Can you host a transformational in-person retreat and make a profit?
You have always wanted to host your own retreat “someday”. But every time you think about it, you have no idea where to start or how to figure out what to charge. What if I make the price too high and nobody buys, or make it too low and end up in the red?
Let’s cut to the chase: you didn’t plan this retreat to lose money. Or to walk away exhausted, underpaid, and wondering why you bothered in the first place.
You’re putting your heart, energy, and expertise into creating something powerful. So let’s make sure your retreat pays you what you’re worth—and gives your guests an experience they’ll want to bring their friends to the next time you offer it!
Making Money Is Not the Same As Selling Out
You can create a transformational retreat that you are excited to host and make a solid profit. I’d argue you must if you want to do this more than once.
It means you can do this again. It means you can serve deeper without burning out.
So let’s talk strategy, because slapping a price tag on your retreat without a clear plan is like packing for a trip without knowing the destination.
1: Start With Your Vision, Not Your Budget
This might sound backward, but hear me out.
Most retreat hosts start with:
“How much can I afford to spend?” OR “How much will my clients be willing to pay?”
…when you should start with:
“What experience do I want to create, and what will that cost?”
Here’s how to flip the script:
- Decide on your transformation (what do you want your attendees to walk away with).
- Design your dream retreat—venue, meals, team, swag, experiences.
- Estimate total costs—both fixed (venue, team, required minimums) and variable (based on # of guests such as per-person food costs).
- Add your desired income—yes, pay yourself! What do you want to earn?
- Divide by your ideal # of attendees = your baseline ticket price.
CASE STUDY: RACHEL’S All Inclusive BUSINESS FRAMEWORK RETREAT
Suppose Rachel has an online course that she teaches over 6-8 weeks with group coaching sessions every week. She would really like to connect in person with her alumni from the course and her community of followers. She could even do an upsell with her new course launch to include the retreat at a discount (buy the retreat and get the course …).
Rachel researches venues that can accommodate 9-12 guests (including herself and her on-site staff) and calculates her fixed costs. These are the costs that she has to pay no matter how many tickets she sells.
- Lodging cost (venue)
- Support staff, such as photographer and coordinator
- Travel expenses for herself and staff (depending on location)
- Decor, teaching equipment
- Any minimum orders such as pre-printed notebooks, or venue requirements
- Insurance
Next, she can calculate variable costs such as food/ bev (unless there is a venue minimum), swag, etc, that increase with the number of attendees but are not fixed.
She should also estimate the post-event income, such as attendees joining her mastermind membership after the retreat or buying additional coaching from her.
This is where the ‘what if’ fun begins….
What if she increased the ticket price or the number of attendees? What if she offered early bird discounts? What if she offered an upgrade for the master suite with a private bathroom?
In my Retreat Lab Live Workshop coming up, we will be working through all of these ‘what if’ scenarios, and you will get my Budget/ Pricing Calculator Spreadsheet to figure it all out!
Rachel needs to know her ‘break-even’ amount and exactly how many tickets (and at what price) to sell to meet her goals before she ever puts down a deposit or posts a single promo!
2: Know What You’re Including (And Be Clear About It)
Once you know your base price, decide what’s included in the ticket. Examples:
- All meals vs. just breakfast?
- Welcome bags, branded swag, or simple notebooks?
- Group coaching or 1:1 time?
- Excursions or downtime?
- Basic beverages or mocktails and adult beverage options? Can guests bring their own snacks/ beverages?
Don’t be afraid to offer tiers—a VIP upgrade with 1:1 access or premium lodging can help you increase revenue without needing more guests.
Pro tip:
Be just as clear about what’s not included—like travel, transportation, alcohol, or optional activities. You don’t want to be negative such as using statements like… “Does NOT include XYZ”. Your attendees want to know what to do and what to expect, so let them know in a positive way.
For example~ “Please feel free to bring your favorite snacks and beverages. There are mini-fridges in your room or a to-share refrigerator in the large kitchen”.
Next week, we are going to cover FAQs which handle many of these questions and how to be proactive about overcoming objections.
3: Build In Breathing Room
This is where first-time hosts often miss the mark, they forget to budget for taxes, payment processing fees, last-minute extras, or unexpected costs (like a backup meal when someone forgets to tell you they’re gluten-free and vegan).
A good rule of thumb? Add 10-15% buffer to your total cost estimate. It’s not “padding”—it’s sanity insurance. If you don’t need it, more profit. But it’s better to send your assistant out to restock half-and-half or more bottled water and not worry that you didn’t plan on that petty cash fund.
4: Don’t Apologize for Your Price
If you’ve reverse-engineered your price based on value, transformation, and a premium guest experience, you have nothing to apologize for.
You’re not just selling 3 nights and some catered meals. You’re offering:
- Clarity
- Rest
- Community
- Breakthroughs
- Creative space
- Transformation
You cannot put a dollar amount on that… but you can price it accordingly. And your right-fit guests will get it.
You are worth your expertise, and the time and energy you have put into creating this experience go far beyond the few days together. Don’t put yourself on Clearance.
📌 Bonus Download: How to Plan Your Profitable Retreat
The 10 Essential Decisions Workbook
A simple, fillable guide to help you design your dream retreat without overwhelm, second-guessing, or costly mistakes.
If You Want to Price Your Retreat with Support?
I cover all of this (and more) inside my live, hands-on workshop:
The Retreat Lab Live Workshop
We’ll walk through:
- My exact pricing formula
- Real retreat examples + profit breakdowns
- How to balance premium value with accessibility
- Plus: mindset shifts to actually feel good about selling your retreat
You’ll leave with a fully built budget, pricing strategy, and confidence that you’re not just winging it.
Up Next: Dream Teams & FAQs
Next week, we’re wrapping up the series by talking about the people who help make your retreat run smoothly—and how to preempt guest confusion (and cancellation drama) with a killer FAQ section.
💙 Valerie
Catch Up on the Series
- Week 1: Start With Why
- Week 2: Who’s at the Table
- Week 3: Designing the Feel & Flow
- Week 4: Choosing the Right Venue
- Cornerstone Blog: How to Plan a Profitable Retreat
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