How much does event staff cost in Berlin? What the hourly rate covers
Nightfrom 22:00
Outdoorsbelow 10 °C or above 30 °C
Short noticeup to 7 working days aheadOne staff member costs 28 € per hour with us: plus VAT for companies, 33.32 € incl. VAT for private clients. That is not an hourly wage. It is a package of wage, employer costs, insurance, selection and training, cover planning and admin. Surcharges only come on top in set cases, such as nights or short-notice bookings. Part of them goes as a bonus to the people who work those hours.
- Base rate28 € excl. VAT · 33.32 € incl. VAT, per person and hour
- New clients²26 € excl. VAT · 30.94 € incl. VAT
- Minimum booking5 hours per person. You are billed for at least the booked time.
- Surchargesonly from a fixed list, each with its amount in the quote
The price calculator works out your price with every surcharge. You get a PDF in 60 seconds, no sign-up needed.
² For companies, all prices are net, plus 19 % VAT. For private clients, the prices incl. VAT are the final prices. The new-client rate applies to the first 50 person-hours of your first event day, if you create your quote in our price calculator (opens in a new tab), confirm it within 3 days and are booking with us for the first time. Beyond that, the base rate of 28 € excl. VAT or 33.32 € incl. VAT applies. All terms are on our price page (in German).
Booking from outside Germany? Quotes and invoices can be in English. Businesses based outside Germany pay 100 % of the quote in advance, before the first shift. EU businesses with a valid VAT ID are invoiced without German VAT under the reverse-charge rule. Businesses outside the EU are invoiced without German VAT, because the service is not taxable in Germany. Private individuals pay 19 % German VAT. Details: hiring staff in Germany as a foreign company.
What 28 € an hour pays for
28 € is not what the staff member earns. The rate pays for everything it takes to get a vetted, briefed person to your event on time. And for everything that happens if they drop out.
The bar shows our guide values per hour. Hover over a block or tap it.
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Staff wage and our margin
the biggest share
We pay above the minimum wage for temporary agency work, so good people come back.[1] Our margin is deliberately small. That works because quotes, contracts and timesheets run automatically here.
-
Employer costs
2–3 €
Social security contributions and statutory levies. The exact amount depends on the type of employment.
-
Insurance
around 1 €
Business liability insurance, plus accident cover through the statutory accident insurer.
-
Selection, training, scheduling
around 3 €
Screening applications, standard briefing and knowledge test, shift planning, the job briefing and being reachable while the job runs.
-
Cover planning
around 2 €
Reserve staff and replacements when someone drops out. That is why a replacement costs you nothing extra.
-
Admin and fixed costs
around 3 €
Licence for temporary agency work, software, bookkeeping, billing and legal advice.
Guide values per hour, rounded. Many of our jobs run as short-term employment (explained in German), which is exempt from social security contributions. That is why our employer costs come to 2 to 3 € per hour, not around 21 % of the wage as with a regular job.[4]
What the hourly rate already includes
Cover if someone drops out
If someone drops out, we organise a replacement at no extra charge. The client portal shows you straight away that we are on it.
Extra time at the same rate
If the job runs longer, the same terms apply. There is no overtime surcharge.
See your team in advance
Before the job, the client portal shows who is coming: name, photo, short profile and travel time.
Mark your favourites
We put the team together. Anyone you would like back, you mark with a star, free of charge.
Timesheets and one monthly invoice
You confirm the hours digitally. The invoice comes bundled at the end of the month and is due within 14 days.
Standard dress code
Black or white top, black trousers, black shoes.
A briefing of up to one page
Our staff read one A4 page at no extra cost. Longer documents we agree with you first, because preparation is working time.
Travel within Berlin
If an S-Bahn, U-Bahn or tram stops within ten minutes' walk, travel costs nothing.
What is booked gets paid. Each person is billed for at least the booked time, then for every half hour started. If the job runs longer, we bill the extra time on the same terms. There are no line items for under- or overtime.[5]
Which surcharges exist and when they apply
Surcharges only apply in the cases below, each with a fixed amount. Several can stack, for example night and public holiday. Part of the surcharges goes as a bonus to the people who work nights, public holidays or at short notice.[5]
Companies excl. VATPrivate clients incl. VATper person and hour unless stated otherwise
Time
For hours when most people are off.
Night
Companies+4 €Private+4.76 €
For every hour between 22:00 and 06:00.
Sunday
Companies+2 €Private+2.38 €
If the shift starts on a Sunday, it applies to the whole shift.
