A personal concierge typically costs $20 to $40 an hour for on-demand help, with single requests starting around $50 and climbing into the hundreds for complex or urgent work, while memberships add a monthly fee on top. The fastest way to budget is to estimate how many hours or tasks you need each month before comparing hourly, package or membership pricing, and providers such as Cohen Concierge can quote against that estimate directly.
TL;DR:
- Choose pay per request or hourly billing for occasional, unpredictable needs; recurring tasks cost less through prepaid hours, while frequent priority access may justify membership.
- Budget estimated monthly hours or requests, then add a 15% to 25% buffer for last minute work and third party fees.
- Ask whether travel, parking, supplier costs, and urgent surcharges are included, because providers may bill them separately from the service fee.
- Check package expiry, membership renewal notice, minimum spend, and cancellation terms in writing; unused prepaid hours can expire after one month.
- For simple one off tasks, doing it yourself or hiring a general virtual assistant may cost less; complex bookings benefit from a concierge’s local supplier network.
Table of Contents
- Typical price ranges at a glance
- Common pricing models explained
- What drives the price up or down
- How to budget for a concierge and choose the right payment model
- Example packages and what they commonly include
- How Cohen Concierge approaches pricing
- Personal concierge versus DIY or alternative services
- Contract terms and cancellation policies that affect cost
- When concierge spending pays for itself
- How Cohen Concierge can help you budget with confidence
- FAQ
- Sources
Typical price ranges at a glance
Before picking a pricing model, it helps to know what "normal" looks like. On-demand, in-person personal assistance commonly runs $20 to $40 per hour, according to RentAHuman's 2026 pricing guide. Virtual assistants based in the US tend to sit at $25 to $50 an hour, while international virtual help can come in lower, reflecting the lighter overhead of remote-only support.
Per-request pricing works differently. A simple, single errand or booking can start near $50, but costs rise sharply once a task becomes urgent, time-sensitive or logistically complex, according to a concierge pricing guide from Approved Experiences. An event-day booking with supplier coordination and on-site management is a different category of spend entirely from a restaurant reservation.
A few patterns are worth keeping in mind as you compare quotes:
- On-demand hourly help tends to cost more per hour than part-time or retained arrangements, because flexibility carries a premium.
- Virtual concierge support is usually cheaper than in-person work, since there's no travel time or local sourcing involved.
- Single complex requests can run into the hundreds of dollars once research, coordination or urgency are factored in.
- Figures quoted in US dollars from international guides are a useful benchmark, but your local market rate may differ.
On-demand personal assistance commonly costs $20 to $40 per hour, a range that RentAHuman's cost guide treats as the baseline for ad hoc, pay-as-you-go help. That figure is a useful anchor when you're sense-checking any quote you receive, whether it's priced hourly or bundled into a flat per-request fee.
Common pricing models explained
Concierge providers generally price their work one of four ways, and each suits a different kind of client.
- Pay-per-request charges a flat or variable fee for a single task, such as booking a restaurant or arranging a transfer, and suits people who need occasional help rather than ongoing support.
- Hourly billing charges for time spent, which works well when the scope of a task is unclear upfront, such as open-ended research or multi-stage event planning.
- Prepaid packages bundle a set number of hours or requests at a discounted effective rate, suiting people who use concierge support regularly but don't want a full membership.
- Retainer or membership models charge a recurring fee for ongoing access, priority response and a bank of included hours or services, aimed at clients who want concierge support as a standing part of their lifestyle.
According to Approved Experiences, membership packages commonly combine a monthly fee with per-hour or per-booking charges for anything beyond what's included, so the subscription buys priority and access rather than unlimited service. A prepaid package of, say, 10 hours bought upfront typically works out cheaper per hour than paying for each hour individually, because the provider is trading a lower rate for guaranteed volume.
Independent concierge practitioners often start with simple hourly rates and basic packages, then introduce tiered pricing as demand grows, according to The Concierge Society, which also notes that individual operators commonly raise their rates over time as experience builds. That's worth knowing if you're comparing a newer solo operator against an established agency: the solo rate may look attractive today but is less likely to stay fixed.
