Posted by Sherry on October 04, 1997 at 08:50:34 :
to help with pricing. I've been catering (from my home) for 8 years now. I do business luncheons, open houses, a few weddings a year, bride's maids luncheons. My favorite party to cater is a cocktail party with finger foods. I always struggle with pricing. For business luncheons I usually only 31/2-4 times my cost. But for cocktail parties I 6-8x cost. Can't seem to come up with a formula.
I usually start trying to figure using a per dz (but I charge a per person price) price and when I add it up and divide by the number of guest, it always seems too cheap. So (this is probably really dumb) I just look at the menu and think of what they would have to pay from a club or other catering service. Below is a sample menu:
Marinated Teriyaki Flank Kebobs
Seafood Tartlets
Chicken Satay with Peanut Dipping Sauce
Mushroom Cheesecake with Bread Slices
Italian Stuffed Mushrooms
Warm Spinach Dip with herbed pita chips
marinated vegetable kebobs
Feta and Sundried Tomato Torta with crackers
Garlic Cheese Biscuits
Warm Pumpkin Cookies
Cheesecake Bars
Millionaire Shortbreads
Raspberry Tea
$14.00 per person plus tax and service labor
Menu allows for approximately 18 pieces of food per person
I really don't have any overhead since I work from home and do all the work myself.
I cannot believe that I still struggle with pricing. I have no problems in the food prep or coming up with ideas
just, pricing.
ALSO looking for someone who caters from their home and with about as much experience as I have to share ideas with. Times like this I wish I had a partner.
Thanks for listening.