How to Start a Home Based Catering Business
May 13, 2008
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Caterers provide food and services for a variety of social events including weddings, anniversary parties, dinner parties, family reunions, corporate events and just about any other gathering. If you have a passion for cooking and want to own your own business, starting a catering business may be for you. The following tips on how to start a home based catering business can help you to get started.
What skills are helpful?
In addition to knowing how to cook well, to run a successful home based catering business you will need to be able to work well under pressure, keep your calm and be reliable. When you are offering a service based business you are selling your dependability instead of a product. Deliver what you promise.
What tools are needed?
Since the most important part of your business will involve cooking you will need a stove that is equipped with a large oven, a variety of cookware, adequate refrigeration to keep foods fresh, chafing dishes for serving hot food and insulated containers for transporting it. You may be able to eliminate some start up costs by renting equipment instead of outright purchasing it. In the long run renting probably would end up being more expensive if it’s done over and over but until you get a few contracts and ongoing cash flow it could be the way to go.
You will need some other basic business items as well. A phone line, fax machine, client contracts, and possibly even a computer and internet access if you plan on marketing your business online.
How do you get started?
Start by catering smaller events for your family and friends. This will give you an idea of what cooking for a large group of people is like. It will also give your new business lots of exposure and word of mouth referrals. You will gain first hand experience of planning, cooking and pulling off a social event.
Each state has their own rules and regulations regarding stating a catering business. Most require that you obtain a business license, employee identification number for collecting taxes and food service safety certification provided by your local health department to name a few.
Once you have all the legal issues worked out you need to decide how to market yourself. Send out a brochure to local companies and organizations in your area that could possibly use catering services. Have business cards made up so that they are handy to give out when you are in public.
If you have a love for cooking especially in large amounts and providing a service to others starting a catering business might be right up your alley. Research other caterer’s in your area; you will want to offer reasonable prices and find ways that you can make yourself unique so that you aren’t just another caterer out there. With time, dedication and perseverance you will become successful. Click here for a step-by-step guide on How to Start a Home Based Catering Business
More Articles About This
- How to Start an Event Management Business
- Start Your Own Home Based Errand Service Business for New Moms
- How to Start a Recipe or Cooking Blog Business From Home
- Why Personalized Candy Wrapping Business are in Big Demand
- Party Supply Business Home Business Idea
Comments
- The Importance of Developing an Online Payment Processing System
- Successful Strategies for Using Social Bookmarking in Marketing Your Website
- Postcard Marketing Tips
- Business Women Networking Events- Overcoming the Superwoman Syndrome
- Sales Marketing Strategy for New Business Owners
Business Resources
Recommended Resources
Recently Added Articles
