What would you price this one at??

marvsbbq · BBQ All Star Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 6186

I received a call from my EX-brother in law's wife wanting me to cater a luncheon for the board of directors from the company she works at...25 guests.

Normally I would not even take this for a couple of reasons...First, it is 115 miles away, second...my min is 100 guests for that far out of town.

That being said...they ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR MARV'S saying "No one else will do"..yeah right Rolling Eyes

They want Chicken, steak (good one) and salmon
For sides, I offer baked beans, slaw and potato salad but she does not want the slaw but instead wants to add the Ceasar salad in it's place.

They also want to add a Fruit Salad along with dessert of cheese cake, brownies and lemon bars.

I am going to be working on this trying to figure out just what I would NEED to do this job but thought you fellas might give your $.02 worth too.
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DawgPhan · BBQ Super Pro Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 3444

good grief that seems like a TON of food...

does everyone get one of everything? I am going to say that somewhere around $45/pp without even doing any of the numbers....that doesnt include mileage or anything else..Hell you can get that kinda meal in a restaurant for less than $45 and have it be edible so I dont think a catering gig should be less...hell you are going to have $15 or so in food costs PP, not to mention actually cooking it and serving it..

Lewis & Herschel · Posted: May 17 2007 Post subject:

On the customer side of things I would be willing to pay $50 a head for something like that. Better than paying $100 a head to take them all out.
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marvsbbq · BBQ All Star Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 6186

Ok, Here is what I came up with...Not sure if I should/could add a S/C for a small party due to the $$ amount of this already. Just not sure how far I can 'push the envelope' Laughing

$32.85... for the meats and 'standard sides' PP
$ 2.00... for Ceasar salad PP
$ .-50 ...credit for removing slaw (chose ceasar instead) PP
$ 2.50 ....fruit salad PP
$ 3.25....Strawberry cheese cake PP
$ 2.00 ...Lemon Bars PP

$ .65 mileage round trip....$149.50

Total is $57.14 PP or a total of $1428.39 INCLUDING mileage for 25 guests.

Do you think this is reasonable???

This event is on a Wed which is traditionally a 'slow' day.
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marvsbbq · BBQ All Star Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 6186

I just priced this event out (from memory of my costs) and figured I could buy ALL the foods for $253.94...Now that being said, I would have spices, wood and a few other misc expenses in there but would not amount to more than $15-$20 total.
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BBQMAN · Posted: May 17 2007 Post subject:

Sounds like you are in the ballpark Marv! Very Happy

It's tough to price parties like this one. Small guest count, travel time, fuel, etc. cost more. In my case, the labor is more expensive as well due to the travel time. Real looong day to feed 25 people!

The sky of course is never the limit, even if they think it isn't! Laughing

Keep us posted on how this one turns out!
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Ranucci's Big Butt · Posted: May 17 2007 Post subject:

Good Lord, $57 per person for that? If you can get it, get it but man that seems high unless you were doing crab stuffed salmon, blue cheese filets and roasted chicken with a demi glaze sauce. I know most caters bump there cost by 3. What is it up on WA, 7 times?
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marvsbbq · BBQ All Star Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 6186

G's BBQ · BBQ Super Pro Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 1641 Location: NV

I also say you are in the ballpark. Hell steak and Salmon alone could be 30 to 40 in a restaurant let alone everything else on the menu plus the miles...

BBQMAN · Posted: May 17 2007 Post subject:

Dang, you got me thinking late here, and it's a travel day tommorrow! Laughing

My prices are generally lower than Marvs, but let's take a look at the numbers M-N-M BBQ style:

I get $20.95 for a deluxe steak and chicken dinner for 75 or more guests. Add in the smoked salmon at $6.00
Desserts@$3.00
Fruit salad @$1.50
Fuel charge of $125.00 or $5.00 per guest
Surcharge for a party under 50 @8.00

New Total of $44.45 plus tax. $50.00 a plate seems reasonable to me! Very Happy

Also of note: I'm not driving 215 miles round trip plus all the running around shopping, plus all the cooking etc. to make a couple of hundred bucks. I can stay in my home town, avoid the hasssle, and take care of some home improvement jobs and make that kind of money! Wink

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Ranucci's Big Butt · Posted: May 17 2007 Post subject:

I was thinking in the range of $35 to $45, but as listed this is for a lunch not dinner. Most people don't eat the same portions for lunch. I was also thinking on some of Marvs past post that he buys some of his sides at Sams and doctors them up. I would not want to pay that much for Sams potato salad. For those prices I would want everything homeade, down to the salsa and steak rub. Not that the client would probably be able to tell but you never know. Just my thoughts.
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marvsbbq · BBQ All Star Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 6186