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solanabeacher
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Joined: 28 May 2009
Posts: 429
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 Posted: Jan 20 2010 Post subject: What would you charge............. |
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Please don't start flaming one an other but I just need an average for this job request. As ya'll know, I'm still green but I need a starting point. Here is the menu.
175 ppl
Pulled pork
pulled brisket
honey glazed ham balls.
cole slaw
mac. salad
green beans
baked beans
mac & cheese
corn
Soda, battled water, and juice for the kids.
Delivered and served buffet syle at the firehall.
FYI - This is the job I just catered for my in-laws and I billed $1890.
Gratuity was optional, which they opted not to do.
They said "everything was great, fine job BUT you charge too much".
Charge too much? Am I missing something here? |
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sawyerrt10
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Joined: 19 Dec 2009
Posts: 174
Location: Lynchburg, South Carolina
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| Posted: Jan 20 2010 Post subject: |
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Doing the math, $10.80 a person isn't that bad for what you delivered.
I think you hit on the magic word (INLAWS) as to why you didn't get tipped, they were expecting the family discount! Just my .02
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Teleking
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Location: Maine
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BBQMAN
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Joined: 13 Jun 2005
Posts: 15475
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Jan 20 2010 Post subject: |
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$19.95 a person for the meals.
Drinks would be an additional $1.50 for a selection of soda and bottled water, two per guest.
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"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005. |
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solanabeacher
BBQ Super Fan
Joined: 28 May 2009
Posts: 429
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| Posted: Jan 20 2010 Post subject: Re: What would you charge............. |
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| Teleking wrote: | | solanabeacher wrote: | | battled water |
A little civil unrest for the inlaws?  |
LOL, good eye now tell me what your price would be. In laws or not.
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Harry Nutczak
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Joined: 01 Mar 2007
Posts: 8558
Location: The Northwoods
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| Posted: Jan 20 2010 Post subject: |
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It depends on what it cost you to provide,
So if you were to list what the sum of what these items cost you;
| Quote: | Pulled pork
pulled brisket
honey glazed ham balls.
cole slaw
mac. salad
green beans
baked beans
mac & cheese
corn |
some would be able to come up with a price by using a cost-percentage formula
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Just remember that the toes you may step on during your climb to the top will also be attached to the a$$es you'll be forced to kiss on your way back down! |
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BBQMAN
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Joined: 13 Jun 2005
Posts: 15475
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Jan 20 2010 Post subject: |
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You fellas got an actual price for this man?
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"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
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marvsbbq
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Posts: 6186
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| Posted: Jan 21 2010 Post subject: |
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$28.95 PLUS 18% gratuity!!...but I already know my costs
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marvsbbq
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Joined: 15 May 2005
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| Posted: Jan 21 2010 Post subject: |
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Based on your PM, I would be tempted to gather all of your invoices and put them on paper showing your inlaws you EXACT cost of putting this fine meal on for them.
You might ask them too...."was I expected to do all of this for FREE??"
"Am I not expected to get ANYTHING for my labor? (of love)"
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corndog
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Joined: 02 Dec 2006
Posts: 1209
Location: Zebulon, NC
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| Posted: Jan 21 2010 Post subject: |
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For me, that would be in the $15-$17 per person range. I am not familar w/ the cost for mac salad, nor mac n cheese, so just guessing on those right now. No way they could have gotten that anywhere else...w/ quality being the most important.
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Dang it boy, that's some mighty fine eatin'!!!! |
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solanabeacher
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Joined: 28 May 2009
Posts: 429
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| Posted: Jan 21 2010 Post subject: |
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I calculate net cost to be around $1350.
Seems "profit" is a dirty word in this economy. |
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Teleking
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 26 Sep 2007
Posts: 4139
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Jan 21 2010 Post subject: Re: What would you charge............. |
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| solanabeacher wrote: | LOL, good eye now tell me what your price would be. In laws or not.
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Sorry but I don’t cater, I just like to swing at the soft balls when presented.
