How much should i charge for a smoked turkeys

nicerackbbqteam · 10-05-2009, 12:09 PM

HI we are just starting out this year so far we had a really good year
and i was thinking of ending the BBQ season by offering Smoked turkeys
so i am trying to figure out a good price for them
average size is about 8-12lb bird

thank you

big brother smoke · 10-05-2009, 03:39 PM

$40- 50 per bird based on weight. Otherwise is it worth your time?

nicerackbbqteam · 10-05-2009, 05:39 PM

yeah i think so..im trying to get orders in now

Chuckwagonbbqco · 10-05-2009, 06:16 PM

During the holiday season almost all stores have turkeys on sale for 99 cents per pound. I have had trouble trying to get a good price for smoked turkeys---people seem to balk at the price. The only way I have been able to make money smoking turkeys is to smoke them 20 at a time. I take orders and plan the turkey pick ups so that I can smoke a whole load at a time. I have been getting $40.00 per turkey so only $20,00 or so per bird is paid for labor. That is not much money to brine, spice and smoke one turkey---but by doing 20 turkeys at a time it works for me.

Things may work differently in your area---I think that we are in the poorest county in the state. If I could only take EBT cards for turkeys.

jbrink01 · 10-05-2009, 07:57 PM

I really hate doing Turkeys. I agree, the effort is not really worth it unless you can do 25 or 30 at a time.

Bossmanbbq · 10-05-2009, 08:01 PM

I did 25 turkeys last year and sold them for $35 a piece. I had a couple people not get it saying they could get a turkey for $5 and wanted me to smoke them. I won't smoke turkeys other people buy just because I have no control over the quality control and if someone get sick its me that gets blamed, to much risk for me.
I think this year we will be selling them for $40 and see what happens.

bam · 10-05-2009, 10:39 PM

We do turkeys for 30 dollars plus price of turkey. Some of your customer ask for free range makes a difference.

mrwicks · 10-09-2009, 11:05 AM

I fry and smoke about 40 birds each holiday......smoked turkey has better margin.....I start at 48 for a 10-12 lb, 53 for a 13-17 lb and 58 for 18-22 ....nothing bigger than that......RD has turkeys for .86 /lb right now

big brother smoke · 10-09-2009, 02:44 PM

It's a good way to get started in the business. I almost refuse to them now due to the profit margin.

MattG · 10-09-2009, 03:15 PM

I charge $40 for a 12-14lb turkey.

MattG · 10-09-2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossmanbbq

I won't smoke turkeys other people buy just because I have no control over the quality control and if someone get sick its me that gets blamed, to much risk for me.
.

Thats right, thats not a good thing. I had a guy bring me some deer meat that he wanted me to smoke. He said it was frozen and brought it to me. When he got there it was nothing but HOT and dried out stinking meat

. It was like it had been laying in the sun all day. He said its ok because it was going into the cooker and the heat would kill everything.

I said you have got to be kidding me. Needless to say I told him to take a hike and Ive never let anyone bring meat to me since then. LESSON LEARNED!!!!!!

nicerackbbqteam · 10-10-2009, 11:54 AM

WOW Great Response i have gotten... we Have 4 birds so far on Order!

txschutte · 10-10-2009, 12:12 PM

I only do them by request, or for catering the whole package. People chit themselves when they see what I have to have for a $.89/lb turkey.....

BigJimsBBQ · 10-11-2009, 04:22 AM

I started my mass smoking by doing Turkey for 2 different meat markets. I learned alot about all the work and mess was involved that 1st year for Turkeys. I now do Smoked Hams only and no Turkeys for the Holidays because of a much better profit for the work load. People see Turkeys for $1 or less a pound and do not understand adding $2+ more per pound for smoking but are use to paying a larger profit for Ham because of past Businesses already charging this price.

JamesB · 10-12-2009, 03:28 AM

Get $40 per ~12lb bird. Only do them for family, friends, co-workers etc. Have orders for 30 smoked birds and 16 fried so far. I buy the "enhanced" birds since they are already brined in a sense since I don't have any way to safely brine that many birds.

10-05-2009, 12:09 PM	#1
nicerackbbqteam On the road to being a farker Join Date: 05-19-09 Location: San Jose ,CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	How much should i charge for a smoked turkeys HI we are just starting out this year so far we had a really good year and i was thinking of ending the BBQ season by offering Smoked turkeys so i am trying to figure out a good price for them average size is about 8-12lb bird thank you __________________ www.myspace.com/nicerackbbq >>2 UDS "Low la" & "Jazmin"

10-05-2009, 03:39 PM	#2
big brother smoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-03-06 Location: Ventura, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	$40- 50 per bird based on weight. Otherwise is it worth your time? __________________ Peace and Smoke, BBS https://www.bigpoppasmokers.com/stor...nufacturer=314 My Weapons: Custom rig - Kandi, UDS; Bubba Keg; 22.5 WSM x 2; 18.5 WSM; BWS extended party; BWS Gator and an Onyx Oven; 29' ft Coachmen Leprechaun (Lola); Avatar by Grillman. Dan Chambers get well soon, so we can tell you to "Shut up Chambers"

10-05-2009, 05:39 PM	#3
nicerackbbqteam On the road to being a farker Join Date: 05-19-09 Location: San Jose ,CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	yeah i think so..im trying to get orders in now __________________ www.myspace.com/nicerackbbq >>2 UDS "Low la" & "Jazmin"