Public holiday
Companies+5 €Private+5.95 €
On statutory public holidays in Berlin. If the shift starts on a holiday, it applies to the whole shift.
Role
For skills and responsibility.
Bartender or barista
Companies+6 €Private+7.14 €
Per person mixing cocktails or working an espresso machine. You provide the machine.
Team lead
Companies+6 €Private+7.14 €
On one person in the team, not on everyone. They coordinate on site and are your contact before the event.
Curation
Companies+6 €Private+7.14 €
Per person you pick yourself or set specific requirements for.
Conditions
For jobs that ask more of people.
Temperature
Companies+4 €Private+4.76 €
If someone works outdoors for more than half the shift and it drops below 10 °C or goes above 30 °C at any point.
Driving licence or car
Companies+2 €Private+2.38 €
Per person who has to drive on site or come in their own car.
Flat fees
For costs that only come up on some jobs.
Travel
Companies25 €Private29.75 €
Per person and shift, if in Berlin no S-Bahn, U-Bahn or tram stops within ten minutes' walk, or none runs there at the start or end of the shift. Outside Berlin always, and travel time from the city limits counts as working time.
Bar kit
Companies75 €Private89.25 €
Per person and event day: the bar tools in a roll bag.
Online briefing
Companies20 €Private23.80 €
Per meeting. On top, the time spent in the meeting counts as working time, at least 30 minutes per person.
If you book at short notice, the scale from the next section comes on top.
Booking at short notice: how the surcharge rises
The fewer working days between your booking and the job, the higher the surcharge. With eight working days' notice or more, there is none.[5]
Working days between booking and job
| Notice | Companies excl. VAT | Private incl. VAT |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 1 working day | +15 € | +17.85 € |
| 2 working days | +10 € | +11.90 € |
| 3 working days | +6 € | +7.14 € |
| 4 to 5 working days | +4 € | +4.76 € |
| 6 to 7 working days | +2 € | +2.38 € |
| 8 working days or more | 0 € | 0 € |
- What counts is the day you make a binding booking, not the day you enquire.
- If you book after 16:00, the next working day counts. Weekends and public holidays are not working days.
- The booking day counts, the day of the job does not. The rate is fixed from the moment you book.
Example
You book on Monday at 11:00 for Thursday. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are three working days, so +6 € per hour and person. Book at 17:00 instead, and only Tuesday and Wednesday count: +10 €.
Two worked examples you can check
We ran both examples through our price calculator on 8 October 2026: venue within walking distance of a train or tram stop, more than seven working days' notice.[6]
Example 1 · Private client
Birthday party at home
| Base rate12 person-hours × 28 € | 336.00 € |
|---|---|
| Night surcharge22:00–24:00: 4 person-hours × 4 € | 16.00 € |
| Traveltrain or tram within walking distance | 0.00 € |
| Short-notice surchargemore than 7 working days' notice | 0.00 € |
| Net | 352.00 € |
| VAT 19 % | 66.88 € |
| Total incl. VAT | 418.88 € |
As a new client: 390.32 € incl. VAT
Example 2 · Company
Company party
| Base rate56 person-hours × 28 € | 1,568.00 € |
|---|---|
| Night surcharge22:00–01:00: 21 person-hours × 4 € | 84.00 € |
| Team lead8 hours × 6 €, on one person | 48.00 € |
| Bartender8 hours × 6 € | 48.00 € |
| Net | 1,748.00 € |
| plus VAT 19 % | 332.12 € |
| Gross | 2,080.12 € |
As a new client: 1,648.00 € net, because the first 50 person-hours cost 26 €.
Without travel fee, bar kit or short-notice surcharge. The price calculator (opens in a new tab) works out your quote with your own details. More budgets per role: how expensive is short-notice event staff in Berlin? (in German)
How often does a surcharge apply? Figures from our orders
We looked at every assignment at the standard price over the last twelve months. One assignment is one person in one shift.[7]
- with night hours33 %
- with a short-notice surcharge, most often the lowest tier11 %
- with a travel fee7 %
6.5 his a typical shift
2people on a typical order
Our own analysis of our order data from 9 October 2025 to 8 October 2026, standard-price orders only, excluding briefing calls. Typical here means the middle value (median). One assignment can carry several surcharges.
What can cost money after you book
So far this has been about the job itself. Costs also arise if you cancel after booking. Then, depending on how much notice you give, part of the agreed fee is due.