What drives the price up or down
The same request can cost very different amounts depending on a handful of factors.
- Complexity: a task requiring research, multiple suppliers or custom sourcing costs more than a straightforward booking.
- Urgency: last-minute or same-day requests typically carry a premium because they disrupt a provider's existing schedule.
- Travel and time: providers often bill for time spent travelling to a venue or supplier, plus any parking or transport costs incurred on your behalf.
- Expertise required: specialist requests, such as sourcing a private chef or arranging a yacht charter, draw on a deeper supplier network and cost more accordingly.
- Third-party markups: some providers add a service fee on top of supplier costs rather than billing it as a separate pass-through.
Event-day or VIP concierge work typically bundles coordination, supplier payments and on-site management, and is usually priced as a day rate or elevated hourly rate with the third-party costs itemised separately, similar to how to handle luxury event music as described on this detailed vetting guide. Proactive, high-touch support, where a concierge anticipates needs rather than simply reacting to requests, generally costs more than reactive help, but it also saves you the time and stress of managing every detail yourself.
Pro Tip: Ask upfront whether travel time, parking and supplier fees are included in the quoted rate or billed separately, so you're not surprised on the invoice.
How to budget for a concierge and choose the right payment model
Budgeting for concierge support is easier when you break it into three steps.
- List your needs for the month ahead: transfers, reservations, errands, event support or ongoing lifestyle management.
- Estimate hours or requests you'll realistically use, based on how often those needs come up.
- Apply a likely rate to that estimate and add a buffer of roughly 15 to 25% for last-minute tasks or third-party fees, which keeps you from being caught off guard by extras.
Once you have a rough monthly figure, the choice of model becomes clearer. Occasional, unpredictable needs usually suit pay-per-request or hourly billing, since you're not committing to unused capacity. Regular, recurring needs tend to be cheaper on a prepaid package, where the per-hour rate drops in exchange for buying in bulk. Frequent or high-touch needs, especially where priority access matters, generally justify a retainer or membership.
Before committing to any model, it's worth asking a provider a short list of questions:
- Do unused prepaid hours expire, and if so, after how long?
- Is there a minimum spend or minimum booking size?
- Are travel, parking and supplier fees included in the quoted price?
- What happens if you need to cancel or reschedule a booking?
Example packages and what they commonly include
Turning these ranges into real bookings makes the numbers easier to use. A one-off task, such as arranging an airport transfer or a restaurant booking, typically falls at the lower end of the per-request range and is billed as a single, flat fee. Event support, covering a day of coordination, supplier management and on-site presence, is usually priced as a day rate, reflecting the sustained attention required rather than a single task. A monthly retainer bundles a set number of hours or requests into a recurring fee, often at a lower effective hourly rate than paying per task. A VIP membership adds priority response times and broader access to a provider's supplier network on top of the included hours.
Across all four, a few pitfalls come up repeatedly:
- Prepaid hours or packages often come with a "use it or lose it" expiry, sometimes as short as one month, so check rollover terms before paying upfront.
- Supplier costs, such as restaurant deposits or event hire, are usually itemised separately on the invoice rather than folded into the service fee.
- A quoted hourly or package rate rarely includes last-minute surcharges, which are typically disclosed only when you ask.
How Cohen Concierge approaches pricing
We map our services to the pricing models above rather than forcing every request into a single rate. A one-off airport transfer or dining reservation is naturally suited to pay-per-request pricing, while ongoing lifestyle management or frequent travel support fits a retainer-style arrangement better, which is the logic behind our Cohen Black membership for clients who want standing, priority access rather than booking each request separately.
If you're weighing us against another provider, a few questions are worth asking regardless of who you choose:
- Is the invoice itemised, so you can see supplier costs separately from the service fee?
- What's included in a quoted rate, and what counts as an add-on?
- What's the cancellation policy if plans change at short notice?
We're happy to answer all three before you book, and our services page sets out the full range so you can see which model fits before you ask for a quote.
