$$ for Que???

[keale]

A couple of people have asked me to smoke pork butts for them, Is it easier if I buy them and smoke them, and sell by the lb.? One has said he'll give me the butt, to smoke, how would I charge for that?
Que. "low and slow", here is a mystery for I'd say 97%. So I'm in uncharted waters here as for prices...

 

[Puppyboy]

A few months ago, I cooked up some chicken for a resersal dinner. I was given 40# of mixed quarter pieces and some Famous Dave's Rub. I charged $75 and they were happy. They even tossed in a few alum pans and foil for the delivery.

 

[SoEzzy]

You have to be confident that they will or have handled everything properly, if you don't want to add an additional mystery worry into the equation, then buy the meat your self handle it correctly and remove one worry from the possible list.

Bought, cooked and delivered, to work or their homes, $10.00 / lb cooked weight.
Or do them a deal buy butts in the 7 - 8 lb range and sell them cooked at $35.00 per butt any weight.

Try and get several orders at the same time, and so you can utilize your pit more efficiently.

Also cover your a$$ check the health department rules, and think about insurance cover of some sort, it is better not to need it, but if you have it and have complied with all the HD rules you are on stronger ground than if you didn't.

 

[Bill-Chicago]

One has said he'll give me the butt, to smoke, how would I charge for that?
...

I see you have a UDS.

I'll assume its fuel consumption is on par with my WSM, so here's how I would price it.

Charcoal cost, I'd estimate a third of a bag, maybe half. $3
Flavor Wood chunks $2
Lighter fluid $.50 :twisted:
If pulling: Aluminun Pan, Sauce, Rub: $5

So your material Cost is $10.50

Now you know your going to throw other chit on when you light the UDS, but you need to charge out your full material cost as if cooking only the single butt.

Now add in time. What is a good time? 5 hours on a butt plus pulling? 6? And how much do you really do with a UDS, monitor temps?

When all is said and done, if someone asked me to smoke a butt, and gave me the meat, I'd hand him back the fully cooked butt, wrapped in foil, for $20 and tell him how to pull it.

If he wants catering, up charge him with all the extras and charge him $50

 

[Markbb]

Charging

You need to buy the meat, don't know how long its been in the freezer and quality, if say the butt came out tough and chewy who to blame, you guessed it so when you do these thing make sure you handle everything and Soezzy is right about the insurance, you don't want somebody getting sick and holding you liable for it...

 

[bbqbull]

Rule of thumb here per my bbq buddys.

Triple the cost of the meat you purchase This is raw weight and not finished products weight.

This covers for your time, fuel for pit, gas for vehicle and rubs and foil.

I was also check on insurance protection.

 

[cmcadams]

In Ohio, it's best to have them buy the meat and charge them for the service of smoking it. That way you're not held liable for problems; you're providing a service, not a product.

 

[bbqjoe]

I, uh, never mind.
Just click http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21067.

 

[jbrink01]

Don't work up a price and figure out how cheap you can be. Here on the mainland, it's $10 a pound. That's using $1.19 butts. You do the math and be sure to charge enough.

 

[keale]

I, uh, never mind.
Just click http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21067.

WHEW!! Thanks Joe for the info. I see this is very sensitive...reading that thread was eye opening at the least...

I'm am NOT catering...just cooking for some friends that have tasted my cooking and wanted me to cook a few butts for them.
I'm not taking work from anyone...as they are no BBQ places on my island and maybe 5-6 in the whole state.

Thanks for all your help...

 

[jbrink01]

OK. $20 a butt.

 

[Markbb]

What???

Keale no BBQ in the state!!?? you've got a wide open field to run with, get your friends hooked then have them bring in some friends and friends,friends, you'll be the only BBQ pusher in the area:twisted::mrgreen:

 

[keale]

You know thats my dream, after I retire...but yeah I know of ONE catering co. on Oahu, that uses a FEC 500 (I think) and a handful of restraunts that specialize in que.

 

[Pyle's BBQ]

I see you have a UDS.

I'll assume its fuel consumption is on par with my WSM, so here's how I would price it.

Charcoal cost, I'd estimate a third of a bag, maybe half. $3
Flavor Wood chunks $2
Lighter fluid $.50 :twisted:
If pulling: Aluminun Pan, Sauce, Rub: $5

So your material Cost is $10.50

Now you know your going to throw other chit on when you light the UDS, but you need to charge out your full material cost as if cooking only the single butt.

Now add in time. What is a good time? 5 hours on a butt plus pulling? 6? And how much do you really do with a UDS, monitor temps?

When all is said and done, if someone asked me to smoke a butt, and gave me the meat, I'd hand him back the fully cooked butt, wrapped in foil, for $20 and tell him how to pull it.

If he wants catering, up charge him with all the extras and charge him $50

Busted. Bill is using lighter fluid and has the gall to charge for it.

 

[Countryhb]

Busted. Bill is using lighter fluid and has the gall to charge for it.

Glad someone caught that! Willkat huffs lighter fluid...pass it on.

 

[Brian in So Cal]

No lighter fluid allowed.