Catering lifts restaurant sales
“catering was probably about, 18% of our business. The interesting thing is as we've grown the catering business, the restaurant business has increased as well.”
Founder conversationBuilder <$5m
How Smokey John's Built a $3.8M Dallas BBQ Business and Got a $100K Offer
Brent Reaves explains how catering, walk-in meals and the State Fair drive Smokey John's, and why a sweet potato pie for HEB needs funding.
Brent Reaves · Smokey John's
Published June 3, 2026About this resource
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What you’ll learn
Brent and Juan Reaves, second-generation owners of Smokey John's Bar-B-Que in Dallas, explain how catering, walk-in meals and the State Fair of Texas each make up about a third of a business that finished last year at $3.8M. They describe getting their sauce, rub and banana pudding into HEB's affiliate stores and why a sweet potato pie needs about $100K for equipment. Nathan responds with a $100K offer repaid at a 1.1x to 1.3x multiple depending on timing, plus an option to buy 5% of the business for $250K.
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Why catering cuts food cost
“So catering gives you the opportunity to keep your food costs as low as possible because there's no waste.”
Growing revenue without profit
“They were making sure we were in private school. They were making sure we're going to college. They were not effectively growing the business.”
Pudding spreads across 14 stores
“We added three stores, and then another store in Houston wanted it, so we added four. Now this product's in all 14.”
Payback multiples tied to time
“My offer is $100,000 If you pay back in a year, you pay back $110,000 1.1 X multiple. Pay back in two years, it's a 1.2 x. Okay. Payback in three years is the 1.3 x.”
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Video
Brent Reaves
Co-Owner · Smokey John's
- Company revenue
- $3.8M
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