If you love cuisine and making people happy or you feel that you are someone that knows how to organize successful functions then starting a catering service could just be the business opportunity that you have been looking for.
Here are 10 steps to follow to get your event catering business started off successfully.
1) Research and Preparation - Firstly you should consider brushing up on your culinary skills and you could take some courses on this subject and in general business administration as well. Next, you do your market research by looking at what catering industry players are doing locally and assessing market niches and demand. Try to interview as many people as you can to find out how you can cater to gaps in the market or how you could improve on the service that other businesses are currently offering.
2) Experience - While most states don't require you to have any experience or qualifications to start up a catering business, if you have had experience working in the food, beverage and hospitality field (or even with another catering business) you will have an immediate advantage.
3) Health Restrictions and Paperwork - As a catering business operator you will have to comply with the regulations of your local health authorities. Make sure that you fully understand them and set out a plan for complying with them.
4) Food Preparation for Events - Think about where you will prepare food for events. Food can be prepared offsite or onsite and you will have to make sure that you have access to a fairly large kitchen if you are going to be catering to large groups.
5) Insurance Cover - Protect yourself and your business with a suitable insurance policy in case you are liable for damages resulting from your company's actions.
6) Planning a Menu - Learn about popular food trends, look at the menu offerings of your competitors and begin to put together a variety of menus that you can market to clients.
7) If you don't have experience in the industry you should get some practice in by hosting a large meal for friends and catering to them. You will definately appreciate what it takes to cater to crowds.
8) Building a Brand - Start thinking about an appropriate name for your new company and put some thought into the reputation that you want to develop in the market. How can you stand out against competitors? What about your company values?
9) Funding your New Business - Try to get a clear idea of the set up expenses that you will be facing and decide how you will fund your business. Can you fund the whole project alone or will you need another form of financing?
10) The final step in the planning phase of your catering company is to prepare a solid business plan. Even if you don't need to prove your idea to partners or bankers, a plan is still an excellent way of getting all your ideas and research findings down on paper in one place.
Any business model has necessary steps that you must follow properly in order to proceed in the right direction ,to avoid mistakes and to ensure success. Make sure that you take all of the important steps before investing your hard earned funds into a new catering venture. - 32406
Here are 10 steps to follow to get your event catering business started off successfully.
1) Research and Preparation - Firstly you should consider brushing up on your culinary skills and you could take some courses on this subject and in general business administration as well. Next, you do your market research by looking at what catering industry players are doing locally and assessing market niches and demand. Try to interview as many people as you can to find out how you can cater to gaps in the market or how you could improve on the service that other businesses are currently offering.
2) Experience - While most states don't require you to have any experience or qualifications to start up a catering business, if you have had experience working in the food, beverage and hospitality field (or even with another catering business) you will have an immediate advantage.
3) Health Restrictions and Paperwork - As a catering business operator you will have to comply with the regulations of your local health authorities. Make sure that you fully understand them and set out a plan for complying with them.
4) Food Preparation for Events - Think about where you will prepare food for events. Food can be prepared offsite or onsite and you will have to make sure that you have access to a fairly large kitchen if you are going to be catering to large groups.
5) Insurance Cover - Protect yourself and your business with a suitable insurance policy in case you are liable for damages resulting from your company's actions.
6) Planning a Menu - Learn about popular food trends, look at the menu offerings of your competitors and begin to put together a variety of menus that you can market to clients.
7) If you don't have experience in the industry you should get some practice in by hosting a large meal for friends and catering to them. You will definately appreciate what it takes to cater to crowds.
8) Building a Brand - Start thinking about an appropriate name for your new company and put some thought into the reputation that you want to develop in the market. How can you stand out against competitors? What about your company values?
9) Funding your New Business - Try to get a clear idea of the set up expenses that you will be facing and decide how you will fund your business. Can you fund the whole project alone or will you need another form of financing?
10) The final step in the planning phase of your catering company is to prepare a solid business plan. Even if you don't need to prove your idea to partners or bankers, a plan is still an excellent way of getting all your ideas and research findings down on paper in one place.
Any business model has necessary steps that you must follow properly in order to proceed in the right direction ,to avoid mistakes and to ensure success. Make sure that you take all of the important steps before investing your hard earned funds into a new catering venture. - 32406
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For an article on Deciding on a Price Rate for your Catering Business and a selection of reviews of some of the top products that can help to fast track you to success in this industry while minimizing mistakes visit - Start a Catering Business
