subject: Some Tips On Starting A Catering Business [print this page] As the saying goes, 'start small but think big.' When it comes to any start-up business, the vision and passion of the entrepreneur provide the essential guide and impetus to make the business grow and succeed. Although many start-up businesses fail in the first year of operation, several strategies can be implemented to ensure the survival of the business during its infancy stage. In this manner, waste of time and effort can be minimized. Nonetheless, some level of trial and error is still inevitable. Starting any type of business is always a learning process.
Before you start your catering business or any business for that matter, it is crucial that you have the full commitment, passion and vision for the business. Needless to say, you should also have excellent skills in cooking and food preparation. You do not necessarily have to be an expert chef but a wide range of culinary knowledge is necessary. You can hire other chefs for recipes that you do not know.
Along with culinary skills, entrepreneurial and managerial skills are equally important. Starting and operating a catering business is labor intensive. It is a demanding job that often requires more than the normal daily working hours. Although catering events might be seasonal, some caterers may need to work seven days a week to prepare and ensure the success of the event. This is especially true for big catering events such as in weddings and conventions.
Entrepreneurial and managerial skills are essential in starting a catering business because of its multifaceted aspects and the risks involved. As an entrepreneur you must be aware of the competition and you must be creative in order to be competitive. You must have the marketing instinct and good PR. You can start with your own networks of friends, relatives, co-workers, and acquaintances to find a clientele base. You can also use your contacts to help you raise the necessary capital that you need.
If you want to minimize the start-up cost and manage the risks, you can start a home-based catering business. You can use your own kitchen for food preparation but you may need to rent other catering equipment and utensils.
As the proprietor-manager of your start-up catering business, you need to hire workers on occasional basis. You must have the skills to motivate others and set goals. You need to be efficient and manage your time very well. Delegating tasks is key but you must ensure that tasks are performed effectively and on time. Managing finances is also very crucial. As much as possible, you must always spend within the budget while maximizing profits.
