Your last team building activity may have been incredibly affordable — but if you ran it yourself in your company's conference room - and you used a game that you found with an online search for “do it yourself team building activities” - there is a very good chance that it wasn't as effective as you'd hoped.
You want an event that stands out, one that truly brings your group together in a fun but meaningful way. Which brings us to the big question every corporate planner asks — how much does a professionally produced corporate team building event cost?
The honest answer? It depends.
Consider What's Included
What's actually bundled into the event? What are the key factors that influence the price? Not the obvious variables, but those behind-the-scenes pieces that quietly shape the price long before anyone shows up ready to compete and collaborate. Here's a list:
- Level of planning support: Some events come together with a few emails and a quick call. Others need timelines, run-of-show documents, venue coordination and contingency plans.
- Expertise and customization: Skilled hosts know how to keep the event's energy up and engage different personalities, keeping the event fun and on track. They can also tailor activities to your culture, goals or company values, which adds time behind the scenes.
- Logistical needs: Setup, teardown, safety considerations, staff travel time and transporting supplies or navigating venue rules. These are a few of the simplified things when you have an invisible helper managing everything.
The Real Deal on Team Building Event Costs
Team building costs shift for predictable, practical reasons, and when you understand those factors, expensing team building activities becomes a rational process instead of a group exercise in collective sighing.
Your Team's Size
Headcount plays a big role in pricing because the logistics scale with the size of your group. Smaller teams need fewer facilitators and less equipment - but there is going to be an event minimum charge just to bring out the facilitators and for them to plan your program. Once you hit 50+ people, the needs shift. You need more stations, extra emcees, more tech support and more hands to keep everything running smoothly.
The silver lining is that larger groups often see a better cost-per-person rate. Many team building activities become more efficient to run at scale, which means big teams don't necessarily mean big sticker shock. For example, most in-person professional team building companies charge a minimum event fee of around $2,000.00 - even for a group of 15 people. But a 30-person team building event might only cost $2,600.00. So your “per person” pricing drops from $133 per person (for a group of 15 people) - down to $86 per person (for a group of 30). The per person pricing drops much further for larger groups, as most team building programs for 200 people are going to be closer to $50 per person!
The Type of Event You Choose
Costs vary by activity type because different formats need different prep, materials and staffing. Options include:
- Virtual events: Online events typically land at the most budget-friendly end of the spectrum. With no venue or travel logistics, prices are mainly driven by the staffing and materials participants need, which also include shipping supplies to each attendee.
- In-person events: When teams get together for game shows, scavenger hunts or fast-paced competitions, you're likely looking at a few thousand dollars for a mid-sized group. These events rely on clear staging, charismatic hosts and smooth logistics, all influencing costs.
- Charity and CSR events: Even events where giving back is the main game, you need to factor in the costs of the donation items in addition to the cost of the professional facilitators who are running the program. These charitable give-back team building programs have a big emotional payoff and tend to be worth the additional dollars it costs to assemble the care packages (or build the bicycles, etc.) and run the event.
Location, Location, Location
Where your event takes place affects pricing because travel time and logistics shift between regions. Major metro areas usually stay within standard cost ranges because they have staff and resources readily available. Events outside major cities may include extra mileage, flights or overnight stays if facilitators are traveling in.
Location also affects venue requirements and load-in needs. A rooftop in Chicago is different than a conference room in Dallas.
The 'Wow' Factor
Budgets get flexible when it comes to customization, branding and special add-ons. Custom elements like branded challenge materials, event photographers and special props help tie the experience to your company culture, goals or milestones. These upgrades range from small boosts to full-scale production. You can keep it simple or lean into creativity to make the experience feel unique.
Customization also adds strategic value. A bit of branding or storyline integration can reinforce company values, support a product launch or help teams connect the activity to your broader business goals without feeling heavy-handed.
Is a Professional Event Worth It?
The short answer? Yes.
Long answer? Absolutely yes. Unless your team really enjoys awkward icebreakers, confusing introductions and someone from accounting yelling ‘Wait, what are we supposed to be doing?’ every nine minutes. About 67% of businesses see the value of professional team building events as essential for their corporate culture and to drive employee productivity. Just sayin'.
Consider the return on investment, because you're not just planning a fun afternoon. You're investing in professionals who jump in Feet First, delivering dynamism, connection and communication. These elements help build a strong event that gets people laughing together, solving problems, sharing stories and stepping outside their usual roles. That kind of shared experience sticks. It builds rapport that carries into meetings, projects and cross-team relationships long after the event wraps.
Partnering with a professional team:
- Brings experience, creativity and polish to the event experience
- Saves internal teams hours or days of planning
- Ensures your team is fully present and focused on team building
Stop Guessing. Get a Quote for Your Best Team Building Event Yet With Feet First Eventertainment
What are the costs for team building events? As you've read, it depends, but the minimum is going to be around $2,000.00 for smaller groups, with the average “per person” cost being $50 to $60 for larger groups. When you understand the factors that shape pricing and what to plan on average, the numbers fall into place. Most importantly, you can choose an experience that fits your goals instead of guessing what's behind the curtain. If your goal is to bring people together in a way that actually works, the cost isn't only justifiable, it's worth every penny.
Whether you're building a high-energy competition, a collaborative workshop or a feel-good charity experience, Feet First Eventertainment is here to help. Seventy-five percent of our events come from repeat clients, so we're definitely doing something right! We're pretty confident that we'll make your team building event a massive success - and we'll make you look like a rock star!
Request a quote for any of our virtual or in-person team building activities today.
