Planning guide
How Much Does Catering for 50 People Cost in Denver?
Published November 5, 2026 · Updated November 11, 2026 · 7 min read
Short answer: a live waffle station for 50 people in Denver is $635 for 50 guests (about $12.70 per person), before tax, with the crew, toppings bar, setup and cleanup included. What any caterer charges for 50 guests depends on the format you pick, what's included, and the time of day. Here's how to compare quotes, with a full worked example.
What drives the cost of catering for 50 people
- Format. Drop-off trays cost the least and include no staff. A full service buffet or a live cooking station costs more because people serve your guests and clean up.
- Meal. Breakfast usually costs less per person than lunch or dinner.
- What's in the quote. Plates, utensils, setup, service and cleanup are sometimes extra. Ask before you compare.
- Distance and timing. Travel fees, early starts and last-minute bookings can add to the total.
What Tom's Waffles costs for 50 people
Our package is priced by guest count, so a few guests either way moves the price only a little. Here it is around 50 guests:
| Guests | Package | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | $495 | $12.38 |
| 50 | $635 | $12.70 |
| 60 | $690 | $11.50 |
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. The catering menu is the same for a private event or a corporate event; only the guest count sets the package price.
Add-ons and what they cost
| 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) |
A worked example for 50 guests
Here is a whole quote for an office breakfast for 50, 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 it:
| 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 |
That works out to about $12.70 per person for the waffles alone; add-ons change it by their per-guest rate. Sign the contract or pay a 50% deposit to secure your date; the remaining balance is due the day before your event.
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.
Will it fit your space?
Runs indoors in lobbies, break rooms, cafeterias and ballrooms, in about a 10 by 10 foot space with 2 to 3 dedicated 20-amp outlets. No open flame, smoke or grease.
The crew arrives at least 80 minutes before service to set up and start cooking, so the first waffles are ready when doors open, and packs everything up within 30 minutes after. That's what keeps the morning stress free for whoever is organizing: nothing to carry in, nothing to clean up. An espresso bar with a barista adds $7 per person.
See every guest count on our menu and pricing page, read what catering for 100 people costs, or check your date to get an exact quote in a couple of minutes.
Frequently asked questions
How much does catering for 50 people cost in Denver?
It depends mostly on the format: a drop-off tray order, a staffed buffet or a live station with a crew. As one concrete example, a live Belgian waffle station from Tom's Waffles is $635 for 50 guests (about $12.70 per person), before tax, with the crew, toppings bar, setup and cleanup included.
What's included in the price?
Belgian Liège waffles made to order, a full toppings bar, the crew, all equipment, plates, napkins and utensils, setup and cleanup.
Is there a delivery or 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 long does it take to serve 50 people?
For 50 guests the serving window included is 90 minutes, and we bring enough irons and crew to keep the line moving. A longer window can be added.
How do we book, and when is it paid?
Sign the contract or pay a 50% deposit to secure your date; the remaining balance is due the day before your event.
What if our event is next week?
Booking inside 7 days of the event adds a rush fee of $50 or 10%, whichever is more.
Can guests who need gluten-free eat too?
Gluten-free waffles are cooked on dedicated gluten-free equipment.