The verdict in three sentences
For a B2B event caterer, the website must produce a priced estimate in under three minutes: format, guest count, date, venue, extras. London agencies charge £6,000 to £14,000 and Dubai agencies USD 8,000 to 18,000 for a site with a quote builder, while the Kolonell grid places a complete showcase site between €1,220 and €5,340, over 5 to 7 weeks. With an average order of £4,000 to £15,000 per event, a single conference won through the site pays for the investment.
How corporate event buyers actually buy
An executive assistant in the City, an events agency in Shoreditch or a marketing team at a DIFC firm in Dubai does not want to call three caterers for a ballpark. They compare online, often after hours, and contact the two that show clear formats, real photos and a stated response time. The caterer who sends a first estimate within the hour gets ahead, especially in peak season: September to December and March to June in London, October to April in Dubai, with GITEX, Arab Health and the exhibition calendar at Dubai World Trade Centre.
The quote builder does not replace the final proposal. It qualifies the brief and gives a price range, then the sales lead refines based on venue, logistics and dietary requirements.
| Format | Price per guest (2026 order of magnitude) | Typical event | Average order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working lunch platters | £18 to £32 / USD 20 to 35 | Board meeting, 20 to 40 guests | £500 to £1,300 |
| Bowl food or lunch reception | £30 to £55 / USD 35 to 60 | Offsite, 80 to 150 guests | £3,500 to £7,000 |
| Evening canapé reception | £45 to £80 / USD 55 to 95 | Product launch, 120 to 200 guests | £6,000 to £15,000 |
| Three-course seated dinner | £70 to £130 / USD 85 to 160 | Gala or awards night, 80 to 150 guests | £8,000 to £15,000 |
| Conference breakfast | £10 to £18 / USD 12 to 22 | Conference, 150 to 400 guests | £2,000 to £6,000 |
| Extras (staff, furniture, drinks) | Caterer quote | All formats | +15 to 35% |
What the site includes and what it costs
An effective site combines four blocks: a gallery by format with photos from real events, the quote builder, a partner venues page (rooftops, galleries, hotels on Park Lane or the Palm Jumeirah), and a commitments page covering sourcing, allergen management and waste reduction.
| Option | Budget (2026 order of magnitude) | Timeline | Quote builder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer, catering theme | £2,000 to £4,000 / USD 2,500 to 5,000 | 3 to 5 weeks | Simple form, no pricing |
| London or Dubai agency | £6,000 to £14,000 / USD 8,000 to 18,000 | 6 to 9 weeks | Per-guest pricing, polished design |
| Kolonell showcase Growth | €1,830 to €3,050 | 5 weeks | Detailed form per format, blog |
| Kolonell showcase Premium | €3,050 to €5,340 | 6 to 7 weeks | Per-guest estimate, gallery, advanced SEO |
| Advanced builder with PDF and back office | Simple app, €3,810 to €6,100 | 7 to 9 weeks | PDF proposal, enquiry tracking |
| Kolonell maintenance | €53 / €114 / €183 per month | Ongoing | Updates, backups |
Kolonell quotes in EUR. If the caterer wants an automatic PDF proposal with sales tracking, the project becomes a simple custom application. For most caterers, an on-screen estimate plus a detailed brief sent to the sales lead is enough.
The details that get contracts signed
Three things lift conversion clearly. State the response time ("first estimate within 2 working hours"). Offer downloadable seasonal sample menus. Show the delivery area, for example Zone 1 to 4 in London or Dubai Marina to Downtown, with travel fees beyond it. Google reviews tied to named events, with client permission, are worth more than ten photos of canapés.
Mini case study
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Olivia, managing director of a corporate caterer in London, turns over £1.1 million, 60% of it B2B, so £660,000. She receives 40 corporate enquiries a month and converts 20%, 8 events. With a quote builder that qualifies briefs and a reply within 2 hours, she targets 25%: 40 × 25% = 10 events, 2 more a month. At an average order of £6,500 and a 30% margin, that is 2 × 6,500 × 30% = £3,900 of extra margin a month, £39,000 over 10 active months. A Premium site and Standard maintenance cost roughly €5,700 in year one.
FAQ
Should a B2B caterer show prices online?
Yes, as a per-guest range, for example £30 to £55 for a lunch reception. It filters out briefs below budget and saves 20 to 30 minutes per wasted proposal.
Can the quote builder handle allergens and dietary needs?
Yes, with options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal or kosher plus a free text field. Counts per diet feed straight into the kitchen production sheet, which supports Natasha's Law labelling in the UK.
How long does it take to launch?
Plan on 5 to 7 weeks, including a week of photography if event images are missing. Launching by February in London, or by August in Dubai, puts you ready for peak season.
Do we need an Arabic version in Dubai?
Not always, since most corporate briefs are in English, but an Arabic page helps with government-linked clients. It is scoped and quoted with the project.
How do we compete on Google with large caterers?
Target precise queries: "conference catering Canary Wharf", "corporate canapés London", "event catering DIFC". One page per format and area often reaches page one within 6 to 9 months.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your formats, delivery area and peak season, and we will scope a site with an online quote estimate delivered in 5 to 7 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
