Starting a Catering Business – Ten things to think about

If you are looking for a small business opportunity in a growing industry and you are also fond of food and entertaining then why not start planning your own catering company.

Below are ten steps to follow to get your home-based catering business off the ground.

1) Researching the Market and Education – Start by thoroughly researching the catering market in your city. Take note of what competitors are doing, find out more about market demand and try to identify market sectors that offer the best opportunities. Interview people who have used nearby catering businesses in the past and ask them how you could improve on the services that they had experienced.

2) Industry Experience – While most states and countries don’t require you to have any work experience or qualifications to start up a catering business, if you have had experience working in the food and hospitality field (or even with another catering firm) you will have an immediate advantage.

3) Health Restrictions and Paperwork – As a catering business operator you will have to comply with the rules and regulations of your local health authorities. Ensure that you fully understand them and set out a plan for complying with them.

4) Where are you going to Prepare Food for your Clients? – Will you operate out of the kitchen in your home, rent commercial kitchen space or only accept on-site jobs that let you use a kitchen at the place where the event will be held?

5) What Insurance will you Need? – Make sure that you are covered with an appropriate insurance policy in case things go wrong and you are liable for damages.

6) Creating Menus -Think about the kinds of menus you will offer prospects and start to look at wholesalers and other sources of ingredients in bulk volumes.

7) Be certain that you can handle the stress of catering for an event by having a trial run. Invite some friends or family members to come to your home for a fully catered meal so that you can try out dishes on them and get their feedback.
Branding – Start thinking about a suitable name for your new company and think about how you want customers to perceive your business. How will you stand out against competitors? What about your company philosophy?

9) Start Up Financing – It is important that you know exactly how much you will need in the way of start up capital so you should carefully note down all of your expected start up expenses.

10) Once you have given serious thought to the above factors you can then proceed to prepare a plan for your business. A well researched plan will help you to organize your research findings and prove to yourself that your idea is workable. You will then have a blueprint to follow and help you to set and reach goals.

Get your catering company off to the best possible start by following the above ten steps before you open your doors for business in this exciting industry.

For our next article on Choosing a Name for a Catering Business and to read reviews of some of the top start up kits visit – Start a Catering Business

Setting Up a Catering Business

If you are passionate about cuisine and making people happy or you feel that you are a person who knows how to organize parties and events then starting an event catering company could just be a great small business opportunity for you.

Below we highlight 10 factors to consider before you take the plunge and proceed to start advertising your services as a professional caterer.

1) Initial Preparation – Find out as much as possible about the catering business and how to oversee a profitable catering business. Try to also learn about small business administration and marketing. Taking some classes on business related subjects is one excellent way to prepare. Research the industry in your region or town. Try to learn more about what the successful players are doing, the size of the market and what different types of events have the most potential. Interview friends and family members who have hired caterers in the past to try and better understand your future customers.

2) Experience – If you have not attained a culinary qualification or have not had relevant experience in the food, beverage and hospitality industries then you should aim to get at least several months worth of experience working for a business in the industry.

3) Health Regulations and Paperwork – As a catering business owner you will have to comply with the rules and regulations of your local health authorities. Make sure that you are aware of them and give thought to how you will comply with them.

4) Where will you Prepare Food for your Clients? – Will you operate a home-based business, rent commercial kitchen space ,operate out of a restaurant kitchen after hours or only take on jobs that allow you to use a kitchen on the premises?

5) Call suitable insurance policy providers to get an idea of the insurance policies that a catering business should have to protect them against unforeseen events.

6) Menus – Start putting together menus for different kinds of events. Have a look at what other caterers are doing to get some insight into what is in demand.

7) If you don’t have any experience in the catering business you should get some practice in by holding a large event for friends and catering to them. You will then be able to learn more about what it takes to prepare and serve food to large numbers.
Building a Brand – Start thinking about a suitable name for your new company and put some thought into how you want customers to perceive your business. How can you stand out against competitors? What about your company values?

9) Financing your Company – Try to get a clearer idea of the set up expenses that you will be up against and consider the options for financing your business. Can you fund the entire project alone or are you going to need another form of financing?

10) Your Business Plan – After you have given these other nine factors some thought, you can begin to put together a business plan outlining set up costs, administration and marketing methods and goals among other points. Cautiously estimate your expected income and expenditure for the first two years of your business and then you can determine how profitable your new business is likely to be and when you will reach breakeven point.

Get your catering company off to the best possible beginning by following these ten steps before you start offering your services to prospects.

More more information on Catering Business Funding and Start up Costs and to read reviews of some of the top catering business start up kits visit – Start your own Catering Business