The four things that move the price
Every Barzone quote is built from the same approved package data — you can see the full live rates on our Packages & Prices page. Here is what changes the total from one event to the next.
1. Payment model
The biggest swing is who pays. Cash Bar is a setup fee plus guests buying their own drinks; Hosted Bar is a per-guest rate; Drinks Tab is a unit fee plus a prepaid cap; Bar & Staff Only is a flat fee for the bar and team while you supply the drinks.
2. Which unit you choose
The Bar Zone flagship and the compact Nom Bango carry different setup fees and per-guest rates. The flagship suits large weddings and corporate functions; Nom Bango suits tighter access and smaller footprints.
3. Guests, menu and service hours
A Hosted Bar has a 50-guest minimum and a 4-hour window; extra hours and extra bartenders are quoted. The agreed drinks menu — Standard or Premium — changes the per-guest rate. More guests and more hours mean more staff and more stock.
4. Travel and site logistics
Our base is in Hartbeespoort. Travel and setup logistics are itemised in your written quote — we don't publish a fixed radius or a mileage calculator. Vehicle access and level space still matter even when the bar runs off its own power.
What setup fees do — and don't
A setup fee brings the trailer, the team and the agreed service window to your venue. It is not the drinks spend. On a Cash Bar the setup fee is the host's main cost and guests buy their own drinks; on a Hosted Bar the setup is already included in the per-guest rate, so there is no separate setup charge; on a Drinks Tab there is a separate bar fee plus the prepaid tab; on Bar & Staff Only the flat fee covers the bar and team and you supply every drink.
For Cash Bar events of 150+ guests the setup fee may be waived — subject to acceptance based on the projected overall spend on the event. That is a conditional waiver of one component, not a zero-cost guarantee for the whole booking. Any reservation, deposit and refund conditions are set out in the written quote.
A worked example — one component only
To show how a single piece of arithmetic works, take a Hosted Bar for 50 guests on Nom Bango at the Standard per-guest rate:
50 guests × R220/guest = R11 000
That is the Hosted package subtotal for the stated service — the Nom Bango Hosted Standard per-guest rate multiplied by the guest count. Setup is already included in the per-guest rate, so it is not added again. It excludes only quote-specific travel, additional site logistics and paid extras, which depend on your venue and choices. Your full total comes back in the written quote.
Optional extras that can change scope
- Extra hours and staff. Additional service hours and extra bartenders are quoted per event.
- Signature cocktails. A 3-signature-cocktail menu carries a setup fee plus per-drink charges — it is not included by default.
- Glassware and branded items. Glassware upgrades, draught kegs, branded cups and menu boards are quoted against your guest count and branding.
- Both units. Book the flagship and Nom Bango together for 10% off the combined logistics and setup — scope confirmed in the quote.
Send us for an accurate quote
The closer your brief, the closer the quote. The details that change the scope most are: your date (or “date not confirmed”), an expected guest count (or “estimate not confirmed”), the town or venue, which package you're leaning toward, and the service window. Tell us about access — gate width, turning room and level ground — and any venue restrictions, because those can change which unit works and whether travel or an extra crew member applies.
A request is not a reservation. We confirm availability, access, licensing and the exact figures before any date is held. See our booking information for the deposit and notice targets that sit behind the quote.