My minimum is 50 local and 75 over 50 miles. My maximum realistically is 400. However, I believe I can do any size given time to plan, organize and rent equipment!
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What is your minimum and maximum amount of people you will cater
- Thread starter big brother smoke
- Start date
NotleyQue
Full Fledged Farker
My minimum is $250.00 (about 15 people)
I couldnt take a job over 75 people right now.
I couldnt take a job over 75 people right now.
Bbq Bubba
somebody shut me the fark up.
About the same here, but will do drop offs for smaller parties.
Have done 300 easily with help.
With proper planning, i guess the sky's the limit!
M
Marsha
Guest
50 people is our minimum, too. The most we have cooked for so far is 300+, but we could do more with planning, etc., as mentioned above. We are less likely to travel very far these days, with the price of gasoline.
yelonutz
is one Smokin' Farker
I cooked for 200 today. Too many. Gator pit was too crowded and smoke, heat did not circulate properly. 45 racks of St. Louis ribs and 50 lbs chicken. They loved it, I know it could have been much better! Less next time, pride steps in. If you don't have quality, you are no better than Chili's or Applebees.
NUTZ
NUTZ
Bigmista
somebody shut me the fark up.
I think 20 is the minimum. I will however cook a brisket for someone or a half pan of pork. Usually for friends.
smokinit
is Blowin Smoke!
25 for me if it is local and I can do 400 plus without help and much larger with another bbq caterer near me. We have teamed up before works good.
jbrink01
is One Chatty Farker
Minimum - 1. Maximum - 1200 (so far).
Now let me explain the "1" comment. There is a local banker, real estate mogul, private jet owner (you get the idea) who like my ribs. We cater his annual bank party, private parties, etc.
He called my cell a couple years ago and told me he was having a poker party and wanted BBQ - a variety with sides and desserts. I asked how many, he said 12. I said "Mr. Eckelkamp, pulling everything together and firing up the pit for 12 is sure going to expensive per person." He repsonded by saying "I didn't ask how much, I told you what I wanted."
I actually gave him very reasonable pricing and and that's what locked us in to his bank parties, which pay very well.
Always remember that there are 2 ways to say no, and the best way is to price it so that if youi get, no matter how small, it makes money.
Now let me explain the "1" comment. There is a local banker, real estate mogul, private jet owner (you get the idea) who like my ribs. We cater his annual bank party, private parties, etc.
He called my cell a couple years ago and told me he was having a poker party and wanted BBQ - a variety with sides and desserts. I asked how many, he said 12. I said "Mr. Eckelkamp, pulling everything together and firing up the pit for 12 is sure going to expensive per person." He repsonded by saying "I didn't ask how much, I told you what I wanted."
I actually gave him very reasonable pricing and and that's what locked us in to his bank parties, which pay very well.
Always remember that there are 2 ways to say no, and the best way is to price it so that if youi get, no matter how small, it makes money.
J
jminion
Guest
Our min is 50 but will do less with surcharge, Max a couple thousand.
Been busy this year, still recieving request and the Holiday menu is online.
Should be taking delivery on CTO today.
Been busy this year, still recieving request and the Holiday menu is online.
Should be taking delivery on CTO today.
TOPS BBQ
Full Fledged Farker
Min. is 50, but if a client is willing to pay, I'll cook for less. My max is 300, but I know of cooks with rigs that would come out to help, if a party was larger.
ssbbqguy
is one Smokin' Farker
jbrink01 hit it right on the head. I have customers that come for the quality, not the price. They know where to get mediocre que, that's why they call us. Steve
chinesebob
is Blowin Smoke!
I do a lot of brisket and pork shoulders for people. I try to send out a newsletter once a month letting people know about it. Around football or graduation time that can amount to anywhere from 5 to 22 orders of individual pieces of meat. Minimum "party" is 300.00. I don't care the number of people. 2 - 3 half pans of sides, 2 half pans of meat, store bought sauce. Drop off only. From there sky's the limit but have done up to 200 people.
M
Marsha
Guest
Now that you all mention it, we will do smaller events for our best customers and friends and family. And every year we smoke up hams and turkeys for various customers for the holidays.
I also agree with the idea of quoting a high price if it is an event you are not sure about. We quoted high for a wedding reception we are about to do and the bride didn't blink. Of course it helped us that her first caterer pretty much abandoned her just a couple months before the wedding. Fortunately she has been great to work with so far and keeps thanking us for helping her out.
I also agree with the idea of quoting a high price if it is an event you are not sure about. We quoted high for a wedding reception we are about to do and the bride didn't blink. Of course it helped us that her first caterer pretty much abandoned her just a couple months before the wedding. Fortunately she has been great to work with so far and keeps thanking us for helping her out.
Jacked UP BBQ
Babbling Farker
I will cook for one person for the right price. Max is 500 for now.
latitude 36
MemberGot rid of the matchlight.
Pricing and numbers the eternal quest for profit.
Just one tip. If people ask for a meal for say 50 people and it is say $30.00 per head. Do not give the per head price as I've had the situation where I had no contract lock in and the numbers reduced and they paid the per head price.
Get their number of punters, times it by your price per head and give them the total figure.
Ie $1500.00 for up to 50 people.
Extra persons can be charged out at a per head price.
Just one tip. If people ask for a meal for say 50 people and it is say $30.00 per head. Do not give the per head price as I've had the situation where I had no contract lock in and the numbers reduced and they paid the per head price.
Get their number of punters, times it by your price per head and give them the total figure.
Ie $1500.00 for up to 50 people.
Extra persons can be charged out at a per head price.
lcbateman3
is Blowin Smoke!
I really don't do a min/max. It's more an event.
Usually, it comes down to what they want. Like others said it's more about the quality I can serve. If someone comes to me and starts looking for ways to cut costs I can usually send them somewhere else. I'm small enough that I cannot afford to be in a place where we are seeing where we can save money by switching to green beans from baked beans. If you want high-quality food that will be prepared the way you want it no questions asked, I can provide that. If you want sub quality food at a very cheap price, I'm not your person.
Usually, it comes down to what they want. Like others said it's more about the quality I can serve. If someone comes to me and starts looking for ways to cut costs I can usually send them somewhere else. I'm small enough that I cannot afford to be in a place where we are seeing where we can save money by switching to green beans from baked beans. If you want high-quality food that will be prepared the way you want it no questions asked, I can provide that. If you want sub quality food at a very cheap price, I'm not your person.
Cook
Babbling Farker
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I've done 15...I've done 1,100
kurtsara
is one Smokin' Farker
I know this is/was a very old thread, but, what is punters?
medic92
is one Smokin' Farker
I'm just starting out so I'll take just about any job that gets me a little profit and some recognition. If I'm cooking meat only I could probably cover around 450 people, but with trying to make sides and everything else at this point I'd probably set my max at 200.
longwayfromhome
Full Fledged Farker
Punters = people, also people willing to place a bet. In this context, people.
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