subject: Are You thinking About Catering As A Business? [print this page] Are You thinking About Catering As A Business?
Catering can be a great business if you have the passion, talents and resources that are needed to succeed. How do you know if you really have what it normally requires to do well at it? Catering is more than simply cooking wonderful food, it also requires being willing to go out of your way to impress and accommodate your customers. If you enjoy cooking and are great helping people, starting a catering business could be the perfect way for you to go into business for yourself. The basic business strategy for a catering business is simple: offer food for events and occasions. This includes business conferences and training seminars, as well as more traditional events like weddings and engagement parties. It's also becoming more popular to cater private dinner celebrations and smaller events. When you begin any type of new business, the most important thing is to gain clients immediately. And we don't just want to have some satisfied clients, we want to impress people so much that they rave about how wonderful everything was. When consumers ask them about their event, you want to be the first thing that they mention. It's much easier to make sales when your customers are out there spreading your brand for you. This is your best promotional and sales strategy to improve your catering business Think of anyone who could refer a decent amount of business to you. Florists, wedding planners, custom pasty chefs, etc.... You want to build relationships with people in those businesses and make certain when someone asks them about a caterer, your name is the first thing they think of. Schedule a time to drop off some samples for their customers to delight in and allow them to do the same. Establish a referral relationship with a florist for example, so you can provide flowers and food for events together. And never be afraid to just go out and look for customers. Put together a brochure and mailing packet and send them to several corporate offices. Then, rather than following up with a phone call, follow up with a simple snack tray. A few dollars in food gives you a reason to stop in and speak to them directly. And it's always easier to close a sale in person rather than over the phone. It's important to have a good plan and follow up on that plan. Starting any new business is a learning experience, and catering is no exception. Listen carefully to what your customers are asking for and be sure to really deliver what they desire. Double and triple check everything to make sure you have the tools and flatware to present everything elegantly. Your success in starting a catering business will rely on your focus to detail and ability to really surpass expectations. Events are more than just an order to your clients, events represent an occasion they'll keep in mind for a very long time.
