| As catering involves much more than just the food, it is important when determining cost to consider all of the factors that go into producing a successful and memorable event. Please click on the topics below to learn how these factors effect the total price of your event.
How Much Will It Cost? | Menu |
Equipment | Kitchen | Staff | Tax | Service Charge | Delivery | Gratuity | The Big Picture
How Much Will It Cost?
We understand that spending money wisely is important to you. It’s important to us too. That is why we actively support local businesses and other conscious, sustainable companies.
We purposely do not print specific prices of individual items on our menu as they can be misleading. As catering involves much more than just the food, it is important when determining cost to consider all of the factors that go into producing a successful and memorable event.
Each event is entirely unique, and we cannot put a single price tag on what it would cost for us to cater your event. To offer a general sense, our prices for a simple event start at $35-40 per person, the average ranges between $65-80 per person, and we produce many events that exceed $100 per person.
The information below offers a comprehensive look at these costs – the true price of serving delicious, organic food, presented artfully from friendly, knowledgeable staff to you and your guests.
Resist the urge to compare the cost of a catered event to the cost of making food yourself or going to a restaurant. While this approach is certainly understandable, the big difference between going to a restaurant and using a caterer is that we bring the restaurant to you! Transportation, service equipment and utensils, logistical planning, and the timely service of large quantities of food bear expenses that are reflected in the price of your event.
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Menu
The majority of the cost of catering is often the food. Important factors to consider are 1. How many courses (i.e., appetizers, main course, dessert, etc.) 2. How many options in each course and 3. What kind of food do you want to serve? Free-range meats, organic poultry and sustainable fish are generally more expensive then vegetarian fare and should be considered when planning your menu.
It is important to balance how many options you want to have with the quantity of each option. For example, if you have six appetizer options for 150 guests, do you want
150 pieces of each option - so that everyone can taste each item; or do you want 150 total pieces – so that everyone can taste one piece of food? These decisions will have an impact on the total cost of your event.
Drinks are also an important item to consider. Do you plan to serve alcohol, non-alcoholic beverages, both? What about coffee and tea service? The general reality is the more food and more options you offer, the more it will cost.
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Equipment
In order to feed people, we have to provide them with at least the basic of dishware and utensils. If you choose to use our natural, compostable plates, napkins, cups, and utensils, it will only cost you a small, nominal fee per person. On the other hand, if you want china, silver, and glassware, the price will increase. Other items to keep in mind are guest tables, chairs, linens, buffet and service tables, mobile kitchens, pitchers, flowers, etc.
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Kitchen
Is there a kitchen at the venue you have selected? This is often overlooked in the planning process. On-site facilities have a significant impact on what kind of food can be served at your event. Is there a commercial oven? Range? Refrigeration? If yes, what is the capacity? If no, it may cost more to put together a mobile kitchen for your event than it would to build the menu around the venue’s facilities.
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Staff
The people who transport your food, prepare it on-site, serve it, and clean it up add to the cost as well. The total number of staff will vary according to the complexity and size of your menu, the number of different items, and the level of personal service you desire. Keep this in mind when considering plated service, passed appetizers, buffets, bartending service, the design of your event, etc.
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Tax
Whether or not we support, appreciate, or subscribe to the way our government spends money, we have to charge sales tax for all catering services, including the food. The current tax in Berkeley, CA is 8.75%. That means nearly ten percent of the total cost of your event goes directly to sales tax. You should always account for this when figuring out how much you want to spend.
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Service Charge
It is standard practice in the catering business to add a service charge to the total price of all events. This charge is not a gratuity that is shared among on-site staff. This charge pays for everything from the labor to produce the food for your event to the wear and tear on service utensils to the time we spend with you designing and revising your menu. We always give you every ounce of necessary energy to make your event an absolute success.
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Delivery
Is your event taking place before or after the standard hours of 9am to 10pm? If so, it will cost more to prepare food in the wee hours of the morning, or to close an event in the late hours of the evening morning. Does your venue require that all rental equipment be removed from the premises before midnight? If so, the equipment rental company will charge a fee. Remember to think about this in your planning process.
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Gratuity
While gratuities are not required, they are greatly appreciated and customary. In addition to the basic premise of working hard, our staff does it with a smile on their faces, and an open, friendly attitude that makes a visible difference to you and your guests.
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The Big Picture
The above information is intended to give you an honest, thorough overview of what it costs to make your event just how you envisioned it, and the best it can be. We do not intend to make you gulp for air and get a queasy feeling inside when you start thinking about how it all adds up.
The most important thing to us is to make organic food the norm instead of the alternative, and to feed people unique and delicious creations that are healthy for us and the Earth. To that end, we are always willing to work with you and your budget to arrive at something that works for everyone and puts a smile on the face of each of your guests.
Please let us know if we can answer any questions and help to make your event happen. We love what we do and we work hard to create successful events.
Back to Earth can be reached at 510.528.3987 or at info@organiccatering.com
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