Advice for pricing a pork butt "job"

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scvinegarpepper

Meat Mopper
Original poster
Feb 23, 2010
188
77
Lowcountry, SC
Often times friends of mine will ask me to cook barbecue for a small party of whatever. In the past I've just charged for cost of meat and sauce or whatever. I'm cooking some next month for some family friends and they are adamant that they want to pay me for my labor as well. I have no idea how to price this out.

I've seen a good rule of thumb of cost of meat/goods X 3. My question is, is that just raw goods like the pork and the cost of my sauce? Or does that include my wood and charcoal/gas costs as well? This is for an engagement party for my brother's sister in law, i.e., they're essentially family, so I don't want to screw them over. But I also should definitely get some more compensation than just the cost of the meat. Thoughts? Thanks.
 
Your cost for everything including fuel times 3.

But since they are family then maybe just double the cost, if it will make you feel better.

Al
 
Also to make yourself feel better, divide the "cost of materials X 3" (or 2 whichever you prefer) by the number of guests and see what the cost per guest is.  Then you can relate that to what a catered event might have cost.  Taking into account that your food will be much better than what most chain-catering type places may be able to provide...
 
 
Your cost for everything including fuel times 3.

But since they are family then maybe just double the cost, if it will make you feel better.

Al
 
Also to make yourself feel better, divide the "cost of materials X 3" (or 2 whichever you prefer) by the number of guests and see what the cost per guest is.  Then you can relate that to what a catered event might have cost.  Taking into account that your food will be much better than what most chain-catering type places may be able to provide...
Awesome, thanks, y'all. I'll probably get all my stuff and then decide if I want to do x3 or x2, depending on the overall cost. Probably only doing 2, maybe 3 butts so it wouldn't be expensive even if I did x3. Thanks.
 
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