We offer BIB ('Bartender in the Box') packages, whereas, the host supplies all the beverages and we send just a bartender & a box of all the necessary bar tools to perform the job included at $35 per hour. How we bid out our bartenders depends on the type of package they are getting. I concur with what Krysta recited above in reference to the hourly pay of a bartender. Hi there! I own a bar catering service, as well. If you’d like to understand more about how this kind of pricing works out, you can check out this post: When you hire a bar caterer, you’re paying for the convenience of having professionals handle the beverage service for you. Just like in a restaurant, you wouldn’t expect to pay for JUST the food. When you go to a restaurant, you’re paying for an experience. But the difference between a freelance bartender and a bar catering service is the difference between a chef and a restaurant. People are often surprised that our packages start at $1500. They don’t have overhead, they have very little risk involved, and they go home at the end of the night in most cases. Freelance bartenders are free contractors. To answer this question most effectively, you have to take into consideration what you’re getting for your money. In this case, you would expect to pay the bartender between $25-$35/hr, depending on where in the country you’re at. I am the owner of a bar catering service and I get this question a lot.
