Competitor Name
Brief Overview of Competitor
[Sender.Company] will provide its client with the following competitive advantages:
(Competitive Advantage 1)
(Competitive Advantage 2)
[sender.company] ’s branding and positioning.
The [Sender.Company] brand is renowned for its unique value proposition within the catering industry:
[Sender.Company] is known for its extensive menu offerings, providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner customization.
The company is committed to serving top-tier cuisine prepared by skilled chefs and presented by a team of sophisticated servers.
At [Sender.Company] , excellent customer service is a hallmark.
[Sender.Company] stands out with its creative approach, offering innovative event themes and concepts.
The company prioritizes and accommodates various dietary needs, demonstrating a commitment to eco-friendly practices and guest preferences.
[Sender.Company] provides comprehensive event planning services, including venue selection, décor, and entertainment.
These unique values define [Sender.Company] and highlight its dedication to delivering exceptional catering and event experiences.
[Sender.Company] anticipates its primary customer base to encompass individuals residing or working within the area of the establishment. The company's comprehensive promotional strategy to engage this demographic comprises various components.
The catering business will proactively encourage delighted clients to refer other companies or individuals by providing financial incentives for each successful referral.
[Sender.Company] will initially invest in advertising placements within local newspapers and event publications to enhance brand awareness.
[Sender.Company] will utilize local business mailing lists and business association databases to distribute informative materials to nearby businesses. These materials will offer insights into the company's offerings, feature discounts, and incentivize individuals to consider [Sender.Company] for their catering needs.
Outreach efforts will extend to local and regional newspapers and television stations, where press releases detailing the company's launch and its unique value proposition will be disseminated.
To maintain an active online presence, [Sender.Company] will maintain an informative website and circulate a monthly email newsletter.
Proactive interaction with prospective clients and strategic collaborators on diverse social media platforms, including (List relevant social media platforms), will enable the business to remain responsive to evolving customer requirements and preferences.
[Sender.Company] prioritizes catering to a wide range of client budgets while consistently delivering exceptional catering services. Recognizing the catering industry's susceptibility to price fluctuations, often driven by external factors, [Sender.Company] is firmly committed to offering competitive pricing that appeals to a broad clientele and reduces accessibility barriers. Additionally, a robust cost management strategy will be implemented to maximize profitability.
(Payment Option 1)
(Payment Option 2)
(Payment Option 3)
(Payment Option 4)
By offering these versatile payment alternatives, [Sender.Company] aims to ensure that its valued clients have a range of choices to align with their financial needs and preferences, ultimately enhancing their overall satisfaction. These options can be adjusted to remain responsive to market dynamics and evolving customer demands.
Date | Milestone |
---|---|
(MM/DD/YY) | (Milestone 1) |
(MM/DD/YY) | (Milestone 2) |
(MM/DD/YY) | (Milestone 3) |
These milestones underscore [Sender.Company] 's unwavering commitment to making consistent and measurable strides in its pursuit of success within the (Industry Name).
Source and use of funds.
[Sender.Company] will be receiving (Amount) from (Source of Fund) to launch its catering business. The funds will be used for capital expenditures, labor costs, and acquiring supplies and equipment. The following table shows the proposed startup costs:
Name | Price | QTY | Subtotal |
---|---|---|---|
Item 1 Description of first item | $35.00 | 5 | $175.00 |
Item 2 Description of second item | $55.00 | $55.00 | |
Item 3 Description of third item | $200.00 | $200.00 |
Subtotal | $230.00 |
Discount | -$115.00 |
Tax | $23.00 |
Total | $138.00 |
These are [Sender.Company] 's pro forma financial statements for the next five (5) years. It contains the business's income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.
[Recipient.FirstName] [Recipient.LastName]
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Writing a catering business plan is the first step to starting a catering business . A business plan makes it easy to map out your catering business ideas and see these ideas become a reality.
Key Takeaway - The catering business is about proper and adequate preparation. From planning a menu to preparing meals for social events, there are several things to prepare for and take into account.
With a food catering business plan, you can build the perfect manual and guide to run your catering business successfully. It becomes easier to reach out to investors for funding as well.
A catering business plan is easy to write and contains the same essential elements as other restaurant business plan formats. However, when writing a business plan for catering business, add catering industry-specific sections.
Let’s review how to write a catering business plan for your catering business.
Writing a catering business plan is more than just filling out a downloadable catering business plan template. Your passion for your catering business idea must be evident in each business plan section.
From the executive summary and company overview to your operational and marketing plan, your business plan must translate the ideology of your business. Do not just copy and paste something you see online.
When writing a business plan for catering business, include these sections:
Company overview, team and management, market and opportunity, business operational plan, products and services, marketing plan, financial projections.
Your executive summary, usually one page, is the opening section of your business plan. It should make an excellent first impression of your business. The executive summary is a summary of your business plan.
When writing your executive summary, give a quick rundown of your company's income, costs, break-even point predictions, and other financial information. The executive summary comes last after you’ve written different sections of your catering business plan.
Your catering business overview should include details of your company. The company overview is a more practical version of the executive summary. It should describe the client experience, ownership and management components, and business operations.
For instance, you can explain your order management and order fulfillment process. This is an excellent space to mention your plan to buy a catering food truck. You can also note the job opportunities your catering business will create and future expansion plans.
This section is a great place to explain your eCommerce team structure and organogram. Start the section by explaining your role within the company. Then, you can drop a few highlights of team workflows and day-to-day tasks.
If your catering business scale-up plan will require more hands, mention their roles in this section. You can explain how you find to recruit your team members and your projected salary range.
Researching your market is essential. Knowing your niche market , who and where your customers are, and your potential competitors is crucial to the success of your catering business.
It’ll be great to explain consumer behavior. For example, how many events happen in the area every week? How many venues can you partner with?
Market research will help you know the types of catering businesses that will succeed in your chosen market. It will also help you strategize how to stay ahead of the competition. When writing this section, use graphs and charts to explain your findings.
Explain your business process flow in this section. From how you will attract clients to how you will serve meals at an event, your operational plan is a great place to explain your workflow in detail.
The business operations portion of your catering business plan contains details regarding customer experience management. You can include your plan for sales and inventory management , restaurant accounting , warehouse management system , and food supply chain management for the items on your menu.
This section should explain the tiny details of your business activities. As a tip, highlight the different management processes of your catering business.
If you plan to specialize in a menu item for specific events, then this is the place to discuss it. For instance, your catering business may focus on cocktail parties or weddings. In this case, your menu item and prices will differ from a catering business that serves office lunches.
