Start a Catering Business

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Catering is a fast-paced and growing industry today. With events here and there, a caterer can make a huge income and turn their love for cooking into a lucrative venture. Nearly every occasion may require a caterer for their event. In the United States, it is estimated that the catering industry generates $7 billion annually. Aside from that, it also provides jobs to thousands of people nationwide.

Catering has evolved to more than just serving and preparing food for an event. They now often provide hosts as well. Catering companies vary in size. Some can cater large events such as weddings, birthdays, and more, while some caterers can only handle a small gathering. Here we will go through the different requirements for setting up this kind of business.

1. 1
   Start-Up Costs

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2. 2
   Naturally when starting a business, you will need some kind of capital

   .

   The amount will depend on the size of business you will put up. You can save a great deal on start-up costs if you use your own kitchen and equipment for preparing the food. The other initial start-up fees include the tables, chairs, equipment to name just a few.

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3. 3
   Another way you can cut down on starting costs is to rent equipment or hire temporary workers

   .

   There are manpower agencies that can provide you with temporary workers on a per project basis. This will save you money on salaries and personnel training. As your business grows, you can start investing in your own equipment, facilities, and permanent manpower.

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4. 4
   'Develop A Business Concept

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5. 5
   Regardless of the size of your catering business, you will still need to develop a concept

   .

   This will be easier for you to promote the company to your target market. The business concept should include the menu, chef, and food.  

   1. Menu

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6. 6
   

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7. 7
   What kind of food are you going to serve

   ?

   This should be one of your major considerations when starting a catering business. You should have food offerings for different kinds of events. Next, you should think of a cuisine to specialize in. By centering on a certain kind of dish, it will be much easier to look for potential clients for your business.  

   1. Chef

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8. 8
   

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9. 9
   For starters, you can be the temporary chef for your business

   .

   Most likely, you have a passion for cooking and you are proud of it. However, if you want to expand and in order to take in more clients, it would be better to eventually hire a chef to prepare the food. As the owner, you may have other tasks you need to fulfill aside from food preparation.

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10. 10
    Hiring a professional and experienced chef can boost the credibility and reputation of your business

    .

    Aside from that, they can help inject fresh ideas to your business.  

    1. Food

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11. 11
    

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12. 12
    The food you are serving will serve as the "crowning glory" of your business

    .

    So if the meal is bad, chances are you will not get any customers, or regular clients will look elsewhere for their catering needs. Therefore, you need to focus on improving your menu as well as the preparation.

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13. 13
    While you need to specialize in a particular menu, you should also open yourselves to other recipes

    .

    You should add variety to your menu as this will increase your chances of earning an income. Likewise, you should learn how to adjust to the dietary considerations of your clients. Finally, your menu should also cater to different kinds of budget.

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14. 14
    Invest on Equipment and Manpower

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15. 15
    

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16. 16
    As mentioned earlier, you need to add some equipment and hire manpower as your business grows

    .

    You will better prepare food with new equipment and trained personnel. If you are catering to several customers, this is an important consideration.

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17. 17
    
    
    

    

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18. 18
    Aside from a chef, you should also consider employing planners, managers, servers, and preparers

    .

    Some even include party hosts and clowns in their personnel. Experience and training must be a consideration when choosing personnel. Promptness during events is a crucial skill that can make or break your business so look for people who can show up on time during a scheduled event.

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19. 19
    You can consider asking your clients to provide some of the supplies

    .

    This is a good way to save up on costs. Some customers are willing to do this because it will bring out their creativity. At the same time, there are some venues that already have supplies. So be sure to check this out with the client or venue.

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20. 20
    Promote Your Business

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21. 21
    

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22. 22
    Once your business is already set up, it is time to get some clients and introduce your service

    .

    You can start with the people you know, such as relatives, colleagues, or friends. They may be able to give you some referrals.

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23. 23
    In addition, you can put your business on the yellow pages or local directory

    .

    Likewise, you can go online. Another way you can promote is by putting up posters or distributing pamphlets. Once you are able to get clients, you can schedule them for a food tasting session to help them decide whether to get your services or not.

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24. 24
    A catering business can be done full-time or part-time

    .

    You can do it within the confines of your home or in an office. Just like any business, you need determination to grow it.

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If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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