does anyone know what I should charge to cater a party with just snacks? for 100 people?

Question

they only want wing dings, cheese and sausage tray and chips pretzels stuff like that what do i charge them. food is gonna cost me $200 but I still wanna make some money

Answer 1

Remember 1st, you need to charge for your service plus the food. You can't just do it for free - I learned that the hard way starting my business.

So figure $200 for food (account for last minute cost too) Maybe $250?

Your time for shopping, preparing, delivery & set-up.

Like others said $5p/p is good and still cheap. If they were to go to a resturant it is hard to find anyone that will go less than $8

So don't sell your self short and remember to get paid what you are worth.

When you bill them you could even charge $6 and then note a discount to $5 so they think they are getting a better deal.
(Consumers LOVE a good deal)

Good Luck

Answer 2

http://www.home-biz-moms.com/cateringservice.html
http://www.125aday.com/books/56/start-catering-business.cfm

Here are a couple of sites which might help you. I may be wrong, but I would charge between 50% - 100% more than what you have to put out to buy the food. You need to cover your time, your efforts and expertise and any serving pieces used. I would check with other services in your area. Call around and act as if setting up a party yourself and get a feel for what is generally acceptable in your area. Be careful....charge too much and you will lose the job. Charge too little and people will not think you worth anything. If I were to open a business I'd set myself up as the highest costing one just to make me seem exclusive, still you need to do what you need to do to get your name out there. If you feel that you must go on the low side ask the hostess to put out fliers or cards from your business to give you some free advertising.

Good luck and best wishes for a great business.

Answer 3

I would think that between $100.00 and 175.00 would be fair without the expense of food. That would be time and the cost of energy to do the cooking if you are using your own kitchen and not borrowing one to use. I worked at our local Senior Center, and for Weddings Birthday Parties etc, the hired people that just did the actual cooking in our commercial kitchen would charge that in variance for the amount of food cooked. The renting of the building for the event covered the use of the kitchen and gas and electricity. Generally, most of the caterers charged about $150.00. The family provided the servers, and clean up staff There are a lot of factors. Prepping, cooking, cleaning up after cooking the use of electricity, or gas/propane, all are factors. So if these are close friends, or family you can also make part of the cost a gift.

Answer 4

what kind of event? I usually pay about $ 10.00 FOR A CASUAL kick back party ...if the party is a little more upscale I've paid anywhere in the neighborhood of $25.00 TO $40.00 per guest.


maybe that can help you out a little....I ACTUALLY HAVE some great finger food ideas... COOK food in muffin tins ...like lasagna or deserts that would normally be in a larger dish...it gives a different menu that guest will love....you can also put just about anything into a meatball and the different sauces are unlimited that you can come up with. also you can wrap just about anything in filo dough and bake it...cheese, cream cheese, crab, faux crab...roast beef, ham , jalapenos, ...anything...even cream cheese and jalapeno jelly or apricot jelly....anything...!

Answer 5

$5 per person is good. You have to think that you not only want your customers payment to cover the cost of the food, but also the time that you spend shopping, preparing, serving and cleaning up. As well as your travel expenses.

Answer 6

The food costs, plus the time it will take you to prepare, plus the cost of any plates, trays, napkins, etc. and then come up witha per-person price including your profit

Answer 7

I agree with most of the other answers ($5 per person), but please take into account whether or not you are staying to "serve" during the event or just dropping off food. That make a difference. Also, it matters if you are providing everything such as cups, plates, utensils, napkins, etc.

Answer 8

I agree. $5 per person would be a minimum... and I'd say $6 per person would be closer to reality... but if you're sure you've added all costs (paper products, drinks, whatever else you're providing) and you can do it for $200 then charging them $500 would be a totally sweet deal for them and they might recommend you to their friends or something...

Answer 9

You have to consider the time you put into preparing this food and the time you have to put into catering, setting up and cleaning up. No less than $800.00

Answer 10

do the price of the food:
$200.00
and some extra for your trouble:
i'd add about $50-100.00 depending on gas miles and how much of it they want.
do product price,labor, time, and maybe a little extra. :)