You may also serve a specific type of cuisine, such as Mexican or Indian dishes. Ensure you include a sample of your menu and pictures of your meals. Include details about your pricing as well.
Unlike other businesses in the food and beverage industry , customers only require catering services for events and occasions. Therefore, you must be positioned so potential customers will call you first when they have events.
Referrals are a big thing in the catering industry. However, you can leverage the opportunities that the internet has to offer. From owning a catering website to building your online presence on social media, there are various marketing strategies you can adopt.
You can list your catering business on marketplace online directories for event planners. Whatever your marketing strategy is, explain it clearly in this section.
Opening a catering business is not as expensive as starting a brick and mortar restaurant business . However, it is essential to discuss your financial projections and eCommerce accounting strategies if you plan to get a loan from the best banks .
You can give a five-year financial projection for your catering business. In financial projections, you must account for both fixed and variable costs.
Fixed costs include the following:
Variable costs include the following:
There are various ways to write a catering business plan. Presenting your business plan will determine whether the reader will be captivated upon opening the document.
Here’s a format you can use:
Research is crucial to succeeding in any food service business. A simple survey will clear up. Will you operate at home? What events will you cater? Will you specialize in a particular type of food?
Conducting research will also help you know the type of regulations you must comply with and the catering business license you need to operate your business. Ask questions from residents and check online for more information.
Yes, there are a lot of catering business ideas. However, you must choose your specialty to be able to create a unique selling proposition for your brand.
Do you want to specialize in weddings? Will you serve corporate events only? Deciding on this will determine your business operations, branding, and restaurant management system .
Marketing is something you should not get tired of doing. There are a lot of catering businesses in the U.S., and some restaurants are diversifying into offering catering services now.
While the market opportunity is enormous, the competition in the industry is fierce. Therefore, having solid marketing and advertising plan is crucial to the growth of your business.
Creating your menu is essential. First, decide your menu items and prices. Be realistic when setting your price. Consider the cost of obtaining the item at a wholesale vs retail price and the overall overhead costs to run your business.
Restaurant technologies can streamline your business operations. For instance, payment processing software can help you accept payments online and make it easier for customers to pay via credit card on your website.
POS systems and catering management software will help you automate your catering operations. Invoice management software is another tool that will help your business accounting workflow.
Wholesale distribution management software and warehouse inventory management software will optimize your inventory management processes. In addition, you can manage supplier relationships with vendor management software.
Starting a catering business requires adequate preparation. A catering business plan will help you plan and serve as a manual to run your business successfully. Let’s answer some frequently asked questions about business plan for catering businesses.
A caterer needs the following skills:
Yes . Full-service catering businesses are responsible for setting up tables.
A caterer should ask a client the following questions:
Having a catering business plan will make it easy to grow catering business . Applying for a business loan or getting investors interested in your business is also easier. Keep your sections clear and straight to the point when preparing your catering business plan.
You may need to prepare an elevator pitch when presenting to investors. Pitch your business confidently, project your passion for the industry, and keep it simple.
BUSINESS STRATEGIES
When starting a business , especially when starting a service business , crafting a meticulous and transparent business plan is essential. A catering business plan is a meticulously crafted manuscript that outlines your company’s ambitions, tactics and financial projections. This invaluable document not only charts a precise course when starting your food business but also serves as a culinary compass. Keep reading to learn how to write a strong catering business plan.
Looking to promote your business online by making a website ? Try Wix’s website builder .
Writing a comprehensive catering business plan is crucial for the success of your venture. It provides a roadmap for your business, helps attract investors and funding and guides your decision-making process regardless of your type of business . Here are the six main parts of a catering business plan:
Executive summary
Company and domain names
Market analysis and research
Operations plan
Marketing and advertising plan
Financial plan
The executive summary is a concise overview of your catering business plan. It should provide a clear and compelling summary of your business idea, goals and strategies. This section is typically written last but appears at the beginning of the business plan.
An effective executive summary for a catering business plan should include:
A brief description of your catering business and its unique selling proposition
An overview of your target market and how you plan to capture it
A summary of your financial projections, including revenue targets and profitability
An outline of your catering marketing strategies and how you intend to promote your services
Choosing the right business name for your catering venture is crucial for building brand awareness and trust. It should reflect your company's values, be memorable and resonate with your target audience. Consider using a business name generator (or specifically a restaurant business name generator ) for inspiration and brainstorming ideas.
Be inspired: Catering business name ideas
When selecting a domain name for your catering website, it's important to choose something that is easy to remember, relevant to your business and available. Conduct a domain name search to check its availability and consider best practices (e.g., keep it short and simple, avoid numbers and hyphens, use keywords and check to make sure it aligns with your brand identity and values).
Once you’ve landed on a business name and structure, follow the steps for registering your business .
Including market analysis and research in your catering business plan is essential for understanding the competitive environment and building a better business strategy. Conducting market research will help you identify your target market, assess customer preferences and understand the demand for catering services in your area.
An overview of the catering industry, including trends and growth opportunities
An analysis of your target market, including demographics, psychographics and buying behavior
A competitive analysis, identifying key competitors and their strengths and weaknesses
A SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) to assess internal and external factors that may impact your business
The operations plan outlines the practical aspects of running your catering business. This includes details about location, premises, equipment and staffing needs.
Key elements to consider in your operations plan:
Location and premises: Choose a location that is easily accessible for clients and has sufficient space for food preparation, storage and office operations. Determine the layout and design of your premises to optimize workflow and create an inviting atmosphere for clients.
Equipment: List the necessary equipment for your catering business, such as commercial kitchen appliances, serving utensils and transportation vehicles.
Staffing: Define the roles and responsibilities of your staff members, including chefs, servers, event coordinators and administrative personnel. Consider their qualifications and training requirements.
The marketing and advertising plan lays out the strategies you will use to promote your catering business, including your plans to create a business website . It helps you identify the most effective channels to reach your target audience and maximize your marketing budget.
Consider the following when creating your marketing and advertising plan:
Target audience: Define your target market segments based on demographics, psychographics and event types.
Branding: Develop a strong brand identity that reflects your catering business's values, mission and unique selling proposition. (If you need help creating a logo, check out these food-related logo ideas and use a logo maker .)
Pricing strategy: Determine your pricing structure based on factors like food costs, overhead expenses, competition and desired profit margins.
Promotional channels: Identify the most effective channels to reach your target audience, such as social media advertising, email marketing, event sponsorships or partnerships with wedding planners or corporate event organizers.
Marketing campaigns: Plan specific marketing campaigns tailored to different segments of your target market. This could include seasonal promotions, referral programs or discounts for repeat customers.