That also applies if you only cut people, hours or days. The basis is the booked time plus the agreed surcharges and flat fees.[5]
- 20 %more than 7 working days before
- 60 %7 to 4 working days before
- 80 %3 to 2 working days before
- 100 %less than 2 working days before
Changes
The first two are free. From the third on, each costs 10 € excl. VAT (11.90 € incl. VAT) per person already scheduled.
Card or PayPal
Plus 5.5 % of the invoice amount. Bank transfer costs nothing extra.
Hiring one of our people
If you employ someone yourself within 12 months, we charge 2,000 € excl. VAT (2,380 € incl. VAT).
Based abroad
If your company is based outside Germany, we ask for 100 % of the quote in advance.
Comparing quotes for event staff: six questions
Prices for event staff vary a lot. Usually that is not down to the people but to what the hourly rate includes. These six questions settle that before you put two quotes side by side.
- 1
Is cover for drop-outs included, or is it a separate line?
With us: included, at no extra charge.
- 2
Is travel included, and when does a flat fee apply?
With us: free within walking distance of a train or tram stop, otherwise 25 € per person.
- 3
How long is the minimum booking, and in what steps is time billed?
With us: 5 hours, then half hours.
- 4
Are all surcharges in the quote with an amount, or just “as required”?
With us: all with a fixed amount, see above.
- 5
What does cancelling cost, and from when?
With us: 20 to 100 %, depending on notice.
- 6
Who is the employer, and is there a licence for temporary agency work?
With us: we are the employer and hold the licence under the AÜG.
Why prices have a floor
In temporary agency work, a wage floor of 15.33 € gross per hour has applied since 1 September 2026. From 1 April 2027 it is 15.87 €.[1][2] That is above the general minimum wage of 13.90 €.[3] Even with our lean costs, that comes to around 21 to 22 € per hour before selection, training, cover and a margin are paid for.
If a quote is well below that, ask where the savings come from. Which providers operate in Berlin and how they select their staff is covered in our comparison of InStaff, Zenjob, Schiller and StaffConnect (in German).
Common questions about the price
Is the price negotiable?
The hourly rate is the same for every client. If you book regularly, for example as a caterer, venue or hotel, you get a framework agreement with us. More on our page for hospitality businesses (in German).
Are the prices net or gross?
For companies we quote net prices plus 19 % VAT. For private clients, the prices include VAT. 28 € net is 33.32 € gross, and the new-client rate of 26 € net is 30.94 € gross.
What happens if the job runs longer?
We bill the extra time on the same terms. There is no overtime surcharge. If the extra time falls into the night, the night surcharge applies to it. Finishing early does not make it cheaper: you are billed for at least the booked time.
Does it cost extra if someone drops out?
No. If someone drops out, we organise a replacement at no extra charge. The client portal shows straight away that a replacement is being organised, and as soon as it is confirmed, you see the new person.
Why do I have to book at least five hours?
Nobody crosses Berlin for a two-hour job. The five-hour minimum per person makes the job worth it for the staff member, and it lets us fill it reliably.
How does a recruitment agency compare on cost?
It is a different model. With a recruitment agency, you hire the person yourself, pay a one-off placement fee and then carry all employer costs. With us, you pay an hourly rate and we stay the employer. More in our article on contract types at staffing providers (in German).
28 € per hour, surcharges only from a fixed list, cover included. Run your job through the price calculator. The quote arrives as a PDF, no sign-up needed.
Sources (accessed 8 October 2026)
- Federal law: Seventh Ordinance on a Wage Floor in Temporary Agency Work (LohnUGAÜV 7, in German), § 2(2): 15.33 € from 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2027, 15.87 € from 1 April to 30 September 2027, nationwide.
- Federal Employment Agency: Information leaflet for temporary agency workers (PDF, in German), version 07/2026, section 3.2: minimum wage in temporary agency work.
- German Federal Government: Minimum wage raised to 13.90 euros for 2026 (in German): 14.60 € from 1 January 2027.
- GKV-Spitzenverband, the umbrella body of German statutory health insurers: Key figures and thresholds in social insurance contribution law 2026 (PDF, in German): contribution rates, employer share around 21 %.
- StaffConnect: prices and terms (in German) and our general terms and conditions (2026 version, §§ 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 14 to 16). Clients find the terms and conditions in the client portal, in the documents section.
- StaffConnect: price calculator (opens in a new tab): both worked examples calculated on 8 October 2026.
- StaffConnect: our own analysis of order data, all standard-price assignments from 9 October 2025 to 8 October 2026.
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