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feldon30
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Joined: 01 Dec 2009
Posts: 1623
Location: Charlotte or Thereabouts
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| Posted: Jan 21 2010 Post subject: |
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| marvsbbq wrote: | | $28.95 PLUS 18% gratuity!!...but I already know my costs |
This thread is about BBQ, not lobster and filet mignon. j/k
I want your job and your customer base (but probably not your costs). |
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marvsbbq
BBQ All Star
Joined: 15 May 2005
Posts: 6186
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| Posted: Jan 21 2010 Post subject: |
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| feldon30 wrote: | | marvsbbq wrote: | | $28.95 PLUS 18% gratuity!!...but I already know my costs |
This thread is about BBQ, not lobster and filet mignon. j/k
I want your job and your customer base (but probably not your costs). |
From what I gather from others across the country, my costs are not all that different....over all.
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feldon30
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 01 Dec 2009
Posts: 1623
Location: Charlotte or Thereabouts
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| Posted: Jan 21 2010 Post subject: |
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$30 per person for pulled pork and chopped beef just seems extreme to me. But again, I don't know your costs. And if you can get it, who am I to argue?
You have to have high quality, consistency, and easy to deal with as a caterer to have repeat customers and recommendations. As long as you've got that, ride it. 
I'm still in the learning stage of BBQ. So not even in the larval stage of catering, although most of my friends think I should turn my love of food into a business. |
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marvsbbq
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Posts: 6186
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| Posted: Jan 21 2010 Post subject: |
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| feldon30 wrote: |
I'm still in the learning stage of BBQ. So not even in the larval stage of catering, although most of my friends think I should turn my love of food into a business. |
You have to be confident and not be afraid to do it and get PAID for it!
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Harry Nutczak
BBQ All Star
Joined: 01 Mar 2007
Posts: 8558
Location: The Northwoods
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| Posted: Jan 21 2010 Post subject: |
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| solanabeacher wrote: | I calculate net cost to be around $1350.
Seems "profit" is a dirty word in this economy. |
Your foodcost was $7.75/person? That seems very high for that menu.
if this was not a family event, the minimum I would need to charge to cater an event with those kind food-costs would be $23.25 per guest.
$7.75 a person? Is that figure the actual costs of food products alone, or do you have foil, paper & plastic products figured in there too?
Edited to add;
if that cost includes supplies such as chafing pans, wraps, plates, sterno's and all the other ancillary items, I would separate the cost of the food products out, then take the actual cost of supplies, mark them up by 20% (mark-up, not multiply)
then I would figure a 40% cost ratio (a typical not-for -profit ratio) for family or close friends on the food items alone.
Example.
lets say you base cost of food products only was $4.00 per person, I would charge $10.00 for the food using a 40% cost ratio
and if the supplies were $3.75 per person, add that 20% mark-up to it and I would have a total per-person price of $14.50 per guest.
Again, these calculations are based on guessing what your food-cost and supply cost is/was.
I am not the kind of person that would charge family members the same as I would charge regular clients.
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Just remember that the toes you may step on during your climb to the top will also be attached to the a$$es you'll be forced to kiss on your way back down!
Last edited by Harry Nutczak on Jan 21 2010; edited 1 time in total |
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solanabeacher
BBQ Super Fan
Joined: 28 May 2009
Posts: 429
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| Posted: Jan 21 2010 Post subject: |
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| Included in my cost was foil, sterno, pans, buns, butter, plates and utensils, ect. |
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Harry Nutczak
BBQ All Star
Joined: 01 Mar 2007
Posts: 8558
Location: The Northwoods
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| Posted: Jan 21 2010 Post subject: |
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| solanabeacher wrote: | | Included in my cost was foil, sterno, pans, buns, butter, plates and utensils, ect. |
Ok, seperate the costs of supplies out of that, and just list the cost of the food, that will help get a better idea of where you stand.
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Just remember that the toes you may step on during your climb to the top will also be attached to the a$$es you'll be forced to kiss on your way back down! |
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smokin Jim
BBQ Super Fan
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 449
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
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| Posted: Jan 21 2010 Post subject: |
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For what it is worth, up here in Canada, if I were to do a meal with 3 meats and 6 sides, I would come in at a low of $16.95 to a high of $18.95.
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