Need a little advice...

One meat and 4 sides for a WEDDING would go easily at 12-13 bucks per person!
Unless your just dropping the food off, ya gotta do it up nice for the happy couple!

Since I have been BBQ Catering it seems I have a lot more friends. I have cheated myself out of money by being everyone's "Friend" I finally made out a price sheet and quote straight off of the price sheet---friends or not. I am not employed---I do not cater for fun. I cater to make a living, and my friend's realize this. I have enough experience--now I need money.

How big are the sandwiches going to be----on hamburger buns or on French Rolls?
If you have figured it out that you can make money at $7.00 you may have left something out when figuring cost. You have labor costs --food costs--transportation costs--fuel for BBQ pit costs etc. Do you need to pay helpers--or are they "Friends" that are donating their services. I think 7 dollars per plate seems low, but if your help is free maybe not.

The other problem that has cropped up with cooking for "friends" is that the "friends" do not keep special pricing to themselves, and the next person that you quote for the same meal will be angry with you.

What are comparable caterers in your area charging? I have been through these things the hard way---discounting to friends will cause trouble later.

I also look at other things--if someone is renting a hall for thousands of dollars and leaving for a honeymoon in France---and trying to get me to cater at a break even price, then something is wrong. Do not cheat yourself, but do not rip off the customer either---be good---be honest, and be fair. Please recheck your figures.

I agree with the above comments!

You are at least half off what the job is worth. You never want to let a client go cheap on their wedding day.

Amen to all of that input. Make money or get in line at the soup kitchen!

if he is a good friend, tell him not to spread the word on the pricing, you will regret it. everyone will expect the treatment.

OC PIG ASSASSINS said:

if he is a good friend, tell him not to spread the word on the pricing, you will regret it. everyone will expect the treatment.

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Absolutely. On the rare occasions we do a "brother-in-law" deal for someone we swear them to secrecy and let them know we will deny that we gave them that price if anyone ever asks us. It's too bad that the world works that way, but the worst thing that can happen to a caterer is to become known as the least expensive guy around. Then you get to work yourself to death and die broke!

I would be in at least the $12/person range just because they added the mac & cheese. Cheddar is damned near $4/# and you need a lot to do it right. And remember that your time is valuable. If you have a smoker large enough to cook all the butts in one shot, you are still looking at 10-14 hours of cooking minimum.

Lots of caterers would charge $20/head for rubber chicken and green beans. Don't sell yourself short.

Bigmista said:

I would be in at least the $12/person range just because they added the mac & cheese. Cheddar is damned near $4/# and you need a lot to do it right. And remember that your time is valuable. If you have a smoker large enough to cook all the butts in one shot, you are still looking at 10-14 hours of cooking minimum.

Lots of caterers would charge $20/head for rubber chicken and green beans. Don't sell yourself short.

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You Would :twisted:

big brother smoke said:

You Would :twisted:

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And has...

I hear ya all. This is gonna be a lot of work for you and all of your helpers. Perhaps outsourcing is the answer....J/K

My question is "who would do this if you didn't?"

Bigmista is right about the cost of that mac-cheese, to do it right is gonna cost you.

You might want to re-calculate. Figure out your cost and add 25%, that will be your true cost.... don't forget the money you choose to pay your help. The you can make a gift of your usual profits... just my two cents!

I think we've all been there, done that, and have the t-shirts from it...

I personally would be in the $12-$14 range. The area that I live in can handle that kind of a price. Have I done it for less? Of course I have, where do you think I got the t-shirt?

If you feel you can do it for $8 a head, then that is the price you should charge you friend. We are just trying to give you our insight, nothing more, nothing less...

Please keep a full accounting of the job (I do this for any and all jobs I do) so that you can see where you went right and wrong on this gig and then learn from it....

I also agree that you should swear them to secrecy on the price or you'll be asked for it over and over again...

Good Luck!