The Executive Suite: How to Start a Catering Business in Your Home

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

How to Start a Catering Business in Your Home

Do you enjoy cooking? Are people constantly complimenting you on your homemade dishes? Have you been asked to cater events before? You could create a nice income for yourself by doing something that you love and starting your own catering business from home. You can start small by renting equipment and other items and later buying them as your business grows.

Suggestions

Consider the start-up costs. You will be saving money by working from home because you won't have to worry about renting a place. However, you still need equipment. Save money in the beginning by renting things such as dinnerware, utensils, tablecloths and linens. Once you start making money, invest in these things. Draft a budget to determine how much you can spend when you are first getting started.
Hire employees. Obviously you won't need a full staff all the time---only when you are catering events. You will need people to help you set up, and also waiters and waitresses to attend to the guests. In the beginning, you can probably handle the office work yourself, but later, consider hiring a more permanent staff. First, check with local temp agencies to find employees you can hire only when you need them. This is important because you don't know how many clients you will be getting until your business starts to take off. Visit temp agencies in your area to discuss your options.
Hire employees. Obviously you won't need a full staff all the time---only when you are catering events. You will need people to help you set up and also waiters and waitresses to attend to the guests. In the beginning, you can probably handle the office work yourself, but later on you might want to consider hiring a more permanent staff. First, you should check with local temp agencies to find employees you can hire only when you need them. This is important because you really don't know how many clients you will be getting until your business starts to take off. Kelly Services is a temp agency that provides employees to businesses all over the world. See Resources for link. Visit local temp agencies in your area to discuss your options.
Check with your city hall to determine what permits you will need. Because you will be serving food to the public, you will need to be properly licensed. There are also restrictions about advertising to the public when you don't have a license. You need certification from the health department because your business involves food. You also need approval from the zoning board. You might also need food handler licenses for your employees. These requirements vary from state to state, so check with your city hall.
Advertise. Start by catering an event for a friend or family member for very little profit. This gives you exposure, and you can begin circulating word-of-mouth advertising. Print business cards and sample menus to hand out to people who inquire about your services. Give the business cards and sample menus to clients to hand out to their friends when they are in need of a caterer. Engage in cooperative marketing with individuals from noncompetitive business fields such as wedding planners, disc jockeys, photographers and florists. A great website is an essential advertising tool for any business. If you know little to nothing about web design, get help from a professional.
Take culinary classes to enhance your skills. Stay on top of the game by learning as much as you can. These classes can help you choose signature dishes to specialize in and really make a name for your company. These don't have to be classes at an actual culinary institute. You don't need a certificate of achievement to hang on your refrigerator. You just need an edge over the competition.