Am I out of line?

[HBMTN]

The local paper did a huge story on us opening our catering business this spring. I have been getting some calls the last two days since the story from people wanting pulled pork for drop off.

My question is about my prices and if they are out of line. For drop off service - 1/3lb pulled pork per person with buns and sauce I have been pricing $7.50 pp add 2 basic sides for a total of $8.95. Upgrade to our home made GOOD sides for $0.50 per side. Get it fully catered with BBQ pit on site for $125 set up fee and add sweet tea or lemonade for $1.00 per person.

All are for a minimum guest count of 50 people. How do you feel about my prices, am I out of line?

[Plowboy]

Looks good to me. YMMV based on region and competition. That would fly where I'm at. I try to bid a whole package and not too many ala cart options.

[jbrink01]

We never break pricing down. It's either meat only at $10/$12 a pound or packages.

[Jacked UP BBQ]

GOOD sides????? If you are in the business to make money with a good product, never compromise your quality. GOOD sides should be always.

[NRA4Life]

GOOD sides????? If you are in the business to make money with a good product, never compromise your quality. GOOD sides should be always.

I fully agree with this statement. Every gig you do is a "job interview" for the next job...you are serving potential clients with every sandwich and side dish. Don't offer them an option for marginal sides or you may be judged as a whole as being average.

Prices look about right though to answer your question.

[FatBoyz]

for what you just said your giving them i charge 15 a person.. so i think your cheap...

[HBMTN]

GOOD sides????? If you are in the business to make money with a good product, never compromise your quality. GOOD sides should be always.

I'm with you, but I am in an area where other BBQ'rs are doing boiled potatoes and green beans out of a can cheap. If I price nothing but good homemade sides people just think I am hi and don't look at the difference so I thought I would try to upsell the homemade sides.

[Boshizzle]

I can't help you on the pricing but the observation about the "GOOD" sides was right. How about offering Southern Style Sides and charge a little more for your Trademark Sides or Signature Sides?

[HBMTN]

I started out doing all homemade sides, but some people don't want to pay extra. For instance I quotes a guy a price with two sides and they were homemade mac and cheese and and a homemade potato salad. I lost the job because another bbq caterer gave them 3 sides for the same price. The 3 sides they did were green beans, boiled potatoes and corn that were all dumped out of a can and heated up. So that is why I added a selection of basic sides and try to upsell to homemade sides.

[PollardsVision]

I haven't even gotten started yet, so my thoughts are probably not worth much on this issue, but here goes.

It sounds like a frustrating problem with competitors offering garbage sides and undercutting you, but that seems like the sort of thing that'll work itself out. If you are giving them quality at an honest price, you should position yourself as the BBQ caterer for those interested in a bit higher quality. If people want boiled potatoes and green beans, more power to 'em. If they are interested in treating their guests right, that's what you are there for.

Seems like it would be better to be thought of on the higher side of the scale on price and quality early than the opposite. Being thought of as a guy with a lower quality product seems like it would be a hard thing to come back from.

Finding some phrasing that doesn't make cheap sides sound "bad" seems like something worth pursuing.

I'll be right in line with your pricing when I get going. For now, I'm planning on $9/person for Pork BBQ, 2 sides plus slaw, buns, and sauce delivered. I plan on including slaw with all Pork BBQ orders because I think a good red slaw just goes well with Pork BBQ. My slaw feels like more of a topping than a side (I'll probably just buy the mayo-based slaw for those that want it, to make the HD a little happier). If they go with homemade mac'n cheese and beans, I think I can get it done for right around $3.50 per person. Maybe I'm out of my mind, but I'm still working on it.

[deguerre]

Seems like it would be better to be thought of on the higher side of the scale on price and quality early than the opposite. Being thought of as a guy with a lower quality product seems like it would be a hard thing to come back from.

Finding some phrasing that doesn't make cheap sides sound "bad" seems like something worth pursuing.



If you had a basic price for a "Standard" plate, and a price to the side for a "Ramped Up" plate - avoiding the word good in association with sides...
You could always explain "Ramped Up" in the bid perhaps?

[Boshizzle]

Yep, you need to show people why your "good" sides are worth the upgrade. For example,

Our "Signature Sides" are a perfect way to add that "little something" to a special occasion. Our Signature mac & cheese is made from scratch with real cheese, tender macaroni, and is slow cooked to perfection in the old time Virginia tradition. It's not from a can and is never frozen. It's made with the highest quality ingredients. Special occasions call for special attention. That's what you get with our BBQ and that's what you get with our very own signature sides.


