How to write a catering quote in Morocco
For a caterer, the document that wins the job is the quote, not the invoice. A catering quote in Morocco fixes the event date and venue, the number of guests, the menu and everything that comes with it, then becomes the invoice once the event is booked and served. This guide is for caterers ("traiteurs"), wedding planners and party organisers, with the VAT question that trips many of them up and a 150-guest wedding you can rebuild in the generator above.
Start with a quote: date, venue, guests
A family planning a wedding compares several offers before booking. Switch the generator to "Quote" and make sure yours answers their questions at a glance:
- The event: type (wedding, engagement, baptism, company dinner), date, start time and venue address. The preset puts "Event date and place" in the notes for this.
- The number of guests, since most of the price follows it. Say when the final number must be confirmed.
- The menu in a few words on the catering line: starters, main dishes, desserts, drinks, so the client knows what the price per guest buys.
- A validity date: food and hire prices move, and a quote should not stay open for a season.
When the client accepts, keep the same lines and switch the document to "Invoice".
Catering, equipment hire, decoration and sound
Event invoices mix three kinds of line, and the generator fills them when you pick "Events and catering":
- Catering per guest: the full meal, priced per person. Add a line for the service staff if you bill it apart.
- Equipment hire as a flat fee: tables, chairs, tableware, tablecloths, tents. List the main items in the description, so missing or broken items are easy to discuss afterwards.
- Decoration and sound: flowers, lighting, the bride's stage, a DJ or sound system. Separate lines help when the client wants to drop one.
Which VAT rate: 20% or 10%?
The "Events and catering" preset puts every line at the normal rate of 20% (article 99-A of the General Tax Code, CGI). Equipment hire, decoration and sound are services, taxable under article 89-I-10°-b, and no reduced rate names them.
The catering line is the delicate one. Article 99-B-1° gives the 10% rate to accommodation and catering ("hébergement et restauration") and to café operators. Whether a caterer serving a meal at the client's venue falls under that wording is a question to settle with your accountant before you change the rate; this guide does not decide it. If the answer is 10%, set the catering line to 10% and leave the other lines at 20%: the generator shows each rate's base and VAT separately.
The deposit to book the date
Caterers usually take a deposit when the client books, because the date is then closed to other clients. The preset suggests 30% in the notes, a common practice rather than a rule: the amount is whatever you and the client agree in the quote.
By default VAT becomes due when you are paid, in full or in part (article 95). The deposit therefore carries VAT on the amount received, in the month you receive it. On the final invoice, enter the deposit in the "Deposit" field so the client sees the balance left to pay. If the final number of guests differs from the quote, invoice the real number and say so in the notes.
Worked example: a wedding for 150 guests
A wedding in Nador for 150 guests: a full meal at 220 MAD per guest, equipment hire (tables, chairs, tableware) for 7,000 MAD, and decoration with sound for 10,000 MAD. Every line is at 20%. The total before tax is 50,000.00 MAD, the VAT is 10,000.00 MAD, and the event costs 60,000.00 MAD. The family paid 18,000.00 MAD when booking, 30% of the total, so the final invoice asks for 42,000.00 MAD.
| Description | Qty | Unit | Unit price excl. VAT | VAT | Total excl. VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wedding catering, full meal (150 guests) | 150 | person | 220.00 MAD | 20% | 33,000.00 MAD |
| Equipment hire: tables, chairs, tableware | 1 | flat fee | 7,000.00 MAD | 20% | 7,000.00 MAD |
| Decoration and sound system | 1 | flat fee | 10,000.00 MAD | 20% | 10,000.00 MAD |
| Total excl. VAT | 50,000.00 MAD | ||||
| VAT 20% | 10,000.00 MAD | ||||
| Total incl. VAT | 60,000.00 MAD | ||||
| Deposit paid | 18,000.00 MAD | ||||
| Balance due | 42,000.00 MAD | ||||
Common mistakes
- Sending a single "wedding package" line with no guest count: the client cannot compare offers, and a change in guests cannot be priced.
- Switching the catering line to 10% on a hunch, without checking with an accountant.
- Leaving the event date and venue out of the quote, which makes it hard to prove what was booked.
Working with a hotel venue? The hotel invoice page covers guests' rooms, and the hair and beauty salon page covers the bride's package. To get found by families planning an event, read our guide to Google Business Profile in Nador.
Questions
What VAT rate does a caterer charge in Morocco?
The preset uses 20%, the normal rate. Article 99-B-1° gives 10% to catering ("restauration"); check with your accountant whether your service falls under it before changing the rate.
Does the booking deposit carry VAT?
Yes. On the default cash basis, VAT is due on each amount collected, deposits included (article 95).
Is a 30% deposit required by law?
No. It is a common practice and the preset's suggestion. Agree the amount with the client and write it in the quote.
Can I turn the quote into an invoice?
Yes. Keep the lines, switch the document from "Quote" to "Invoice", enter the deposit received and print or save the PDF.