A birthday package is a flat price for up to ten skaters. The eleventh through fourteenth cost extra, but a party of six does not get a refund for the four empty spots. That asymmetry is exactly what MAX(0, ...) is for: it counts the guests over the included number and ignores the ones under it.
A $199 package for 10 with 14 skaters at $12 a head over the limit is $199 + 4 × $12 = $247.
The example
Three package tiers. The small reception party comes in under its included count and pays the base price and nothing more.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Party | Base | Included | Guests | Extra each | Total |
| 2 | Classic Saturday | $199 | 10 | 14 | $12 | $247 |
| 3 | Deluxe w/ pizza | $249 | 15 | 15 | $11 | $249 |
| 4 | Weekday mini | $149 | 8 | 6 | $12 | $149 |
The formula
One MAX clamp keeps small parties from going negative:
How it works
Read it from the inside out:
D2-C2is guests minus included. For 14 guests on a 10-pack that is 4; for 6 guests it is −4.MAX(0, ...)replaces any negative with zero. The party of 6 now shows 0 extras instead of a −4 credit.*E2prices the extras at the per-head rate. That rate is usually a little above a regular admission plus skate rental, because it includes the party room and the cake time.B2+adds the flat package price. The package of exactly 15 on a 15-pack pays the base and nothing else.
Keep the included count in its own column even though it never changes for a given package. The week you re-tier the packages, one edit per package row updates every quote on the sheet.
Try it: interactive demo
Enter the package base, how many it includes, the guest count and the per-head rate for extras.
Variations
Adults who skate
Parents who lace up usually pay a separate admission. Add them as their own term.
Deposit applied
Subtract the deposit already paid to show the balance due at the door.
Pitfalls & errors
Guest count on the booking is not guest count at the door. Count wristbands as they go on, put the real number in the guests cell, and let the total move. Arguing about the RSVP list at checkout is how a rink loses a repeat booking.
If the extras rate is a percentage of the package rather than a flat amount, put the percentage in E2 and multiply by B2 inside the formula. The MAX clamp works the same either way.
Do not write IF(D2>C2,(D2-C2)*E2,0) in a hurry and then forget the base. It works, but it is three times as long as MAX and the mistake it invites — leaving out B2+ — gives a $48 birthday party.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
Should I charge less for extras than for a walk-in?
What if the party comes in under the included count — can they bank the difference?
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