subject: Starting a Small Catering Business – Low Investment, Little Risk [print this page] Starting a Small Catering Business Low Investment, Little Risk
If your friends and family constantly tell you "Your cooking is the best; your food is awesome; or you should start your own catering company" then starting a small catering business may be the right decision for you. If you could really do something that you enjoy and make a living from it, there is no in point working for someone else in a job that you don't truly enjoy.
When opening a small catering business, as the owner of a self-established catering business, you will be your own boss, and there will be a great number of rewards and challenges that you will encounter on the way. However the only road blocks to your success, if any, will be placed by you.
As a small catering business owner, you may provide services for corporate events, community functions, grand openings, conferences, family reunions, anniversary celebrations, baby showers etc. Catering businesses also serve small (personal chef) and large parties, private dinner parties, and weddings.
Other than cooking delicious food, the most important part of starting a small catering business is to get clients. You really need to have the skills of an expert salesman who is able to get his ideas across quickly and effectively.
As a service provider, you will be dealing with all sorts of people- from corporate executives to nervous brides. In order to get those first few clients to get things going, you will need to convince your prospective clients that you will not only provide delicious food, but also take care of presentation, dining etiquette, timeliness, etc.
Get in touch with all people and businesses that are involved in event management. Some of these people may include florists, pastry chefs, bridal boutiques, wedding planners, card sellers, and party supplies shopkeepers. Also don't forget about receptionist, secretaries, and administrative assistants at corporations; often times these are the people that are responsible for the catering of meetings (breakfast and lunch), luncheons, and all sorts of corporate events.
One of the best ways to getting clients when starting a small catering business is by bringing some tasty desserts or snazzy hors d'oeuvres as goodwill gestures. You could even offer to prepare a free lunch sampler for corporate gatekeepers like secretaries and administrative assistants; this will help get your foot in the door for gaining new clients.
When you make any type of presentation of your catering services always be ready with professionally designed business cards and brochures that can be given to people.
Send sales letters and brochures to corporate offices and other business establishments to acquire customers and remember to follow up with a call once you have sent the letter or brochure.
The success that you gain when starting a small catering business will depend on the strength of your business plan and implementation. You will need to put yourself in the shoes of customers to understand their needs.
You will be surprised that only 70% of restaurant business consists of food, while the rest is all about service, organization etc. These things change to a great degree in catering business. Nearly 30% of any catering business goes to food, while the remaining 70% depends on delivery, transportation of food, setting up rental equipment at the event venue, etc. This is where your organization skills will be tested to a great degree.
You need to prioritize your tasks and devote your best efforts to finish each task ahead of time. When you are starting a small catering business, you need to remain enthusiastic round the clock. Your clients should be your first priority in any situation. Patiently listen to their requirements and address all their concerns from your heart.
