The terms company party and staff party are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference. A staff party is exclusively for employees. A company party can be broader: employees and their partners, clients, suppliers or other stakeholders.

That broader audience changes the dynamic. A staff party can be loose and informal. At a company party with clients or partners you also want to make a professional impression. The programme has to work for colleagues who see each other every day and for external guests meeting your organisation up close for the first time.

That makes the approach different. The tone, the dress-code guidance, the music choices, the pace of the night - everything has to fit the mixed audience. A company party is therefore often slightly more 'curated' than a pure staff party. Both types of events can be spectacular. But a company party has a bigger challenge: you have to serve several audiences at once.

There isn't one type of company party. The format depends on your company culture, the occasion and the budget. Here are the most common formats:

The classic gala: Smart, stylish and grand. The perfect choice for an anniversary, end-of-year close or awards ceremony. Think of a beautiful venue, dinner, live band and dance floor.

The festival: Informal, energetic and full of surprises. Ideal for a company festival with multiple stages, food trucks and a varied programme. Works well for large groups and younger teams.

The themed party: A themed party creates a shared experience, from casino night to tropical party and from decades party to winter wonderland. The theme provides an anchor for décor, dress code and entertainment.

The intimate dinner: For smaller teams or board level. An exclusive dinner at a special venue, with a personal programme and room for proper conversation.

The activity day plus evening: Start with a team day full of activities and close with a party. The combination strengthens the team bond and makes the night extra special.

The venue shapes the mood of your company party. And the mood shapes the memory. So don't pick on price or availability alone, pick on experience.

Your own location: More and more companies choose to host the party at their own location. With the right décor and production you can transform your office, warehouse or car park into a party venue. The advantage: it feels familiar, it feels authentic, and it is tax-attractive via the Dutch Work-Related Costs Scheme (WKR).

External venue: An external venue offers the wow factor. Think of a castle, an industrial building, a rooftop or a boat: the venue becomes part of the story. Always check accessibility, noise regulations and finishing times.

Outdoor venue: In summer an outdoor party can be spectacular. But always plan a wet-weather scenario. Nothing is as disappointing as a soaked outdoor party without an alternative.

Our tip: start with the mood you want and then find the venue that fits, not the other way round.

A good company party programme has an arc. It starts with arrival and warm-up, builds to a high point and closes with a climax people remember.

Arrival (first hour): Welcome drink, background music, walking dinner or amuse-bouches. The tone is set.

Programme (next 1-2 hours): This is the moment for speeches, awards, a short look back or a surprise moment. Keep it short and punchy. A speech of 5 minutes works. A speech of 25 minutes doesn't.

Entertainment and dinner: Combine dinner with entertainment. A live act between the courses, a table magician, a musical interlude. That way the energy stays high.

Party (rest of the night): The band or DJ takes over. The dance floor opens. Pick entertainment that fits your audience - a tight cover band for a broad taste, a DJ for the younger generation, or a combination.

The cost of a company party varies enormously. A small team dinner for 30 people is something very different from a large company festival for 1,000 employees.

A small company party for 30 to 75 people costs €3,000 to €10,000. Think venue hire, catering, a DJ or acoustic duo and basic décor. A mid-sized company party for 75 to 250 people costs €10,000 to €40,000. Think a professional venue, a full dinner, a live band, themed décor and AV. A large company party for 250 to 500 people costs €40,000 to €100,000. Think full event production, several entertainment acts, custom décor and a professional light and sound show. For a large-scale corporate event of 500 people or more: €100,000 or more.

A rule of thumb: plan on €75 to €250 per person for a good company party, depending on the level of ambition. That is inclusive of venue, catering, entertainment and production. At Live Impact we work with a transparent budget and advise on smart choices.