I have just purchased a FEC100 and a local Pub would like me to smoke Pork Butts for their noon dinner crowd...my question is "What is a fair price to charge?"
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I get $9.00 per pound cooked weight.
Don't go cheap. You need to figure out ALL your costs and increase them by a good percentage. Also make sure about Health Dept Rules
For sure don't go cheap. What do the local BBQ joints get. You should be in that range. In my area (W. Ky.) $8.00 per pound is the highest that I am aware of...a few are in the $5-$6 range. Most are $7-$7.50 per pound for pulled pork.
What sort of arrangement do you have with the pub owner? He has to make a buck too.
What sort of arrangement do you have with the pub owner? He has to make a buck too.
Figure your costs, price yourself higher than the local joints (yours will be better). Put a little more quality, some rub (most joints just don't seem to want to put rub on..costs money)
Closest BBQ joint is a 2 hour drive (150 miles) and it's a Famous Dave's. As far as an "arrangement"...they just said "put some figures together". During the 4th of July we served a little over 100 neighbors, friends and family members. Served baby backs and burgers. Naturally the smoked ribs were the hit. This is why I purchased the FEC100. I'm interested in earning extra cash....So I guess I'm more interested in exposure for now and figured $6 a pound smoked would be good for me and the Pub will make a few bucks too. Butts run $1.62 a pound here. Am I going wrong anywhere?
Thanks for all your input
Thanks for all your input
well it's a starting point.
So 1.62 a pound (before tax?)
leaves 4.38 cents.
If you're just smoking them, don't forget pellets, electricity, gas as costs. Labor. Time for you to get them prep them.
Are you putting rub, or sauce on them?
Wrapping in foil (cost of foil)
Are you pulling for them or they doing the work)
See how it adds up. If you're doing all that work, you'll eat into the 4.38 real fast.
Figure a price, that when it gets busy and word of mouth sends them to you, you'll still make money. But if you start doing 20 or 30 of them the labor takes more time.
I'd price it higher, but help them figure out their costs.
If they serve a 1/4 sandwich, lets say for $5.00 (plate, chips) If you cook a 8 pd butt at 1.62 = $12.96
8 pounds cook will be 4 pds after cooking. 4 x 4 is 16 servings x $5 is $80 bucks.
Now WHY cut them a deal
Remember this. Once you set a price, the word gets around and it's hard to change.
So 1.62 a pound (before tax?)
leaves 4.38 cents.
If you're just smoking them, don't forget pellets, electricity, gas as costs. Labor. Time for you to get them prep them.
Are you putting rub, or sauce on them?
Wrapping in foil (cost of foil)
Are you pulling for them or they doing the work)
See how it adds up. If you're doing all that work, you'll eat into the 4.38 real fast.
Figure a price, that when it gets busy and word of mouth sends them to you, you'll still make money. But if you start doing 20 or 30 of them the labor takes more time.
I'd price it higher, but help them figure out their costs.
If they serve a 1/4 sandwich, lets say for $5.00 (plate, chips) If you cook a 8 pd butt at 1.62 = $12.96
8 pounds cook will be 4 pds after cooking. 4 x 4 is 16 servings x $5 is $80 bucks.
Now WHY cut them a deal
Remember this. Once you set a price, the word gets around and it's hard to change.
I understand what you're saying. The FEC100 is electric. How do I figure out how much electricity it's using? I use a Rub and will have to figure out the cost by weight. I don't know how much of the pellets will be used. With chunks is was easy to figure...I've never used pellets before.
I would wrap the finished product in foil and they can do the pulling...maybe $9 per cooked pound isn't out of line.
I would wrap the finished product in foil and they can do the pulling...maybe $9 per cooked pound isn't out of line.
I think you in the right ball park. You'll need to include shipping costs in your pellets. Saw your other post, so for calculating costs, 1/2 per hour would be good starting point.
Electricity is minor on these. Just while the igniter is running, but say the same as a 750w bulb (average cost, not a scientific one)
Electricity is minor on these. Just while the igniter is running, but say the same as a 750w bulb (average cost, not a scientific one)
At the current cost of electricity (about 10 cents per KW) with the two motors running at 25 watts each and the igniter running 200 watts for 5 minutes, your total electrical cost in a ten hour cook would be 5.016 cents!
Thanks...I think I can afford that lmao