How to Price a Retreat: A Simple Guide for Retreat Leaders
If you have dreamed of leading a retreat but are unsure where to begin, start with the numbers. Pricing does not need to be complicated. At the beginning, focus on the two largest costs: venue hire and catering.
Many retreat leaders who held their first retreat at Curraweena House started in the same place. They had an idea, a community they wanted to bring together and a dream they decided to follow. They did not have every detail worked out before they began.
You do not have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great.
Curraweena House is booked for retreats throughout 2026, so now is the time to start planning for 2027. Starting now gives you time to shape it with confidence.
Keep your retreat pricing simple
For a useful first estimate, begin with:
Venue hire: the cost of the property for the number of nights and guests you are planning.
Catering: the estimated food cost for each person, for each night of the retreat.
These two figures give you a clear base cost. You can then divide that amount by the number of paying guests to understand the minimum price per person before allowing for your own profit or any optional extras.
TIP: Count yourself in as the retreat leader in terms of costs.
A simple pricing formula (VENUE HIRE + CATERING) ÷ NUMBER OF PAYING GUESTS = BASE COST PER GUEST
For example, if venue hire and catering total $5,900 and you expect 10 paying guests, your base cost is $590 per paying guest. You can then decide what to charge based on the value of the retreat and the return you want to make for creating and leading it.
TIP: You’ll be staying at the venue but are not buying a ticket, so you still need to include yourself in the accommodation and catering numbers, otherwise your costs will be incorrect.
A venue you can shape around your retreat
Curraweena House is a retreat venue for hire. You bring the idea, lead the retreat and create the experience for your guests. You can self-cater or we can connect you with local caterers, giving you flexibility over both the style and cost of your retreat.
The size and timing of your retreat will influence the estimate. Curraweena House suits groups of up to 11 people, including retreat leaders staying onsite. For groups of 12 to 18, Bell View House is added.
Try the Curraweena House retreat pricing calculator
We have remodelled our website to make it easier to understand how to plan, book and price a retreat. Our new calculator brings the key inputs together so you can explore different dates, group sizes and ticket prices, then see how the numbers may work.
Ready to take the first step?
Use the calculator to estimate venue hire and catering, test your ticket price and see your potential return.
Try our Retreat Pricing Calculator
Your retreat can start with a dream and a date
Most first-time retreat leaders do not begin with a perfect plan. They begin by deciding that their idea is worth exploring. From there, they choose a venue, start talking to their community and take the next practical step.
Perhaps your first retreat will be in 2027. Perhaps it will be in 2028. We hope Curraweena House will be the place where your retreat dream becomes something real.
