Howdy folks, first time posting here… A friend of mine recently bought a Bar/BBQ joint for less than 20k, fully furnished and basically turn key. Long story short, I have been cooking BBQ my whole life, I tend to stick to old school stick burner cooks but I recently added an old Southern Pride XLR350, that was too good to pass buying and works like a champ. Nautrally, he asked me if I would cook the BBQ for his place. The grand opening was last Tuesday, and he sold out 3 of 4 days (its still "new" I get it) but the only thing he is supplying is the Brisket, the butts, and ribs. All of which I prep, and cook. I supply my knowledge and skill (not publicly, but end product), provide my rubs, the peach paper, and foil pans for the warmer, as well as the LP and wood for my smoker. I showed/explained that brisket should be sliced per order, and against the grain, and showed him how to slice the ribs. He's done $2,800 total in 3 days (15hrs total open) amd has only given me $100, my rub, propane, and wood alone are at about $220. Now, I realize I should have hashed this out before hand but how should I ask to be compensated for my time and knowledge, as well as my out of pocket costs for materials? I tried to add a photo but it wont upload… Thanks in advance!
by Previous_Formal9335
5 Comments
Ask him if he would like to employ you outright, you know, for money. He’ll get the idea. Or strike up a free food for you situation to help recoup your costs
Always a danger of jumping into business with friends, often there can be misperceptions or assumptions made over time and costs. Just be straight up on it, business is business, you have bills to pay and if the overall business was operating at a loss as you are, it wouldn’t make it too far from opening day. Best to iron out the details of how the kitchen is going to function as a separate business to the bar as it has its own operating costs. No harm in investigating lower cost meats to cook too for higher margin returns, as there’s a lengthy cook time for all those briskets and pork butts – your time/wages need to be factored into the margin and operating costs too.
Good luck!
As said above, business with friends is tricky. But, it’s still business. It’s not out of line to present clear expectations with your friend. If he’s making money off your work and experience, you should be compensated.
Realistically, he (the business) should be providing everything. Your rubs, paper, tools, all that can be purchased through his food purveyors on the dime of his business. If he’s not ok with that, or with legitimately employing you for a fair wage, then this can quickly lead to your friendship going in the toilet over what should be a straightforward business transaction.
It’s a little dicey all around. I started selling bbq at the end of my driveway last summer (I live near a fairly popular lake with a lot of street traffic) on a kinda hokey “food trailer” so my daughter and I dubbed it “Bootleg BBQ” and it stuck, so on his menu he made a moonshine reference but also fit my operation. It says, “Running with our Bootleg Rub” under the rib section but he mentioned that he plans to add others. So in a way, he is “Branding” my BBQ within his bar. That’s why I am up in the air on how/what to charge, I’ve debated offering to buy a portion of the business, but I also work a full time job, and am looking to open my butcher shop, coincidentally right next door, later this year… So if things went south, I’d still have an opportunity to migrate my food to my establishment. He has made comments and I mentioned that if push came to shove, and I moved my BBQ next door, he’d be left with a bar and bar food, and if he chose to sell BBQ, I would bury him with mine. Which obviously isn’t the end game, but I am proven in what I do, and ultimately, I am just trying to figure what the best angle to approach it from without being “cut throat” about it. Being from the East Coast, and growing up in a small competitive consumer business, I have no issue playing that way. I would just prefer the leapfrog style of growing each other’s businesses for each respective family… Even though I am fairly heavily invested, I have no real “skin in the game,” so to speak, in what is going on with the current arrangement. Maybe I will arrange a sit down between just he and I. Does anyone think It’d be out of line to ask to see just the BBQ sales compared to the gross of what was sold?
Another thing to think about is building you brand . Even if you are working at a lose you are setting up your name for when you open your shop. But yes he should pay the full cost and cover your time.