BBQ restauarant has asked me 3x for my sauce recipe.

[Papa Deuce]

A local place, not a chain.

Every time I go in, the guy offers to pay me for my recipe for a BBQ sauce I make. If he took the time to really taste the sauce, he could probably figure out how to make a very similar sauce. I have always said "no". But I am not even sure why I say no..... it isn't like I have plans to make it commercially. His BBQ place has ONE sauce, and one sauce only. Not even a hot / mild version of the same sauce... just one sauce.

I wouldn't even know how to reply to him if I did want to sell him my recipe.

It's a simple mixed berry and chipotle BBQ sauce.

I have this feeling he's going to say "I'll give you $50 for the recipe." ( he has never offered me a price ) I bring this up because I have to meet someone there for lunch this week, and if he asks again, I may decide to let him buy my recipe.

My wife says I should sell him the recipe by letting us eat there once a week for a year. I don't know about you guys, but that's just too much BBQ.

[baldgriff]

I wouldnt sell it......

If you do though, you need to ensure that if he commercializes the making of it, that you are compensated. Maybe he could pay you quarterly based on the sale of ribs using your sauce.

[johnnya24]

Well is $50 or $100 going to make a difference? Hardly. I'd just give it to him with some form of agreement that if it is ever commercialized that you will be eligible for a cut of any profits or licensing. There have been several instances recently of people making serious $ off the back of sauces ... it started in the UK with Reggae Reggae Sauce ... after that, everyone had a sauce to flog.

EDIT: also, make up a funky name for the sauce before you give it up

[heyelander]

yeah, agreed, I wouldn't bother with any upfront money as it will probably be trivial... but some backend consideration in case he decides to market it wider than his shop would be important to me...

when he asks say "what will you give me for it?" and just see what he says.

[Gregg]

Once a month free dinner as long as he uses it on the menu. Plus 10% of the gross sales if he ever bottles it and sells it. Do not base it on profit too many ways to mess with that.

[heyelander]

Once a month free dinner as long as he uses it on the menu. Plus 10% of the gross sales if he ever bottles it and sells it. Do not base it on profit too many ways to mess with that.

I think on top of him possibly bottling it and selling it, he might turn around and sell your recipe to someone else too... you would deserve some of that $$$ as well.

[Papa Deuce]

I am glad I posted this here. It honestly never occurred to me that he might want to market it. I just figured he needed another BBQ sauce option. This whole thing isn't like me; I am usually the guy who is trying to make a buck off everything.

[swampdragon]

http://sharktankclips.com/season-1-e...rk-barrel-bbq/

shark tank

[Pogues]

I make a sauce also....personal recipe. Yours sounds, just by the name, way better than mine.

[Steve]

PD, you should just give your recipe to me for safe keeping.

[The Feral Slasher]

PD, you should just give your recipe to me for safe keeping.

1 part tomato sauce
1 part fresh berries
1 part otter, finely chopped
1 part chipotle
salt and pepper to taste

[Papa Deuce]

PD, you should just give your recipe to me for safe keeping.

Steve, mine is so simple..... I basically make a standard BBQ sauce that you can get from almost any BBQ site.... then I add berries and chipotle, and cook it down. Sometimes I cook it down in my smoker. Then I run it through a blender. It's not rocket science, by any means.

[jwlincy]

1 part tomato sauce
1 part fresh berries
1 part otter, finely chopped
1 part chipotle
salt and pepper to taste

That sounds good but I have an otter allergy.

[Steve]

Steve, mine is so simple..... I basically make a standard BBQ sauce that you can get from almost any BBQ site.... then I add berries and chipotle, and cook it down. Sometimes I cook it down in my smoker. Then I run it through a blender. It's not rocket science, by any means.

Now can I have the number of the guy who wants to buy your recipe?

[onejayhawk]

Don't sell him the recipe. Offer to license it. One of the lawyers can give specifics, but something along the lines of:
1) He can make as much as his restaurant can use
2) He can bottle it for sale, with a royalty to you
3) He cannot give the recipe to anyone without written consent
4) Right to use your name is a separate issue

Protect yourself, eg notarize a copy of the recipe to prove dates. That said, why not let him use it? If it's a hit, it could generate some cash flow. Just retain rights.

J