By incorporating these strategies into your marketing and advertising plan, you can effectively promote your catering business and attract clients.
The financial plan is a crucial part of any catering business plan. It outlines how your business will be funded initially and provides a timeframe for reaching profitability. Remember to include:
Startup costs: Estimate the initial investment required to start your catering business, including equipment purchases, leasehold improvements, licenses, permits and marketing expenses.
Revenue projections: Based on market research and pricing strategies, project your anticipated revenue over the first few years of operation.
Expenses: Identify all the ongoing expenses involved in running your catering business, such as food costs, labor, rent, utilities, insurance and marketing expenses.
Cash flow statement: Prepare a cash flow statement that outlines the inflows and outflows of cash in your business on a monthly or quarterly basis. This will help you anticipate any cash flow challenges and plan accordingly.
Profitability analysis: Assess the profitability of your catering business by calculating gross profit margins and net profit margins. This will give you an understanding of the financial health of your business.
These draft business plans provide a starting point for developing your own catering business plan. Customize them according to your specific business goals, target market and unique selling proposition. A well-crafted business plan will set you on the path to success in the competitive catering industry. Check out these service business examples to help you get started:
ABC Catering Company is a full-service catering business specializing in corporate events and weddings. We offer a wide range of menu options, focusing on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and exceptional service. Our target market includes businesses in the downtown area seeking high-quality catering for their meetings and events, as well as couples planning their dream weddings. With our experienced team and commitment to excellence, we aim to become the go-to catering provider in the region. Our projected revenue for the first year is $500,000, with a net profit margin of 15%. We will leverage digital marketing strategies, including social media advertising and partnerships with local event planners, to reach our target audience.
Company name and domain name
Company name: ABC Catering Company
Domain name: abccateringcompany.com
The catering industry is witnessing a transformative shift, driven by a growing demand for exceptional dining experiences at events ranging from weddings to corporate gatherings. As clients increasingly seek convenience and sophistication, there is a rising preference for professionally curated dining solutions.
ABC Catering Company is strategically positioned to cater to a discerning clientele, primarily focusing on upscale weddings, corporate events and social gatherings. Our target demographic includes professionals, high-income individuals and event planners who value creativity, diversity and flawless execution.
Within our competitive landscape, ABC Catering Company faces established players like XYZ Culinary Creations and Gourmet Gatherings Inc. XYZ Culinary Creations stands out for its innovative presentations but struggles with consistency, while Gourmet Gatherings Inc. excels in personalized experiences but lacks comprehensive menu options for specific dietary needs. Through a holistic understanding of our market and competitors, ABC Catering Company is poised to make its mark by capitalizing on trends, addressing client preference, and navigating challenges effectively.
Location: ABC Catering Company will be situated centrally, boasting easy client access and ample parking, with premises encompassing a commercial kitchen, storage areas and an integrated office space.
Equipment and resources: Our operations will be powered by a cutting-edge commercial kitchen, an array of elegant serving utensils, dedicated transportation vehicles and essential office equipment.
Staffing and expertise: Our skilled team—comprising accomplished chefs, meticulous servers, creative event coordinators and capable administrative personnel—will orchestrate exceptional catering experiences.
Hiring and qualifications: Selection will be based on qualifications and industry experience, ensuring that our chefs, servers, event coordinators and administrative personnel uphold our commitment to excellence.
Target audience: Our prime focus lies on capturing the interest of downtown businesses and engaged couples in the wedding planning process.
Branding: Forge a robust brand identity that encapsulates our values, mission and distinctive selling proposition.
Pricing strategy: Strategically set prices, factoring in food expenses, operational costs, market competition and desired profit margins.
Promotional channels: Harness the potential of social media advertising, email campaigns, event sponsorships and collaborations with wedding planners and corporate organizers for optimum outreach.
Marketing campaigns: Devise targeted marketing endeavors tailored to different subsets of our audience, encompassing seasonal offers, referral initiatives and loyalty discounts.
Startup costs: The estimated initial investment required is $200,000 for kitchen equipment, leasehold improvements, licenses, permits and marketing expenses.
Revenue projections: Based on market research and pricing strategies, projected revenue for the first year is $500,000.
Expenses: Ongoing expenses include food costs, labor, rent, utilities, insurance and marketing expenses.
Cash flow statement: A monthly cash flow statement will be prepared to track inflows and outflows of cash.
Profitability analysis: Gross profit margins are projected to be 60%, with a net profit margin of 15%.
XYZ Corporate Catering is a specialized catering business focusing on providing high-quality food and service for corporate events. We offer customized menus that cater to the specific needs and preferences of our corporate clients. Our target market includes businesses in the technology and finance sectors. With our experienced team of chefs and event coordinators, we aim to become the preferred catering partner for corporate events in the region. Our projected revenue for the first year is $400,000, with a net profit margin of 20%. We will utilize targeted email marketing campaigns and establish partnerships with event venues to reach our target audience effectively.
Company name: XYZ Corporate Catering
Domain name: xyzcorporatecatering.com
XYZ Corporate Catering operates within the thriving corporate events sector, where businesses seek top-notch catering solutions for meetings, conferences and other professional gatherings. This segment is characterized by a growing preference for high-quality, customizable menus that cater to diverse dietary requirements and corporate themes. As the demand for elevated culinary experiences in the business realm increases, XYZ Corporate Catering is poised to capitalize on this trend, delivering exceptional service and tailored offerings to meet the unique needs of corporate clients.
Our target audience encompasses a wide array of businesses, from small enterprises to large corporations, spanning diverse industries. We are well-positioned to cater to these businesses through our flexible menu options, streamlined delivery and commitment to professionalism. The competitive landscape includes a mix of established catering services and local vendors, with key differentiators being the quality of offerings, reliability of service and expertise in handling corporate events. XYZ Corporate Catering's focus on culinary excellence, efficient logistics and strong client relationships will set us apart in this competitive arena, positioning us as a trusted partner for corporate event catering needs.
Location: XYZ Corporate Catering will thrive in a strategically located facility, housing advanced kitchens, storage solutions and dedicated administrative spaces.
Equipment and resources: Our operations will be fortified by cutting-edge kitchen equipment, elegant serving tools and efficient delivery vehicles.
Staffing and expertise: Our adept team—composed of seasoned chefs, professional servers, meticulous event coordinators and capable administrative personnel—will ensure flawless execution.
Hiring and qualifications: We will selectively hire individuals with expertise in the catering industry, focusing on chefs, servers, coordinators and administrative staff with a track record of excellence.
