Best Steps to create a catering business
Best Steps to create a catering business
If you host dinner parties for your family and friends every chance you get, you’re up on food trends and you have an entrepreneurial spirit, consider starting a catering business. You have the advantage of starting small with relatively low overhead and building your business as you gain more clients. Read on for information on how to find your niche, launch your business and spread the word.
1. Finding Your Catering Niche
Think about what food you love to make. Catering, like any other business, should be rooted in a genuine interest and passion.
2. Create a menu
By doing this first, you can figure out how much kitchen space you’ll need, what appliances you should install and how much you can expect to bring in financially.
Try to have a variety of items to suit different tastes. Even if you specialize in one cuisine or type of meal, make sure your menu appeals to a lot of tastes. For example, if you want to offer a lot of spicy food, have non-spicy options as well.
Consider offering vegetarian and vegan options for clients who don’t eat meat and other animal products.
Keep your menu to a manageable size, with food you’re comfortable cooking made with ingredients you know you can source.
3. Test your dishes
Once you’ve settled on a menu, have a party to test out your dishes on family and friends. Ask them for honest feedback about the entire experience – both the food and the service.
4. Find a space to rent
Even if your starting small, most local laws prohibit people from operating catering businesses from a home kitchen. Look into your jurisdiction’s health codes to find out what type of space you’ll need to rent.
5. Set up your kitchen
Catering work requires industrial equipment that is usually more expensive than equipment you would use in your home kitchen. Create a budget and figure out exactly what you’ll need to run your business efficiently.
6. Purchase the catering equipment that you will use on-site.
The equipment you choose will depend on the type of service you want to provide, but at minimum you will need serving platters and serving utensils.
7. Get applicable permits and licenses
Research the laws in your area regarding distribution of food or alcohol at catering sites. Make sure you have the permits and licenses you need before you get started.
We hope you find our Best Steps to create a catering business helpful.
[social_share style=”bar” align=”horizontal” heading_align=”inline” text=”” heading=”” facebook=”1″ twitter=”1″ google_plus=”1″ linkedin=”1″ pinterest=”1″ link=”” /]