Besides, isn't it cheaper to make mac & cheese from scratch than to use frozen?

[buttrubbersbbq]

I think your cheap. any restaurant will charge $8.00+ for a meal you eat at their place. your overhead is also there plus your time to deliver, fuel, wear on you car, fuel for smoker. I don't see why you are pricing to be cheaper than a restaurant. And maybe I am way out of line in pricing because i figure 1/2 pound per person.

[PorkQPine]

yep, you need to show people why your "good" sides are worth the upgrade. For example,

our "signature sides" are a perfect way to add that "little something" to a special occasion. Our signature mac & cheese is made from scratch with real cheese, tender macaroni, and is slow cooked to perfection in the old time virginia tradition. It's not from a can and is never frozen. It's made with the highest quality ingredients. Special occasions call for special attention. That's what you get with our bbq and that's what you get with our very own signature sides.


Besides, isn't it cheaper to make mac & cheese from scratch than to use frozen?

brilliant---

[HBMTN]

Just to clarify, I don't say regular or good sides to potential clients I advertise them a s standard sides or upgrade to our signature homemade sides. I was only say good to you all meaning the difference between dumped out of a can and quality good home cooked sides. That is unless you think dumped out of a can is good :-D

[deguerre]

That is unless you think dumped out of a can is good :-D
That depends on how many teeth you have left.:heh:

[theflints01]

I've quit offering the option of canned beens, carton potato salad, etc. If the client is going with someone else to save a buck that's their choice. I want repeat business from clients who will pay a fair price for top quality products. Better meat, fresh sides, nicer serving ware. I have to give a lot of credit to my wife who demands that we put our best on the table every time. I think the outlay of more labor and slightly higher food cost now will pay big dividends long term.

[JD McGee]

I offer the same size sammy, slaw, beans, rootbeer, and a cookie for 10.99...looks good from here! :thumb:

[Boshizzle]

That is unless you think dumped out of a can is good :-D

Some people do. When my son graduated from college we had a lot of people over for a BBQ. We served baked beans as one of the sides. There was a person raving about the beans. They had to have the recipe. Since there were so many people and the only ones cooking and serving were my wife and I, we just heated four large cans of Ukrop (grocery store) brand baked beans. I told the lady that my baked bean recipe was a secret but I would share it wither her.

1.) Drive to the nearest Ukrops.
2.) Buy 4 cans of Ukrops baked beans.
3.) At home, open the cans and pour them in a pot.
4.) Heat them until they are hot, stirring occasionally.
5.) Serve.

[Jerk Pit Master]

Just to clarify, I don't say regular or good sides to potential clients I advertise them a s standard sides or upgrade to our signature homemade sides. I was only say good to you all meaning the difference between dumped out of a can and quality good home cooked sides. That is unless you think dumped out of a can is good :-D


Still implies the cheaper ones are not "homemade". I offer numerous sides, some require a $1 upgrade fee either because they cost more or require more work to prepare.

You meal pricing is cheap, sandwich price seems expensive unless it is heavyon the meat.

Congrats on the free press. How did you get it - press release?

[HBMTN]

Yes my standard sides are not homemade. I have had several say it's about the BBQ and we just want something simple to go along with it so that is why I offered a less expensive option on my menu. I have had others who love the fact they can get homemade sides so I thought this way I could please both.

The local paper heard a lot of buzz about us and decided to to an article about our business opening up in thier weekender paper that goes out to all county and city residents (county population 30,000 not sure about circulation) so they came and interviewed us. We had no idea that it would be a front page story and covered 80% of the front page. A good friend said well it must have been a slow news week, I thought gee whiz wonder what he really thinks of my BBQ:tape::roll::doh: I just said yea must have been.

[Utahslo-smoke]

I would dump the idea of cheep sides all together. Now don't get me wrong I do have some that will cost me more so there is a $1 mark up for them like corn on the cob or baked potato. I assume that each side will cost me .25- .50 cents pp so I can do 3 for $1.50. not what I'm charging just cost. So given that I charge $1 per side. The menu is set up that way one meat and sides ect. Having said that so you know where I'm coming from, think about your brand. Your a ligit business and want to be around for a ling time. It might take a little longer to build and be known for quality but its a really good thing to be known for. I have turned down a job because they wanted me to get pre-made potato salad and pork-n-beans. Not because they love the taste of it, or headed over seas for the next year and cant get it ,but cause they just didn't want to spend the money. I keep prices in line so I can do office and contract work, but because we are known to do fresh and quality we also do medical centers picnics for special diet groups. :-D In the end branding pays off.