Target audience: Our primary focus will encompass downtown businesses and engaged couples in the wedding planning process.
Startup costs: The estimated initial investment required is $150,000 for kitchen equipment, leasehold improvements, licenses, permits and marketing expenses.
Revenue projections: Based on market research and pricing strategies, projected revenue for the first year is $400,000.
Profitability analysis: Gross profit margins are projected to be 70%, with a net profit margin of 20%.
A well-written business plan provides valuable guidance and direction. It helps you define your goals, identify potential challenges and develop strategies to overcome them. Among its many benefits, a business plan can aid with:
Funding: A comprehensive business plan is essential for attracting investors or raising money for a business from financial institutions. It demonstrates the viability of the catering business and showcases the potential return on investment.
Resource planning: A catering business plan will help you understand what resources, supplies and staff are required to start and operate the business successfully. It allows for proper planning and allocation of resources. To learn more about what it takes to start different catering businesses, read our guides - How to start a food truck business , How to start a food prep business , How to start a frozen food business .
Competitive insight: By conducting market analysis and research as part of the business plan, you can gain insights into the competitive environment. This information helps in developing effective marketing strategies and positioning the catering business in the market.
Risk management: A well-prepared business plan allows you to identify potential risks and develop contingency plans to mitigate them. It provides a framework for risk assessment and management, ensuring the long-term success of the catering business.
Financial planning: One of the crucial aspects of a catering business plan is the financial plan. It includes details about initial funding, projected income, expenses and profitability. This information is vital for you, your investors and your lenders to assess the financial viability of the business.
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Elizabeth started her career at a small local restaurant close to her home. She had big dreams of owning a large catering business.
Three years later, she learned the ropes, worked hard enough to save money and was ready to launch Chefdini Catering.
Hers is a tale of overcoming all odds.
Within five years, Elizabeth expanded her operations. She employed some staff and was raking in around $5 million in revenue annually.
In an era where 20% of new businesses fail within the first two years, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, how did Elizabeth pull this off?
Well, it may have taken five years, but one thing that helped her navigate her journey smoothly was:
…a Catering Business Plan.
And she’s not alone. About 70% of new businesses that manage to survive for five years follow a strategic business plan in the US.
So while several factors contribute to businesses failing within the first couple of years, there’s no doubt lack of a business plan is a major reason.
And this isn’t far-fetched.
Imagine building a house without floor plans. How long do you think it’s going to stand? Not long enough.
That’s precisely what happens when you operate your drop-off catering business without a solid plan. And this has nothing to do with how passionate you are.
Think of a business plan as a roadmap or a guide that outlines your goals and details how you intend to achieve them. It’s central to how you start and grow your business. Also, it turns your visions into a concrete action plan for success.
Having a plan is essential for drop-off caterers hoping to thrive in the current, highly competitive catering industry.
As you read this, over 12,000 establishments are vying for the same customer as you. So running a catering business without a solid plan will only give an opening for your competitors to be many steps ahead of you.
Take Abbey Duke, CEO of SugarSnap Catering, for instance.
From the get-go, part of her strategy was to always stay competitive by serving her customers how they prefer.
So when the pandemic hit and online ordering became the norm, she quickly leaned on HoneyCart’s order automation software to give customers the convenience they desired. And at the same time, to ensure she wasn’t losing sales to her competitors.
In her words:
“But I knew if we didn’t offer online ordering, we’d be losing sales to companies like Panera that make it easy to order. Busy customers expect convenience and will often choose it over quality.”
Making this kind of game-changing decision at a moment’s notice is one of the perks of having a solid business plan.
Now, you may be wondering:
“How do I create an effective catering business plan?” One that gives you an edge over your competitors and sets you on the path to success like Elizabeth.
Well, I got you covered.
We’ve developed a free catering business plan template you can customize to your specific needs. I know, creating a business plan, even with a free template, is still a daunting task for drop-off caterers.
Don’t worry.
As we progress through this article, I’ll guide you on how to create one step-by-step.
Download the free template to follow along with me:
Before we dive in, let’s take a look at some reasons why you must have a catering business plan.
1. it shows you mean business.
Today, technology has made it easy for anyone to start a catering business. Even amateurs can create an Instagram account, post some mouthwatering dishes and wait for orders to flood in.
But is this strategy going to cut it in the long run?
Absolutely not!
If you intend to scale your business, then it starts with a foolproof business plan. One that gives you insight into where your business is headed in the next five to ten years.
Having a business plan also emphasizes the commitment of you and everyone involved. It guides you in making smart decisions that will help scale your operations.
However, a catering business plan isn’t set in stone. This means you can change the plan as you progress. But the overall goals remain the same.
Take Elizabeth, the fictional character I used at the start of this article.
One reason she could expand her business within five years is that she secured investment and raised funds.
And what’s one crucial thing potential investors will ask before giving you funds?
Yep, that’s right – a well-detailed business plan.
Imagine she didn’t have one. She wouldn’t have been able to raise the funds needed to expand her operations.
Here’s why:
Investors like to see your plans for scaling the business, its financial projections, industry analysis, level of risk involved, and so on.
Not having a business plan shows you are not intentional about scaling. And this significantly reduces the chances of securing funds needed to expand.
To drive home my point, Tim Berry, founder of Palo Alto Software , did a survey asking his customers questions about their businesses, goals, and business planning.
The result?
From the above report, you’ll see that those who had business plans were almost twice more likely to grow their businesses by securing capital than those who didn’t write a plan.
This emphasizes the importance of having a business plan.
A business plan isn’t complete without researching and analyzing your competitors.
Because it helps you understand what they are doing, their offerings, pricing, and how you can improve on them.
Michele Levy , an independent brand strategy consultant agrees:
“Keeping track of who your competitors are, what people are saying about them, and what they are saying themselves can help you differentiate your business and stay ahead of trends that could impact your business.”
Furthermore, it’s a way to:
As a result, you can create a strategic plan that will improve your business.
Another benefit of creating a catering business plan is discovering new opportunities to boost your business in ways you never imagined.
Through research and competitive analysis, you may realize there are one or more niches that are underserved in your area.
So, instead of doing what every other drop-off caterer does, you can carve out a niche for yourself by doing something different.
For example, during the global pandemic that crippled catering activities, Chef Jolie of Low Country Quisine needed another source of revenue.
So she went back to the drawing board.
The result? She launched a Gourmet Takeaway Service.
By making it a habit to spot opportunities in market trends, she realized the need for an online ordering platform.
According to her:
“We needed to find new ways to generate revenue during the pandemic. We launched our Gourmet Takeaway Service and needed an online platform for customers to order.”
