Planning guide
How Much Does Breakfast Catering Cost Per Person?
Published November 5, 2026 · Updated November 11, 2026 · 6 min read
Short answer: live waffle breakfast catering in Denver runs $9–$18 per person, before tax, depending on headcount, with the crew, toppings bar, setup and cleanup included. Bigger groups pay less per head.
Cost per person by group size
| Guests | Package | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | $349 | $17.45 |
| 30 | $415 | $13.83 |
| 50 | $635 | $12.70 |
| 75 | $832.5 | $11.10 |
| 100 | $1,040 | $10.40 |
| 150 | $1,420 | $9.47 |
| 200 | $1,820 | $9.10 |
What every package includes: Belgian Liège waffles made to order, a full toppings bar, the crew, all equipment, plates, napkins and utensils, setup and cleanup.
Add-ons that change the per-person price
| Add-on | Per guest |
|---|---|
| Bacon or sausage | $2 |
| Drinks package (hot coffee, iced coffee, hot chocolate or lemonade) | $3 |
| Espresso bar with a barista | $7 ($250 minimum with waffles) |
| Chicken & waffles (events serving at 12:00 PM or later) | +$7/pp ($210 minimum) |
Hot coffee and hot chocolate come with the drinks package, and an espresso bar with a barista is its own add-on. See what an espresso bar costs.
Worked examples: 50 and 100 guests
Two whole quotes for a breakfast with bacon or sausage and the drinks package, at a venue under an hour's drive from Denver, calculated the way the booking page charges them:
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Waffle station package (50 guests) | $635.00 |
| Bacon or sausage ($2 a guest) | $100.00 |
| Drinks package ($3 a guest) | $150.00 |
| Travel fee (under an hour's drive) | $0.00 |
| Subtotal before tax | $885.00 |
| Sales tax (none for a tax-exempt organization) | $14.16 |
| Total | $899.16 |
| 50% deposit to secure the date (or sign the contract instead) | $449.58 |
| Booked inside a week instead: rush fee added before tax | $88.50 |
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Waffle station package (100 guests) | $1,040.00 |
| Bacon or sausage ($2 a guest) | $200.00 |
| Drinks package ($3 a guest) | $300.00 |
| Travel fee (under an hour's drive) | $0.00 |
| Subtotal before tax | $1,540.00 |
| Sales tax (none for a tax-exempt organization) | $24.64 |
| Total | $1,564.64 |
| 50% deposit to secure the date (or sign the contract instead) | $782.32 |
| Booked inside a week instead: rush fee added before tax | $154.00 |
Divide the subtotal by the guest count to compare it with another caterer's per-person price. More detail in catering for 50 people and catering for 100 people.
What changes the price
- Guest count. The package is priced on a headcount scale, so the cost per person falls as the group grows: $12.70 per person at 50 guests.
- Serving time. At 50 guests the package includes 90 minutes of serving. Serving longer is $60 per crew member for each extra hour.
- Add-ons. Bacon or sausage, the drinks package, an espresso bar or chicken & waffles are each priced per guest (table above).
- Travel. No travel fee when the venue is under an hour's one-way drive from our Denver kitchen. From there it's $100 per full hour of drive time (1–2 hours: $100, 2–3 hours: $200, 3–4 hours: $300), set from Google's drive time to your exact address. Venues more than 4 hours away are outside our standard service area; call us to arrange those.
- Short notice. Booking inside 7 days of the event adds a rush fee of $50 or 10%, whichever is more.
How to compare breakfast catering quotes
- Per person or per package? Convert both to a total for your headcount.
- Staffed or drop-off? Drop-off trays are cheaper but nobody serves or cleans up.
- What's extra? Plates, setup, service time, travel and tax.
Full prices are on our menu and pricing page, and breakfast catering in Denver explains how a live station works.
Frequently asked questions
How much does breakfast catering cost per person?
It depends on the format and the group size. For a live Belgian waffle station from Tom's Waffles it's $9–$18 per person, before tax: $349 for 20 guests (about $17.45 per person), down to about $10.40 per person at 100 guests.
Why does the per-person price go down for bigger groups?
The crew, equipment, travel and setup cost about the same whether you feed 30 people or 80, so a bigger group spreads that fixed cost over more guests.
Is breakfast cheaper than lunch catering?
Usually, yes. Breakfast food costs less than a lunch entrée, and a morning event is short, so most caterers price it lower per person.
What's the smallest group you cater?
Our packages start at $349 for 20 guests. Smaller groups are priced at the 20-guest minimum.
How long is breakfast served?
The serving window included runs from 1 hour for 20–29 guests up to 2 hours for 60+ guests, and it can be extended.
Is there a travel fee?
No travel fee when the venue is under an hour's one-way drive from our Denver kitchen. From there it's $100 per full hour of drive time (1–2 hours: $100, 2–3 hours: $200, 3–4 hours: $300), set from Google's drive time to your exact address. Venues more than 4 hours away are outside our standard service area; call us to arrange those.
How do we book?
Sign the contract or pay a 50% deposit to secure your date; the remaining balance is due the day before your event.