Personal concierge versus DIY or alternative services
Doing everything yourself costs nothing in fees but a great deal in time, particularly for research-heavy bookings like sourcing a private chef, chartering a yacht or coordinating a multi-supplier event. A general-purpose virtual assistant can handle simpler admin at a lower hourly rate, but typically lacks the local supplier relationships that make premium bookings, like last-minute restaurant tables or villa staffing, actually possible. Entry-level concierge tiers tend to be reactive, responding to requests as they come in, while higher-end tiers anticipate needs and manage logistics proactively, which is usually where the time saving justifies the higher rate. For a one-off simple task, DIY or a basic virtual assistant may well be the cheaper route. For anything involving multiple moving parts, local expertise or tight timing, a concierge's supplier network and local knowledge tend to deliver more value than the hourly rate alone suggests.
Contract terms and cancellation policies that affect cost
Contract terms vary significantly between individual operators, agencies and membership-based providers, so it's worth reading the fine print before you commit budget. Prepaid packages frequently carry expiry windows on unused hours, sometimes as short as one month, which effectively raises your cost per hour if you don't use the full allocation in time. Memberships typically auto-renew unless cancelled within a notice period, so check how far in advance you need to cancel to avoid being billed for another cycle. Minimum spend or minimum booking thresholds are also common, particularly for event-day or VIP-tier work, and can push the effective cost of a small request higher than expected. Cancellation policies for individual bookings differ by how much lead time a provider needs: a same-day airport transfer cancellation is more likely to incur a fee than a reservation cancelled a week out. Asking for these terms in writing before you pay, rather than assuming they match a previous provider's policy, is the simplest way to avoid an unwelcome charge later.
When concierge spending pays for itself
The clearest return on a concierge fee shows up when the alternative is your own time spent chasing suppliers, researching options or managing a dozen small logistics on an event day. A reactive, pay-per-task service is fine for the odd booking, but the real value sits in proactive, high-touch support that anticipates what you'll need before you have to ask for it. That's where the premium tiers earn their higher rate: not by doing more tasks, but by removing the mental load of tracking them. If you're unsure whether the spend is worth it, a short prepaid package is a low-risk way to test the fit before committing to a membership.
— Jordan
How Cohen Concierge can help you budget with confidence
We built our services around the same budgeting logic this guide walks through: match the request to the right model, and keep the invoice transparent so there are no surprises.
Whatever you're budgeting for, we likely have a service that matches it:
- Transport and private chauffeur for transfers and point-to-point travel.
- Dining and nightlife bookings for reservations and evenings out.
- Experiences and adventures for day trips and bespoke outings.
- Private chefs for in-villa dining.
- Villa and accommodation services for guest logistics and property management.
For recurring needs, our Cohen Black membership gives you retainer-style access with priority response built in, rather than booking each request from scratch. If you'd rather start with a single booking and see how it fits your budget, request a quote and we'll price it against your specific needs before you commit to anything larger.
FAQ
What does a personal concierge do?
A personal concierge arranges and manages tasks on your behalf, from travel and dining bookings to event coordination and lifestyle errands. The scope ranges from simple one-off requests to ongoing, proactive management of a client's schedule and supplier relationships.
How do concierge services make money?
Concierge providers typically earn through a mix of per-request fees, hourly billing, prepaid packages or recurring membership charges, often alongside a markup or service fee added to third-party supplier costs. According to Approved Experiences, membership models commonly combine a monthly fee with charges for hours or bookings used beyond what's included.
How to become a private concierge?
There's no single licensing path; most practitioners build a client base and supplier network first, often starting with simple hourly rates and basic packages before introducing tiered pricing. The Concierge Society notes that independent operators commonly raise their rates over time as experience and demand grow.
Do you pay a concierge directly, or does the fee come from suppliers?
You typically pay the concierge provider directly, either per request, hourly, through a prepaid package or via a membership fee, with supplier costs such as restaurant deposits or event hire usually itemised separately on the invoice. Some providers add a service markup to third-party costs rather than billing it as a distinct line item, so it's worth asking how a quote is structured before you book.
Sources
- Personal Assistant Cost in 2026: Complete Pricing Guide | RentAHuman
- A Guide To Concierge Service Pricing And Costs
- Pricing - The #1 Question