And if she didn’t do this, here’s what would have happened:
“We would not have been able to reach as many customers without the ability to accept orders and payments online.”
One of the goals of running a business is to hit milestones and achieve major goals.
And the only way to measure your success is to compare results with the actual plan. This way, you can see whether you’ve achieved your operational and financial goals within a specific timeframe.
For example, you set a goal of getting at least 150 customers within six months, expanding to at least four locations within 12 months, or like Elizabeth, hit $5 million annually.
By documenting these goals, not only does it make you committed to achieving them, but it also ensures you have something to measure your success against.
And it will give you a sense of fulfillment when you finally accomplish your goals. Without a doubt, a well-documented business plan fast-tracks achieving your goals.
Now that you know the importance of a catering business plan, let’s look at the essential elements of an ideal business plan.
Creating a catering business plan may sound like a daunting task. But in reality, it isn’t. It’s not much different from the usual business plan.
However, it focuses on elements specific to the food and catering industry.
So what are these elements?
Let’s take a brief look at what each of these elements should contain.
Want to create yours as you go through this guide?
Don’t forget to download (and make a copy) of the template here .
How do you ensure anyone reading your business plan doesn’t disclose the content to other people?
That’s where a confidentiality agreement comes in.
It’s an agreement between you and anyone reading your business plan not to reveal the content to any other person without your permission.
And to be on the safe side, you should have a proper legal counsel review any agreement you use in your business.
So if they do reveal the content, you will have the right protections in place.
Here’s an example of a confidentiality agreement:
The undersigned reader of [Company’s Name] Business Plan acknowledges that the information provided is completely confidential. Therefore, the reader agrees not to disclose anything found in the business plan without the express written consent of [Business Owner’s Name].
It is also acknowledged by the reader that the information to be furnished in this business plan is in all aspects confidential in nature, other than information that is in the public domain through other means, and that any disclosure or use of the same by the reader may cause serious harm and or damage to [Company Name].
Upon request, this business plan document will be immediately returned to [Business Owner’s Name].
This is a business plan. It does not imply an offer of any securities.
Applicable Law
This contract shall be governed by the laws of the County of ________ in the State of _______ and any applicable Federal law.
________________________________
Printed Name
They say you only get one chance at a first impression. An executive summary is an opportunity to show anyone reading it what your catering business is about.
Chances are, if it lacks specific information or doesn’t capture the reader’s attention, they may not read further.
The executive summary should include a brief introduction to your catering business, your services, and who you cater to.
Here’s an example of an executive summary of Elizabeth’s fictional catering business.
Chefdini is a small catering business located in Georgia. It was founded by Elizabeth White six years ago. We specialize in Asian cuisine but also cater to Mexican and Italian dishes. Chefdini operates off-premise and on-premise catering with a focus on events, retreats, and social gatherings.
At a glance, this brief introduction shows what Chefdini is about, the kind of cuisines they specialize in, and who their audience is. Anyone who reads it can immediately get an idea of what to expect.
The business focus details how you’ll run your business, so anyone reading it will have a clear understanding of plans, goals, and priorities.
Information to include in your business focus are:
Dan Zarrella , an analytical marketing leader and author of four books on marketing once said:
“Marketing without data is like driving with your eyes closed.”
And how do you get this data? Through Market Research.
Market research is the process of gathering information to understand your target market better. As such, it’s a fundamental part of a business plan.
Under market research, you’ll find:
Your clients are the set of people who need your catering services and are most likely to pay for them.
To have any chance of making sales, you need to understand your ideal customers, their pain points, challenges, and how you can take them from point A to their desired point B.
So, any information related to the ideal clients like age, location, gender, income, interests, pain points, or goals would add value here.
The goal is to ensure you are not targeting the wrong audience, which would result in wasted efforts.
But when you narrow down your target audience, you will be better placed to tailor your offerings to fulfill their needs.
As I mentioned earlier, competition in the catering industry gets tougher each day, with more caterers and restaurants springing up. But this doesn’t mean there isn’t enough space in the sky for birds to fly.
However, it’s important to know how to stand out.
And one way to do this is to research your competitors to learn more about their strengths and weaknesses. This way, you’ll discover things that will give you an edge over them.
In addition, well-detailed research about the competition will help you make a realistic assessment of your chances of success in the industry.
Some of the things to add under competitor profiling are:
The word SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
A SWOT analysis is used to evaluate your business’s chances of success and develop a strategic plan. Here you analyze internal and external factors that may help scale your business or throw a wrench in your growth.
A comprehensive catering marketing strategy will be crucial to your success. After all, people will only patronize you if they know your business exists.
How do you plan to market your business? Where are you going to get catering clients from? Which channels do you plan to reach them? What’s your marketing budget?
All these are questions that need answers. So you must include your plans for marketing in your catering business plan. A solid marketing plan should contain:
Don’t forget we have sections in our free template to fill all essential marketing points listed above. Download it here if you haven’t.
Without a doubt, you need money to finance your catering business. But if you don’t have adequate financing, your business will struggle.
Because you’ll need to pay for space, pay your staff, pay for equipment and so on. All these require a sufficient amount of funds.
And if you plan to take online orders, investing in online ordering software is a no-brainer. This will help you:
So if you want to finance your catering business yourself, a financial plan helps you understand how much funds you need, where to cut expenses and what you need to do to become financially sustainable.
And if you plan to source funds through investors, it will provide them with enough information to determine whether they’ll get their return on investment.
Some of the things you need to include in your financial plan are:
Want to know what to fill in these sections? We’ve got you covered. Simply download and make a copy of our free template to fill all essential financial plans listed above.
This is where you add additional information that is referenced in the business plan.
It can include things like:
As you’ve seen, creating a business plan is not as difficult as it sounds.
It doesn’t matter whether you’ve started your business or you are just about to start. A catering business plan is crucial to the success of your business.
It helps you understand your business, your customers, and your competitors. Also, it gives you more insight into the catering industry, market trends, threats, and opportunities.
Another advantage of a business plan is the opportunity to set a budget aside for investing in important things that will contribute to your company’s growth.
For example, investing in commission-free catering software like HoneyCart helps you manage your catering operations without hiring more staff.
This levels the playing field for small business caterers, helps you save cost, and generate more revenue. Just as Abbey Duke, founder of SugarSnap Catering, realized when she switched to HoneyCart.
It automates mundane tasks to allow us to use our time as efficiently as possible. HoneyCart truly enables small caterers to compete with larger companies by having a really professional and easy-to-use online ordering system.
