Catering for 350

Fordguy1987 · 12-05-2022, 09:28 AM

I have a catering gig slated for 350 people. I will be doing pulled pork and pulled chicken baked beans Mac and cheese and green beans. How much would you guys charge for this. I will be smoking every thing on my pull behind smoker. Thanks in advance

SmoothBoarBBQ · 12-05-2022, 11:54 AM

Obviously it depends on food prices. A good rule of thumb is food costs should be no more than 1/3 of your total price. So add up the cost of raw meat, rubs / seasonings, wood/charcoal, buns, forks, plates, fuel to and from event, drinks, aluminum pans for cooking, etc... Once you have that cost then triple it and that's the cost you tell the customer. This will put you in a spot where you can make some money.

350 people is a massive undertaking even for BBQ. What kind of tow behind trailer do you have?

Fordguy1987 · 12-05-2022, 11:58 AM

I have a 250 gallon reverse flow smoker with a warming box as well.

Greygoose · 12-05-2022, 04:39 PM

Good advice and you have ur hands full,,,,
Break it down to what you know you can cook,,,

sudsandswine · 12-05-2022, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fordguy1987

I have a 250 gallon reverse flow smoker with a warming box as well.

I noticed in your other thread about cooking on your Pitboss you were considering a bigger smoker. Do you have some experience running a stick burner? Even if you do, I’d recommend getting to know THIS one a little bit before you do a cook of that magnitude on it. If you’re planning on a 50/50 amount of pulled chicken and pulled pork, you’re probably still looking at something like 15-20 butts.

Rib bonez · 12-06-2022, 07:09 PM

I cooked for 300. Pulled pork, sliced brisket, beans, Mac n cheese and Cole slaw. I charged 13 a person. This was recent and prices were still up a bit.

Tobacco Road Pitmasters · 12-11-2022, 04:30 PM

I recently did a pulled pork BBQ for 220 people, to honor our first responders. While I did not do it for profit, my raw cost for all charcoal, paper products, rubs, sauces, meat, sides, bread, dessert and drinks came close to $10 per person. Labor was free as we used volunteers, however we probably had 80 volunteer hours. I could not see doing such an event for profit in my locale and charging less than $15 to $20 per person. The details of what you are responsible for at the venue must be considered, thus the range.

12-05-2022, 09:28 AM	#1
Fordguy1987 Got rid of the matchlight. Join Date: 09-26-21 Location: Fredericksburg Virginia Name/Nickname : Jerrylee	Catering for 350 I have a catering gig slated for 350 people. I will be doing pulled pork and pulled chicken baked beans Mac and cheese and green beans. How much would you guys charge for this. I will be smoking every thing on my pull behind smoker. Thanks in advance

12-05-2022, 11:54 AM	#2
SmoothBoarBBQ is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 02-25-17 Location: Killeen, TX Name/Nickname : Donnie	Obviously it depends on food prices. A good rule of thumb is food costs should be no more than 1/3 of your total price. So add up the cost of raw meat, rubs / seasonings, wood/charcoal, buns, forks, plates, fuel to and from event, drinks, aluminum pans for cooking, etc... Once you have that cost then triple it and that's the cost you tell the customer. This will put you in a spot where you can make some money. 350 people is a massive undertaking even for BBQ. What kind of tow behind trailer do you have? __________________ Weber Kettle, Johnson Smokers Med 6', Cotton Gin "Harvester" UDS

12-06-2022, 07:09 PM	#6
Rib bonez Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 01-03-17 Location: Mattoon, Illinois	I cooked for 300. Pulled pork, sliced brisket, beans, Mac n cheese and Cole slaw. I charged 13 a person. This was recent and prices were still up a bit. __________________ XL & mini max green egg / UDS / Shirley on order

12-05-2022, 11:58 AM	#3
Fordguy1987 Got rid of the matchlight. Join Date: 09-26-21 Location: Fredericksburg Virginia Name/Nickname : Jerrylee	I have a 250 gallon reverse flow smoker with a warming box as well.

12-05-2022, 04:39 PM	#4
Greygoose is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 03-22-20 Location: Pembroke,MA Name/Nickname : Don	Good advice and you have ur hands full,,,, Break it down to what you know you can cook,,,

12-11-2022, 04:30 PM	#7
Tobacco Road Pitmasters Wandering around with a bag of matchlight, looking for a match. Join Date: 05-28-20 Location: Greensboro, NC Name/Nickname : Chuck	I recently did a pulled pork BBQ for 220 people, to honor our first responders. While I did not do it for profit, my raw cost for all charcoal, paper products, rubs, sauces, meat, sides, bread, dessert and drinks came close to $10 per person. Labor was free as we used volunteers, however we probably had 80 volunteer hours. I could not see doing such an event for profit in my locale and charging less than $15 to $20 per person. The details of what you are responsible for at the venue must be considered, thus the range.