10-05-2009, 07:57 PM	#5
jbrink01 is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 08-17-06 Location: Washington, Missouri Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I really hate doing Turkeys. I agree, the effort is not really worth it unless you can do 25 or 30 at a time. __________________ KCBS #13207 **2013 Insane Can Posse Tour** Sponsored By: *Gateway BBQ Store* *Blues Hog BBQ Company* *Plowboys BBQ Company*

10-05-2009, 08:01 PM	#6
Bossmanbbq is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-03-05 Location: Colorado Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I did 25 turkeys last year and sold them for $35 a piece. I had a couple people not get it saying they could get a turkey for $5 and wanted me to smoke them. I won't smoke turkeys other people buy just because I have no control over the quality control and if someone get sick its me that gets blamed, to much risk for me. I think this year we will be selling them for $40 and see what happens. __________________ Bossman www.bossmanbbq.com Peoria Custom Pit 24x72Treager Texas Style Smoker Whole Hog Country Smoker* " You can put all of the sauce on it you want, but you still have to master the art of cooking barbecue" - Mike Mills-

10-05-2009, 06:16 PM	#4
Chuckwagonbbqco Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-19-07 Location: Oroville, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	During the holiday season almost all stores have turkeys on sale for 99 cents per pound. I have had trouble trying to get a good price for smoked turkeys---people seem to balk at the price. The only way I have been able to make money smoking turkeys is to smoke them 20 at a time. I take orders and plan the turkey pick ups so that I can smoke a whole load at a time. I have been getting $40.00 per turkey so only $20,00 or so per bird is paid for labor. That is not much money to brine, spice and smoke one turkey---but by doing 20 turkeys at a time it works for me. Things may work differently in your area---I think that we are in the poorest county in the state. If I could only take EBT cards for turkeys.

10-05-2009, 10:39 PM	#7
bam is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 10-22-08 Location: Philly, PA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	We do turkeys for 30 dollars plus price of turkey. Some of your customer ask for free range makes a difference. __________________ AKA "Huck" BBQ Resource: [URL="http://www.huckshut.com"]www.huckshut.com[/URL] Streaming BBQ Podcast: [URL]http://www.inthehut.com[/URL]

10-09-2009, 11:05 AM	#8
mrwicks Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 05-15-09 Location: Chicago IL South Side Go Cubs!!! Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I fry and smoke about 40 birds each holiday......smoked turkey has better margin.....I start at 48 for a 10-12 lb, 53 for a 13-17 lb and 58 for 18-22 ....nothing bigger than that......RD has turkeys for .86 /lb right now __________________ Some WSMs,some OTG 22's,some OTG 18's, 1 26.75 OTG, 1 UDS Type...and a Smokey Joe

10-09-2009, 02:44 PM	#9
big brother smoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-03-06 Location: Ventura, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	It's a good way to get started in the business. I almost refuse to them now due to the profit margin. __________________ Peace and Smoke, BBS https://www.bigpoppasmokers.com/stor...nufacturer=314 My Weapons: Custom rig - Kandi, UDS; Bubba Keg; 22.5 WSM x 2; 18.5 WSM; BWS extended party; BWS Gator and an Onyx Oven; 29' ft Coachmen Leprechaun (Lola); Avatar by Grillman. Dan Chambers get well soon, so we can tell you to "Shut up Chambers"

10-09-2009, 03:15 PM	#10
MattG is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 06-29-09 Location: Madison Ga. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I charge $40 for a 12-14lb turkey. __________________ Stumps Stretch, WSM, Bar-B-Chef Smoker, UDS in progress

10-10-2009, 11:54 AM	#12
nicerackbbqteam On the road to being a farker Join Date: 05-19-09 Location: San Jose ,CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	WOW Great Response i have gotten... we Have 4 birds so far on Order! __________________ www.myspace.com/nicerackbbq >>2 UDS "Low la" & "Jazmin"

10-10-2009, 12:12 PM	#13
txschutte Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-02-07 Location: Cozad, NE USA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I only do them by request, or for catering the whole package. People chit themselves when they see what I have to have for a $.89/lb turkey..... __________________ "Bring it on, you bananna thong wearing killer of brisket!"-Chambers If you really care about this place, you'll show some respect for it. I'm such a ZERO. Team Whosoever Q If a man looks lustfully at eggs and bacon, he has already committed breakfast in his heart.

10-11-2009, 04:22 AM	#14
BigJimsBBQ Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-10-09 Location: Newnan, GA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I started my mass smoking by doing Turkey for 2 different meat markets. I learned alot about all the work and mess was involved that 1st year for Turkeys. I now do Smoked Hams only and no Turkeys for the Holidays because of a much better profit for the work load. People see Turkeys for $1 or less a pound and do not understand adding $2+ more per pound for smoking but are use to paying a larger profit for Ham because of past Businesses already charging this price. __________________ Big Jim - Newnan, GA Customized Lang Model 84 Longneck

10-12-2009, 03:28 AM	#15
JamesB is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 08-15-05 Location: Irving, Tx Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Get $40 per ~12lb bird. Only do them for family, friends, co-workers etc. Have orders for 30 smoked birds and 16 fried so far. I buy the "enhanced" birds since they are already brined in a sense since I don't have any way to safely brine that many birds.

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