Volume and Price Question

While not having to pay people is a plus, you still have to price based on your actual costs and not just by what others are charging. You have to know your numbers before you can decide whether or not what you're charging will actually bring in any money.

Use the 3 times food cost rule for starters. Add up all of the meat, buns, sides, etc. you have to buy and then multiply that by three. Then divide that by the number of expected plates you expect to sell. What's that number? Is it higher or lower than 7 bucks? That calculation alone will tell you how close your numbers are.

If you come up with anything less than $7 per plate, then there's enough meat on the bones so to speak that you'll make some money for the charity. But if you come in higher than that, then you're pushing it because that 3x markup also accounts for all the fuel, travel, possibly things like place settings, and all other incidental costs.

The bottom line is you have to know what you are going to spend before you can ever put a price on a plate. I mean think about it, what if you go out and feed 200 people, they all make the recommended donation, but in the end you and all of your volunteers end up devoting 10 hours of their weekend just so you raise a net of 200 bucks? Sure, it made money, but that might be just a dollar a head. That's where you can figure out that charging/suggesting a buck or two more per head can make a world of difference.

So, start by tallying up what it's really going to cost to put on the event and then think about prices instead of just estimating that because you don't have labor and because it's lower than others are charging that it will all work out in the end.

Good luck on your venture. My experience with fundraisers is that a free will donation garners more money than a set price. Now this may be different in your location.

I've often done fund raisers and "gatherings" at church and they charge whatever they wish (our pastor basically gives it all away) and I donate the meat and time. But, that's just me!
However, I always run the numbers to make sure they ask for enough to cover the actual cost (even if donated) so that everyone understands "free" isn't "free"!! 3x cost is a good ball park guest0imate.

Where is the event? Is there a website?

Pyle's BBQ said:

Good luck on your venture. My experience with fundraisers is that a free will donation garners more money than a set price. Now this may be different in your location.

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That has been my experience as well. My church does a monthly dinner and a movie night with a free will offering and we always make back our costs plus, to the point the monies left over is paying for up front cost for the next month, and building a nice chunk we will donate to one our sister churches in the inner city for their food pantry.