My First BBQ Sale

[PBCDad]

Since I got my Jambo, I've been offering smoked meat to my neighbors and extended family at cost + 10-15% to cover fuel. I put up a post when I'm going to be cooking anyway and I say what I'm planning on cooking so I can buy in bulk at Costco and I'll already have dedicated that time to being home with the smoker. Usually it works out to where I basically get whatever I'm cooking for myself for free, just the cost of fuel for operating the smoker. Plus my wife seems to be happy I'm making use of the big investment and she lets me cook more often

I figure I'm not really selling it, I'm just cooking it for them. Besides, a while ago I sent an email to the health department in my county asking what the rules were for this sort of thing. They never responded, which means they don't care enough, plus I have a paper trail showing I tried to comply with laws.

[Ahumadora]

Laws in the capital Buenos Aires are similar although there are many places with substandard hygiene that somehow stay open.
In the Provence there are temporary parrillas slapped up on the side of the roads everywhere. Keeps the fly's well fed here I guess. Don't eat at them too much unless I am starving.

Stay tuned tomorrow I have an all beef cooking class, showin em how to do brisket n ribs.

[Huskee]

What does everyone else here do for pricing when you cook for friends/neighbors as a hired deal (non-professional)?

What I've been doing, and it seems to work mutually for a happy buyer & seller, is I have them buy the meat of course then have been charging roughly the price of the meat again, minimum $40. For a $60 brisket from Costco I charge another $60 to do it; for $40 worth of pork I charge $40 to do it, for $20 worth of pork I charge $40 to do it, etc. Not a wage by any means, but enough to cover my charcoal, wood, spices and beer.

[Hulagn1971]

I have a friend that smokes a bunch of butts 2-3 times a year in his Lang for church fundraisers. It is always delicious and welcomed. Another reason I enjoy living in North Carolina. God's country and free of BS.

[Troutman]

And the preacher man said.....Amen !!!!

[Nuke em]

But if ya have the inspector in your back pocket and he loves bbq for free.....well let’s just say keep it safe and know your food, be responsible and love your enemy’s and keep em closer than your friends.

[mayapoppa]

Every once in a while, I'll have a big bbq and request a donation from each guest for a given cause. Last fall, with the flooding in Houston, the hurricane in PR, the fires in NorCal, and the mudslides in Santa Barbara, we simply went with the Red Cross. We use evite for the invitations, as they have a built in system for charitable donations when RSVP-ing. It does add a little something to the cook, knowing that you are placing a value on it. And you can't beat eating bbq for a good cause. Plus, I write off my expenses for the event come tax time. Win-win-win.