the

difference between the projected and full
attendance (DiffVE). Note that shortcut column H
combines steps 2 and 3 into a single Excel formula.

2 - Determine Variable Expenses for each eve

estimate. This is the total as if the full group w
this column (FuVE). This column is reflected in

4 - Divide DiffVE/FuVE. This gives you a percentage that

you are shaving off of your guarantees by not using the full
attendance as your base (PctVE).

Break Even Budget Calculator

Just fill in the blanks, and let the calculators determine your break even (or profit-desired) registration fee.
Only the cells with Yellow background can be edited.
STANDARD CALCULATOR
Total Fixed Expenses
Anticipated Attendees
Total Variable Cost/Pp
Total Additional Revenue
Desired Profit

$162,800.00
800
$425.00
$200,000.00
$250,000.00

YOUR TARGET REGISTRATION FEE IS:

WITH A PROFIT MARGIN OF:

$691.00
$250,000.00

YOUR TARGET REGISTRATION FEE IS:

WITH A PROFIT MARGIN OF:

$624.88
$250,000.00

VARIED GUARANTEES CALCULATOR

Total Fixed Expenses
Anticipated Attendees
Revised Variable Costs
Total Additional Revenue
Desired Profit

$162,800.00
800
$358.88
$200,000.00
$250,000.00