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Help on pricing this catering menu, please!

post #1 of 6
6/3/08 at 3:42pm
Thread Starter 
Are these good per person pricing? It's for 40 people..I already have the other calculations, just need to know about the pp fees.
Thanks!!!

Smothered Pork Chops, BBQ Chicken, Okra with Tomatoes, Corn on the Cob, White Rice, Macaroni & Cheese, Cornbread, Chef Salad……$19.00 pp


Fried Chicken, Rib Tips, Collard Greens, Candied Yams, Black Eye Peas with Meat, Potato Salad, Coleslaw, Cornbread, Chef Salad….$18.00pp

New Orleans Feast- Sausage & Shrimp Jambayala, Chicken Creole, Red Beans & Rice, Seasoned Squash & Mushroom Medley….$26.00

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post #2 of 6
6/3/08 at 8:04pm
Pricing is very regional, where are you located? Small town or large? By way of the role region plays in pricing, if I were catering those menus, I'd charge more for the meal headed by fried chicken than for the one headed by jambalaya. BTW, the rib-tips are an excellent choice on your part. A real favorite without being extravagant. Well done!

Food pricing is sometimes also related to presentation, and type of service. A Sunday church buffet lunch is priced less than the same menu, served at the same church for a daytime wedding by wait-staff. This is as much a matter of plating and use of kitchen staff as anything else. Along those lines, what other information can you give us?

Rule of thumb: Never serve ribs before a wedding, unless you want to hear people sucking their teeth during the vows.

On the whole, your prices look fair. But you know more than anyone who isn't in your area how competitive they are.

Good luck with your event,
BDL
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post #3 of 6
6/3/08 at 8:22pm
Thread Starter 
Hello!
I'm in a small town in Atlanta. This catering job is for a small family reunion next month. Thanks on the kudos of the usage on Rib Tips!
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post #4 of 6
6/4/08 at 7:22am
Are these prices including: equipment, placesettings or paper products, beverages, tax, waitstaff, is it a drop off or are you staying, desserts, how long will it be set up/are you doing the setup.....

$40 x18 = 720.00 + tax,delivery, setup

Pricing is fairly subjective. My price for 2 entrees would be higher in this market.
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post #5 of 6
6/12/08 at 1:29pm
Two caterers in the same market may have per plate pricing that varies by 100%. You have to determine what your skill is worth. It's easy enough to calculate the food costs, labor costs, etc. What is the dollar value of having you cater versus another caterer.

If your food and service is fabulous...well, you're not charging enough. If you're uncertain about the quality, maybe you're charging too much.
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post #6 of 6
6/20/08 at 8:39am
Does this include, service, rentals, delivery, setup? There are a lot of variables to numerous to mention, all of the answers received are worthwhile. Also what percentages do you feel comfortable with both food cost and labor cost.
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