Get a feel for the planning and execution skills needed in the catering business by offering to cater a party or meeting for friends or your office; let them pay for the food, and you work for free. You will need to develop your skills with respect to presenting food in a creative and elegant fashion, following the latest trends in foods and party concepts, organizing and managing your time, and working on safe food-handling practices and abiding by health regulations.
Check with your local city or county health department to see how much of your business can be handled from home and if you need to obtain a permit. You will need a food establishment license, and catering operations necessitate a commercially equipped kitchen that meets federal and state health requirements.
Create a business concept by deciding on a name and developing a creative identity, which is known as ''branding.” You can distinguish yourself by offering specialized services like vegetarian, Kosher, vegan, and low-carb menus. If your business succeeds, you can later brand food items like sauces and baked goods and sell them from a website or give them to clients to get your name out there.
Create a business plan for how your catering business will operate, how it will be managed, structured, and financed, and how much profit you expect to make.
''To snag the celebratory types, develop a referral network — introduce yourself to wedding planners, bridal boutiques, cake decorators and bakers, florists, and card and party supply shopkeepers. Hand out brochures and business cards and check in often. Bring a few choice tidbits, snazzy hors d’oeuvres, or sinful desserts to give as goodwill gestures. Everybody loves an unexpected treat and the person who delivers it — this is a good way to ensure that they remember you fondly and refer you to their own clients,” according to Entrepreneur.com.
There are various avenues to explore in catering, such as weddings, graduations, anniversaries, or businesses like cruises, dinner theaters, and yacht charters. You can also go for the corporate sector, catering meetings, grand openings, and conferences. A good way to get your name known in this market is by sending a sales letter and brochure and then later calling to set up an appointment in which you discuss your services. You could also cater a charity event for publicity and get your business written up in local newspapers.
