Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser NZ
The classic Kiwi fundraiser. Low cost, no order forms, and a few hundred dollars raised in an afternoon at a busy site. Here is how to run one from booking to pack-down.
How to run a sausage sizzle, step by step
Book a high-traffic site
Bunnings, Mitre 10 and some supermarkets host community sausage sizzles. Apply through the store's community desk well ahead, as popular sites book out months in advance. Foot traffic is everything.
Sort your supplies
You need sausages, white bread, onions, sauces, gas, a BBQ, tongs, gloves and napkins. Buy in bulk and ask a local butcher or supermarket to sponsor or discount the sausages.
Set your price
Most NZ sausage sizzles sell a sausage in bread for $2.50-$3.50. With bulk supplies your cost is under a dollar, so profit is roughly $2 a unit. Add drinks for a bit more per sale.
Roster your helpers
Run two to three shifts of three or four people: one cooking, one assembling, one on the money. A cash float and a card reader or online donation option cover every customer.
Cover food safety
Keep raw and cooked separate, cook sausages through, keep hot food hot, and have hand sanitiser and gloves. Check whether the host site or your council needs anything in writing.
Run the day
Arrive early to set up and get the BBQ going before the rush. Keep the line moving, restock as you go, and count up at the end. A busy site can raise several hundred dollars in a few hours.
Sausage sizzle fundraiser: common questions
How much does a sausage sizzle fundraiser make?
How do I book a Bunnings sausage sizzle?
Do I need a food licence for a sausage sizzle in NZ?
What supplies do I need for a sausage sizzle?
Pair it with a bigger fundraiser
A sausage sizzle is a great top-up. For your main push, compare the highest-earning product and event fundraisers.
Last updated: July 2026