Any caterers out here? I have a pricing question.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

Long story short I had some people over at my place and a friend of mine really liked my cooking. He called a couple of days ago asking if i would cater his ladies' birthday party. I cook a lot but have never done anything like this before. He just wants some finger food. I was just wondering how much I should charge him given that I'm an amateur at this.

[Chan790]

1. How many people? What are you serving?

Those are the two things I use to factor my price...caterers usually charge per person.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

2. He said 50 max. It is a very simple menu so far.

Stuffed fried plantains (ground beef and chicken). Empanadas (ham and cheese & chorizo and cheese turnovers). Basically 4 types of "finger food".

[Chan790]

5. For a friend, with a simple menu like that...

I'd probably charge cost of the food + $3/head just to cover the labor and the transport to the party site.(Any good party host knows you're supposed to tip a caterer anyways...at that price, you're doing him a favor and the resulting tip should be decent. More than you'd likely make otherwise.) For a stranger, I'd be closer to $12/person.

Most of that sounds like it's stuff that is labor-intensive in prep but you can sit and read a book while it's actually cooking. Remember that people tend to eat more at these sorts of events, cook more than you think you'll need. Likewise, I'm assuming that you're expected to show up and set up the food and that you don't having ongoing duties throughout the party...prepping a second round of servings, serving, tending bar...if you're expected to work throughout the party, add another $2/head.

If you think this is something you'd like to do more of in the future, print out a pocket-stack of 1/4-sheet handbills in case anybody asks you for contact info. It'll save you time rather than having to write it out for each person who asks for it.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

6. Many thanks that is great advice. As the poster below said I'm not looking to make a profit

so I just wanted to ask for something that will cover my time. Other than that it's actually going to be fun. The only work I'll have to do at the party is fry up the plantains the second time and other than that I'll just be kicking it with everyone else.

[Gormy Cuss]

3. Charge him for your costs.

It's a friend, it's an experiment for you not a job, so you're not looking to make a profit or set up a business.
You should charge for ALL of your costs however and that means not just the cost of ingredients but the time it takes you to buy the food and prepare it and the time it takes to deliver and set it up at the party if he's not doing that last part himself.

Your hourly rate needs to be a fair rate for you.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

8. Thanks. Pretty much I'm doing the cooking which I'll finish at their place. They'll take

care of the rest. It's a very casual hand shake type of agreement between friends.

[The empressof all]

4. You need to factor in your costs and your time

You also need to factor in things like serving platters, set up, and serving "staff". Are you just preparing food or will you be setting up, serving and clearing as well.

Think about how much time it will take to do your shopping and prep in addition to the cost of food.

Also be aware that many states will not "allow" you to do catering from your home kitchen. Do you have a food handlers permit? Are you insured if someone gets food poisoning. :wow:


When I've done things like this for friends, I ask them to purchase everything I need and I always do it in their kitchen and I expect them to help. I help with set up but do not serve or clean up. I don't charge for my time and suggest they make a donation to one of my causes. But I'm not a caterer.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

7. Luckily this is just a sort of "I'm bringing some food over to your house party" type

deals. I will do the prep work at home and finish in their kitchen since this is the type of stuff you want to eat right out of the skillet. I'm definitely not serving or cleaning up. He said he'd take care of that.

[hippywife]

9. To be fair to yourself

you should check the websites of local caterers and restaurants that cater. Look at what they charge to put together a buffet of finger foods. Then after you figure what the cost of supplies are, figure your charge from there since you don't want to charge your friend for your time. However, make sure he knows that you are not charging for your time and giving him a break, because he may quote your price to others and you'll find yourself having to explain to anyone else who likes your food at the party and may want you to do the same or similar set up for them.