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Starting a catering business can be an incredibly rewarding venture, but it also requires careful planning and organization to ensure success. The key to a thriving catering company is a well-constructed catering business plan, outlining everything from your financial goals to your unique selling points. This comprehensive document serves as a roadmap to guide you through the process of starting and running your catering business, providing clarity and direction every step of the way.
In this blog post, we will walk you through the essential steps for creating a catering business plan, ensuring you have a solid foundation for your catering enterprise. From developing a menu that sets you apart from the competition to crafting a marketing strategy that gets your name in front of the right audience, our guide will help you turn your passion for food and service into a successful catering business. So, let's dive in and start building the blueprint for your catering success!
A catering business plan is a comprehensive document that outlines an upcoming catering venture's operational, financial, and marketing goals. It includes detailed plans for managing sales and expenses, a marketing strategy, customer service policies, and other important business components. The plan serves as a roadmap for starting and running a successful catering business.
A catering business plan should be comprehensive and cover all the key aspects of your business, from your target market and competition to your financial projections and marketing strategy. Here are the steps to help you create a catering business plan:
1. Write an Executive Summary
The executive summary should be a brief introduction to your catering business plan. It should summarize your company's goals, target market, financial projections, and unique selling points of your services. Keep it concise and compelling, as this section is often the first part investors or lenders will read.
2. Create a Company Overview
In the company overview section, describe your catering business in detail. Include your company name, restaurant mission statement , business structure, legal status, and ownership. This section should also provide a high-level view of your catering services and target market.
3. Develop Services and Menu Offerings
Provide a detailed description of the services you offer, including catering for weddings, corporate events, or private parties. Outline the types of cuisine you specialize in and provide a sample menu. Include any additional services your business provides, such as event planning, restaurant equipment rental, or wait staff . Discuss your pricing strategy and outline any special packages offered.
4. Design Branded Graphics
Create a consistent and professional visual identity for your catering business by designing branded graphics tailored for restaurant branding . This includes designing a logo, choosing color schemes, and selecting typography that reflects your brand's personality. These visual elements will be used on your website, social media, promotional materials, and other marketing channels to create a cohesive brand image specifically designed for the restaurant catering industry.
5. Conduct an Industry Analysis
Research the catering industry and identify trends, challenges, and opportunities. Analyze your target market and industry competition to understand your business's unique value proposition for restaurants . This analysis should also help you determine the most profitable catering services and event types.
6. Conduct a Customer Analysis
Understand your target customer base, including their demographics, preferences, and needs. This information will help you tailor your catering services and marketing strategy to effectively meet your customers' needs.
7. Analyze Your Competition
Identify your direct and indirect competitors and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. Analyze how your business can differentiate itself and establish a competitive advantage in the market.
8. Develop a Marketing Plan
Outline your marketing strategy, including advertising, social media, website, public relations, and partnerships. Describe your target audience, key messages, and tactics you will use to reach your customers and achieve your business objectives.
9. Create a Business Operations/Operations Plan
Outline how you will manage your catering business's day-to-day operations. Include information on your equipment, kitchen facilities, staff, inventory management , and food safety practices.
10. Build Your Team and Management Structure
Introduce your management team, their roles, and their relevant experience. Include any advisory board members or mentors. Describe your company's organizational structure and how it supports the execution of your business plan.
11. Forecast Your Sales and Operating Expenses
Provide sales projections for your catering business, including a breakdown of revenue streams and potential growth areas. Estimate your operating expenses , such as rent, utilities, labor, marketing, and supplies.
12. Create a Financial Plan
Include financial statements such as profit and loss, cash flow, and balance sheets. Develop a break even analysis to show when your business is expected to become profitable. Include any funding requirements and a plan for how you will secure capital.
13. Prepare an Appendix
Include any relevant supporting documents or additional information, such as licenses, permits, contracts, or legal documents that may be helpful to readers. Use this section to offer context and support for the data and claims presented in your business plan.
By following these steps, you can create a comprehensive and effective catering business plan that sets you up for success. Remember to review and update your plan regularly to adapt to changes in the market and your business's growth.
Here is an example of how a catering business plan might look like:
I. Executive Summary
Our catering business, 123xyz Catering, aims to provide exceptional culinary experiences for events ranging from intimate gatherings to large corporate functions. With our talented culinary team, diverse menu offerings, and focus on local and sustainable ingredients, we will quickly establish ourselves as a premier catering service in the industry. Our comprehensive business plan outlines our goals and strategies for success, highlighting our dedication to quality, customer satisfaction , and sustainability.
II. Company Overview
123xyz Catering is a full-service catering company based in [City, State]. Our mission is to create unforgettable events by exceeding our client’s expectations with innovative cuisine, exceptional service, and creative presentation. Our team of experienced chefs, event planners, and service staff work together to ensure a seamless and memorable experience for our clients and their guests.
III. Services and Menu
Our services include event planning, custom menu creation, and on-site food preparation and service for various events, such as weddings, corporate functions, and private parties. We offer diverse menu options, including appetizers, entrées, desserts , and beverages. Our cuisine ranges from traditional to exotic, focusing on incorporating fresh, locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible. We also accommodate special dietary needs and preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
IV. Branded Graphics
Our branding strategy emphasizes clean, modern design elements that convey our commitment to quality and innovation. We will invest in professional graphic design services to create a logo, website, and marketing materials that reflect our brand's values and style. Our visual identity will be consistent across all platforms, reinforcing our reputation as a reliable and sophisticated catering service.
V. Industry Analysis
The catering industry is expected to grow steadily, driven by increasing demand for high-quality food services at events and a growing emphasis on unique, memorable experiences. Our market research has identified several trends shaping the industry, such as increasing demand for sustainable and locally-sourced ingredients, as well as a growing interest in diverse and international cuisines. 123xyz Catering is well-positioned to capitalize on these trends and differentiate ourselves from competitors.
VI. Customer Analysis
Our target customers include corporate clients, private individuals, and non-profit organizations hosting events that require catering services. We will focus on serving clients in [City, State] and surrounding areas, with the potential to expand our reach as we grow. We will target customers who value high-quality, unique culinary experiences and are willing to pay a premium for our services.
VII. Competitive Analysis
We have identified several local catering companies as our primary competitors. Through our research, we have determined that we can differentiate ourselves by offering a more diverse and innovative menu, emphasizing sustainable and locally-sourced ingredients, and providing exceptional customer service. Our competitive analysis will guide our marketing strategies and help us position ourselves as a top choice for event catering services.
