I own a small coffee shop in a rural area that seats about 30 people. Lately, people have been asking to use the space when we’re closed for things like meetings, book clubs, and private events.

Right now, I have a minimum spend policy: $50 per hour, which includes having a barista on-site. If the group’s purchases don’t hit that threshold, the host pays the difference. So, for example:

A group rents for 2 hours but buys nothing → The host pays $100.

A group rents for 2 hours and buys $85 in drinks → The host pays $15.

A group rents for 2 hours and spends $115 → The host owes nothing.

I’m wondering if this setup makes sense or if there’s a better way to handle it. Does $50/hr seem fair for a small-town coffee shop? If you’ve done something similar, how did you structure it? Open to any thoughts or advice!