How To Start A Catering Business

Deciding to quit your day job and start your own business can be a daunting task. But when you enjoy preparing and serving food to others, it may be your dream to become a caterer.

And once you've made the decision to follow your dream, the real work begins.

Starting a party catering business isn't easy. It takes hard work and a lot of careful planning. It's so much more than simply cooking dinner for a friend of a friend.

Before you can get your business up and running, the first step is to craft a  well-researched business plan to guide you on your journey and to secure funding for your company.

Your business plan will require you to get out in your town and research your market.

  • How many people actually need your services?
  • What are they willing to pay?
You need to know how much equipment will cost, what your staffing needs and costs will be, how you will market your business, what your menu will consist of, your projected income, etc.

Menu planning is an integral part of starting a party catering business.

You need to know what types of menu items you will offer potential clients. Know what you do well and don't try to get too fancy in the beginning.

You can't just leave the menu up to your clients to decide, or they could request items that are too costly to prepare, too time consuming to prepare, or are just plain weird.

Having a set menu means you know exactly what you are getting into. And it's been proven that people are happier when they have less to choose from.

Another key part of planning your party catering business is to decide what type of service you will offer. Knowing how to listen and understand your clients needs and then going the extra mile beyond what your competitors provide can mean the difference between a booked weekend and a bare calendar.

 It is also how you establish one of the most effective (and free) forms of advertising: word of mouth. Parties are very personal events, and people aren't apt to hire just anyone – especially if you haven't established name recognition in your community.

People who hire caterers for parties ask around for recommendations among their friends.So, providing excellent food and stellar customer service ensures your clients will recommend you to their friends and family, thus establishing you as a staple in the party business.

There is a great deal of work that goes into planning a party catering business. But knowing how to break things down into steps can make the task easier to handle.

However aside from planning the nuts, bolts and bottom line, it's important to make a plan for service.

Providing excellent food and even better service to your clients is the best business plan you can write!


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