VIII. Marketing Plan
Our marketing strategy includes online and offline initiatives to generate brand awareness and attract new clients. Key components of our marketing plan include:
IX. Business Operations/Operations Plan
Our operations plan outlines the infrastructure and resources necessary to support our catering services. Key elements of our operations plan include:
X. Team and Management
Our team consists of passionate and experienced professionals, each bringing unique skills and expertise to the company. Key team members include:
XI. Sales Forecasts and Operating Expenses
Our sales forecast projects steady revenue growth as we establish our reputation and expand our client base. We expect to reach profitability within the first two years of operation. Operating expenses will include costs for food and beverage supplies, kitchen equipment and maintenance, labor, marketing, and general administrative expenses. We will continually monitor and adjust our financial projections as needed to ensure the business's long-term success.
XII. Financial Plan
Our financial plan outlines the necessary investments and financial management strategies to support our business operations and growth. Key elements of our financial plan include:
XIII. Appendix
The appendix contains additional information and resources to support the main sections of our business plan. This may include:
In conclusion, 123xyz Catering is poised to make a lasting impact in the catering industry. With our commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability, we will provide an exceptional culinary experience for our clients and their guests, setting the stage for long-term success and growth.
Starting a catering business requires careful planning and preparation. To ensure success, it is important to create a comprehensive business plan that outlines the goals and objectives of your venture, as well as how you intend to reach them. This section will answer frequently asked questions about creating a catering business plan, from what should be included to how profitable the industry can be.
A catering business typically includes event planning, menu creation, and food preparation. Depending on the size of the catering service, these services can also include staffing, equipment rental, and event coordination. Some catering businesses may also offer beverage services and party rentals.
A catering business's profitability heavily depends on several factors, including the quality of food, efficient marketing strategies, and operational costs. Catering businesses can enjoy generous profit margins, depending on how well they manage their operations.
To maximize profits, caterers must ensure that their food is of high quality, that they have an effective marketing strategy to reach potential customers and keep existing customers coming back, and that their operational costs are kept as low as possible. By doing these things, catering businesses can enjoy lucrative profits and remain competitive in the market.
Writing a business plan is essential for any business. It provides direction and clarity, helps to focus resources and efforts, and provides a framework for decision-making. A business plan helps you determine a business idea's viability, set goals and objectives, identify potential risks and opportunities, and manage the resources you have available. It is also essential for securing financing, as it provides potential investors and lenders with an understanding of your business.
Creating a catering business plan is an essential step towards starting a successful catering business. It is a detailed roadmap that outlines your business objectives, marketing strategies, financial projections, and operational plans.
By following the steps outlined above, you can create a comprehensive and effective plan that sets you up for success. Remember, your catering business plan is a living document that should be reviewed and updated regularly to adapt to changes in the market and your business's growth. Start your catering plan today and take the first step towards making your catering dream a reality.
One of the most important elements of starting a new catering business is to have a plan that lays out your plans, objectives, and activities that will be needed to get your business off the ground. Even if it is on the back of a napkin , a plan that outlines how you will get started and answers many questions for you and your investors is better than nothing at all. A catering business plan can save a great deal of wasted time and money. Using a catering business plan template guides the new business owner through the areas they need to address as they launch their new endeavor . Nothing is missed, and the template saves even more time for the busy entrepreneur.
This blog reviews what a catering business plan template is, what the important elements are that should be in every business plan and address several frequently asked questions many readers have.
A catering business plan provides an overview of a catering business that is already in operation or one that you plan to initiate. The plan looks to the future regarding expansion plans, goals and strategies, and operation plans. These goals and strategies are turned into actions that the business owner will need to execute to meet their objectives. For example, growing the business by 20% could mean adding ten employees, finding a larger building, obtaining financing to purchase more equipment, and developing a marketing plan to expand markets into other regions.
Using a catering business plan template saves you time and forces the business owner to think about and answer many detailed questions about their business plans, goals, and objectives. Using a template also means that you have a professional-looking document that will impress financiers you may need to secure funding for your expansion plans. Lenders look for specific details to be included in the business plan. Without this information, the likely hood of receiving approval for funding is low.
While using a catering business plan template saves time, developing a business plan takes a great deal of time and effort to gather all of the information and apply it to the business you want to create. Many people just want to get started with the business, which can lead to costly mistakes to be made and jeopardize the business’s success. A catering business plan properly developed using a template will save the business owner from making expensive mistakes and improve the opportunities for the business to be successful.
Creating a catering business plan in Word allows for easy formatting and editing. Loading your template in word gives you a quick base for adding the details of your business plan. Word lets you make quick changes, and save them easily. It is compatible with most text formats, and is a good choice for professional documents.
A food catering business plan should include all your start-up costs, and your plan for operating at a profit. Getting a business loan will require submitting a quality business plan. A template will show you everything to include. A clear, readable format will ensure that your business gives a professional impression.
Catering from home still requires a business plan to ensure you will operate properly. Using your homes resources for a business takes proper financial planning. Your appliances will wear out faster, and utilities will be higher. Including how to factor that into your costs and taxes will make running your business much easier.
The following are the essential elements of a catering business plan template. We will expand on each of these to provide more details.
The following are some of the frequently asked questions many of our readers have about catering business plan templates.
Business plans are extremely useful for several reasons: ᐅ Support applications for support from lenders ᐅ Planning operations, resource needs, and managing cash flow ᐅ Assessing the company’s profit margin ᐅ Setting objectives and milestones ᐅ Planning the growth of the company ᐅ Annual updates help keep your company on track
One of the reasons a catering business plan is useful to both operators and lenders is the prediction of the profit margin. The profit margin is the revenue minus expenses. Accountants can assist with the development of the predicted profit margin taking into account your predictions for sales, operating expenses, and depreciation on capital equipment. Lenders expect a positive profit margin in the first year of approximately seven to ten percent.
The food cost formula is the ratio of the cost of food ingredients vs. the revenue generated by these ingredients. Food costs must consider many factors, including the cost of the ingredients, storage, waste, inventory costs, and support costs such as napkins and garnishes. Food costs are sometimes focused on the cost of the ingredients only to determine the basic cost of a serving. Overhead costs such as storage, waste, employee, and building costs are added to this number to determine profit per meal.
