Catering Question - Please help!

[heyer5]

Hey everyone!

Hopefully I'm not over stepping any boundaries here, but I have a few questions!  First and foremost, I want everyone to know that I've been smoking meat for a few years with some pretty great reviews.  I've smoked for friends and family and everyone in between for get-togethers and my own wedding rehearsal and groups from 50-75 people. 

However, what I haven't done is actually charge anything for catering.  I might have the upcoming opportunity to smoke four or five pork butts for a surprise birthday party.  They heard about me from a friend of mine who thought that I would be a good person to help them with this. 

So, how do you guys and gals go about charging?  Is it per pound?  Per hour?  I'm just in the dark about this and would like to get some opinions. 

I think I will be smoking 35-40 lbs total, I will be smoking it a full week before the party and freezing it until the big day.  I will NOT, at least I don't think I will, be serving the food.  Just delivering it to a buddy who is going to take it to the get together. 

I'm hoping the SMF crew can point me in the right direction! 

Thanks!

 

[smoking b]

I can't answer your questions but you will probably get a much better response if you post in the catering & large group gatherings section...

 

[heyer5]

Ha!  Good point!

I've decided that I'm not too worried about charging, probably just for the meat and nothing else! 
 

 

[fpnmf]

We have a great search tool here...

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/newsearch/?search=Catering+&type=all

 

[jarjarchef]

Need a bit more info...

Who is supplying the meat? You or them

Are they providing anything else?

The last one I did, I charged $8 a LB and I supplied the meat.

 

[solaryellow]

I charge by the head for catering.

 

[show me smoke]

I charge 8 per pound of finished product....and i figure 1/4 a lb per person finished product.  I lose about 30 percent of the raw weight in the cooking process.

 

[linguica]

I charge by the head for catering.

X2....Most places will give you a "by the head" estimates for feeding a crowd. Around the SF bay area, an average meal with sides and desert runs from $12 to $19 for a cafeteria style meal. ( hold your plate and wait in line)