If you’re passionate about cooking and the idea of having a business excites you, catering is an excellent way to start your entrepreneurial life. It’s a growing industry that you can tailor to your particular skills and situation. Catering services are demanded for various events, whether we talk about weddings or business conferences. You could become the favourite caterer in your town – you just need the right tools and knowledge.
Whether you want to do finger foods or go for a buffet-style, this type of business is ideal for starting with low costs.
But being a great cook is not enough. There are other abilities you need if you want your business to flourish. You have to master organisational and managerial skills and be prepared for the unexpected. Even if your catering menu is the most delicious, other factors play a role in determining your business’s success.
We know starting your own business can be pretty challenging, no matter how passionate you are about it. So, we created a little guide for you to make your entrepreneurial journey easier.
Choose a name and an entity for your business
Once you’ve decided upon the type of your catering business, the next step is to pick a name for it and define the entity. When you choose a name, make sure to check its availability in the state where you want to launch your catering business.
When it comes to the business entity, one aspect to consider is whether you want to do it independently or have a partner. If you go alone, your company will be unincorporated. But if there’s someone else doing it with you – and you don’t want to take on the responsibility of the business alone – your venture can be registered as a general partnership, limited liability company or another similar entity.
Create a business plan
So, you’ve chosen an entity and name for your business. The next step is creating a plan. Although it will take some work, the effort you put into it will pay off in the long run. Think of it as a roadmap for your journey – it will help you get back on track when you lose focus and serve as a reminder for your ultimate goal.
You can either create your own business plan or use a template. Some things you should include in the business plan are: an overview of the company, details about the business’s organisation, the services and products you’ll offer and how you’ll manage finances. But you cannot make your business grow without a marketing plan – so make sure to include that as well.
These things are crucial to building your business, but knowing your competition and recognising potential customers is also essential.
Maybe there’s some kind of catering in your area that is needed but underserved at the moment. For instance, if there are a lot of golf courses in your area, their request for catering services during weekend events is probably high.
Be flexible with the menu
Food is at the core of your business – it won’t just nourish; it will also be your brand. So don’t get stuck cooking only meals you’re familiar with; explore different options. If your customers request something you’re not comfortable with, instead of telling them you don’t serve that specific dish, you could offer something comparable. You might think the food’s taste matters the most, but the visual part is equally important. Thus, make sure your food not only tastes good but looks good too!
When you create the menu, include a variety of options for customers. And by that, we don’t mean only from a culinary perspective, but also financially.
Be flexible with the offerings – although tailoring a menu for a party might take more time, it shows you care about your customers’ needs and tastes.
Provide a pleasant experience for your customers
This is true for any business whose success depends on the quality of services provided to customers. And catering makes no exception. Your customers expect to be wined and dined – just as if they went to a restaurant.
You could make a call a week before the event to review the details and check if there are any changes. Is there any way you can exceed the client’s expectations? Anything that could enhance your customer’s experience is excellent.
If you want to bring sustainability into your business, you can use plastic tubs and lids for food packaging. Not only do they provide safety, but they are also recyclable – so your customers won’t only enjoy delicious food, but they can also reuse the food container.
Most catering businesses provide options for vegetarians. However, people have various dietary needs, such as gluten-free or lactose-free options. Or they might require full vegan options. Make sure to consider all those specific needs if you want to provide excellent services.
Decide on the prices
Prices vary depending on the location of the business and type of catering you provide.
Before setting a price for your work, research your competitors and see what services they offer and how much they price. Undercutting prices might seem like a good idea initially, but it won’t make your business profitable in the long run. So, make sure to figure out the accurate costs by considering all the aspects involved in your business.
Profitability is key in any business, and thus, you have to ensure your prices are accurate so that you won’t be at a loss. It’s essential to plan wisely and look for ways to grow your business without putting your finances at risk. And that’s absolutely possible as you have different cost-effective options out there. For instance, plastic containers, like the ones from Pack store, are ideal for a catering business.
Strengthen your management skills
No matter how passionate you are about cooking, it won’t be enough to make your business successful. You have to be a great leader. And that means taking initiative, mastering interpersonal and organisational skills and being a confident entrepreneur. On top of that, you also have to make your customer’s needs a priority, motivate people, manage your finances well and think clearly. Not to mention that you should know how to stay calm in a crisis, as things won’t always go as planned.
Now, that might sound like a lot, but don’t let it overwhelm you – these are skills that you can learn through the Internet or local communities.
Take an honest look at yourself, identify your weakness and work on developing the skills you need. It’s hard work, but nothing good comes easy, right?
Last words
The entrepreneurial journey is filled with many ups and downs, but it’s all worth it in the end – once you achieve your business goals, all your efforts will pay off.
Leave a Comment