Posted by Carl (the famous, not) on October 23, 1999 at 11:21:56 :
In Reply to: More Posts Per Carl continued... posted by Meg Wittenmyer on October 20, 1999 at 13:13:46 :
Hi Meg, Carl here. Absolutely charge for everything!! That is the American way. Now with that said, it is HOW you charge that becomes tricky. You can feasibly charge for the list below :
Food and beverages
Service Staff
Dinnerware Rentals, chafers, etc..
Delivery and Transportation
Insurance
Overhead
Service charge (not gratuity)
But, if you want to stay in business, you need to build in most of the above into price. The only time I dont charge a service charge is when the client comes to my facility to pick it up in foil pans. I no longer charge a staff charge. I simply raised my dinner party price to include it. (I can always negotiate down if it is a self service.) But I have found that if I insist that we serve the party "to allow you to be a guest at your own party" they normally agree.
If you rent china etc, you have that cost. If they swindle you into using theirs, then you end up washing it, either way it is a cost. Therefore figure rental china and build it in. again, either way it is a cost.
Make SURE you list every little service on your bid. And just mark it as "included" or "no charge" It is always good to throw in some "no charge" verbage. even though it is built in, it makes the client aware that everything has an importance or cost.
I explain the service charge as the costs associated with catering their event, such as insurance, capital costs, sternos :), incidentals and overhead.
always remember, YOU CAN negotiate down. but dont sell yourself short, if you are patient and dont give away the farm before they open their mouths you will end up conceding very little.
By the way, how do you charge for a party for 2, or even 8? I have some thoughts, but let me hear how you do it.
Blessings, Carl