Did you make cupcakes or quiches that were the hit of the party? Maybe one of the guests said you’d make a great caterer, and the idea stuck in your mind so much that you are actually thinking of giving it a shot. But catering is a business and not everybody has what it takes to make it succeed. But if you follow the below tips below, your odds of success will increase:
Know Your Market
It is never wise to enter a market blindly, and it is also not wise to be scared by the competition. Just because there is a lot of competition, doesn’t mean you should stop yourself from becoming a caterer. This is a good sign that the market has the potential to make you some revenue. Scope out your competition and find out what you need to offer to make people choose your services instead of theirs.
Pick a Niche
There are many niches to choose from, including birthdays, weddings, corporate events, dinners, award ceremonies and festivals. Once you pick a niche, find out what your potential customers want without assuming everyone will like your food – do some research. If you are a small caterer, start with small events with at least 100 guests and go from there.
Find Vendors and Hire Some Staff
You need to build relationships with people who can supply you with what you need at a moment’s notice, from the food, utensils, glassware all the way to the tables and chairs. You also need to ushers who can serve the food at the events you are catering as well. And when cooking, make sure you have the appropriate gear to look professional, like these chef coats and jackets.
Develop a Business Plan
Before you launch the business, you will need to write a business plan detailing the initial investment you need to make to keep the catering business going for at least three months. You also need to look into getting all the necessary permits and licenses required to run a business in the area you wish to operate, as well as make sure that you are complying with all the health codes and regulations.
Market Your Catering Services
When it comes to finding potential customers, this is perhaps the most important step. Use every marketing technique at your disposal, including flyers, business cards and brochures. Develop a website and post your menu there along with all your dishes. You can even blog about your love for the catering business to establish authority and drive traffic back to the main website where you offer your services.
Being a talented cook is not enough to run a successful catering business. Following the above-mentioned tips will make sure that you hit the ground running and be in demand for whatever niche you decide to cater to.
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