A strategic plan for catering front ends the catering business plan. The strategic business plan for catering helps establish and answer questions about: ᐅ The size of the business at launch and the ability to grow ᐅ The type of catering – weddings, corporate, etc. ᐅ The location of operations and the area served ᐅ How the business will be managed? Strategic planning may include: ᐅ Market competition analysis, ᐅ Feasibility analysis ᐅ Operations analysis
The importance of a catering business plan cannot be understated. There are many advantages for the owner to develop a business plan and use it to guide his business development and growth. Is the business viable with the current plans, or do you need to make changes to elements of the business to give it a better chance of success? Will lenders loan you funds to help get the business started? When should the business expand? Which markets and what is the competitive environment in the area the business will operate in? These questions and more should be addressed in the catering business plan to help make the business successful. Using a catering business plan template saves time and guides new business owners through the topics they need to focus on as they launch their new catering business. Nothing is missed, and the template saves even more time for the busy entrepreneur. There is an advantage to reviewing the business plan at least once a year or sometimes more often to determine if changes need to be made, verify assumptions, and incorporate new facts learned during the year. These mid-course corrections can help ensure that your business reacts to a dynamic market environment. Update the catering business plan at a minimum annually and review the plan with key management personnel. Lenders may demand to see an updated plan. They want to have confidence that their money is being used wisely and that they will see a return on the investment they have made in your business. An updated catering business plan may be a condition of continuing support from lenders. Use the catering business plan as a tool to help your business adjust to changing markets, supply conditions, staffing, and competition. With a business plan, making adjustments to sales projections can tell you quickly what the impact will be on the bottom line. Similarly, with adjustments to the price of goods, staffing, salaries, rent, etc.
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Published Nov.11, 2016
Updated Apr.22, 2024
By: Brandi Marcene
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If you are planning to start a catering company, you need to have a professional catering business plan. OGS Capital can help you with that; we have a team of professional business personnel and writers who work with us on a daily basis to ensure that clients get customized plans for their business. We strive to make sure that we deliver the final copy of the business plans for catering companies to the customer on time, and this has so far helped us to get referrals and returning customers.
The quality of your catering company business plan will determine whether you will get capital from investors and financial institutions. Hence, it is important to make sure that every detail in the plan is factual and verifiable before presenting it to the investors or banks.
Here are four tips for writing a good business plan for your catering company.
Adhering to these four tips will help you to come up with business plans for catering companies that you will not be afraid to present and defend when pitching the business idea to the financial institution. Let us proceed and discuss the primary benefits of having an expertly written small catering business plan.
Every decision that you make will have a positive or negative impact on your catering business. It is, therefore, important to make sure that you consider all the plausible direct and indirect effects that a resolution may have on the enterprise before implementing it to avert regrets.
A good catering company business plan will act as a blueprint that will guide you through the decision-making process. Our team will work hard to make sure that each recommendation made is right for your business. Without a catering company business plan , rest assured that you would be prone to making hasty decisions that could plunge your business in deep financial crisis.
Unknown to most people is that a catering company business plan does not aim to discuss the business idea only. It goes an extra mile to provide precise details of how the funds will be spent at every stage of the business growth. For instance, it describes the total amount of money that will be used to acquisition equipment. Hence, it will be instrumental in helping you manage your funds correctly. Note that it only takes one financial mistake to compromise the financial stability of the business.
Transparency and proper management are the two primary virtues that set professional catering companies from their counterparts. Poor or lack of transparency results in losses and unnecessary disagreements. All this information will be included in the plan to not only increase your chances of getting funding but also to help you make informed managerial decisions.
The marketing teams need to have sales goals that they want to achieve after a given duration. Without these goals, they will be operating in a void, and you will also not be able to monitor their performance.
Our marketing professionals will not only help you to come up with a marketing strategy but also provide ideas on how you should set sales targets and objectives.
If you are looking for professional business plans for catering companies that will enable you to enjoy these four benefits, get in touch with us by filling this form. One of our customer care business consultants will get in touch with you to discuss our services in details.
Catering is a business in which you provide food to remote locations to serve people at parties, ceremonies, events, filming sites, and hospitals, etc. The service can sometimes also include the provision of furniture, tables, chairs, utensils, and crockery.
If you are a person who wants to start a business that holds minimum risks, takes a small team and a little investment, then catering is the right choice for you. Besides, another good thing about this business is that it starts yielding profits as soon as it is launched.
What you need to do is just ensure that you manage and market your business plans for catering companies properly. For that purpose, the first step to take is making a business plan for catering. If you need any help regarding how to start a catering business plan, you can have it from here. Here we are providing a business plan for a catering startup, Marlon Caterers.
2.1 the business.
Marlon Caterers will be a registered and licensed catering business in Atlanta. The business aims to help people celebrate their memorable events with an unforgettable dinner. Moreover, the business will also take care of the needs of patients in hospitals by offering them healthy and nutritious food according to their doctors’ advice.
The business will provide several types of catering such as buffet catering, sit-down catering, hospital catering, corporate catering, and more.
Management is a very important factor in the catering business. It’s only through efficient management that you can ensure
To maintain a good reputation among your customers, you must know all the difficulties and risks you can encounter. The risks may include budget disruptions due to sudden cancellation of orders, or any small/ large mistake during the business operations.
Before starting a catering business, you should study many catering business startup plans and then prepare a set up catering business plan for your business.
Our target customers belong to various niches. They will include the residential community, business organizations, film studios, government institutions, and hospitals.
In this how to start a catering company sample business plans for catering companies we are enlisting the business targets set by Marlon Caterers.
3.1 company owner.
Marlon Redford will be the owner of Marlon Caterers. Marlon has acquired a degree in Business Administration from McDonough School of Business. Marlon has been serving on a managerial post in New York’s top luxury wedding planner company, Colin Cowie for four years. But a few months back, he decided to quit the job and start his own business.
Marlon always wanted to have a career in which he could utilize his creative ideas to serve his community. He loved food and had an interest in cooking as well. So he decided to make a small team and start a business plans for catering companies .
The first step before starting a catering business is creating a description of catering business plan. Your catering company business plan should cover all aspects such as startup expenses, market analysis, sales strategy, personnel plan, and an extensive financial plan for your business.
In this catering company business plan example, we have listed the business strategy created by Marlon Caterers. Marlon devised his start a catering company business plan himself as he had adequate knowledge to do so. If you don’t know how to write a business plans for catering companies , you should either take help from this sample business plan for catering service. Or you should hire a professional person.
Marlon will rent a facility in Atlanta to set up his office there and keep the inventory. He will purchase luxurious crockery, flatware, tableware, chairs, tables, and sofas to host high-end events. To serve the other categories of target customers, inventory that comes in reasonable rates will also be acquired.
Besides, Marlon will hire the general staff, chefs, waiters, and some supervisors to help him run the business.
The start-up requirements, start-up expenses, total assets, funding, liabilities, planned investment, and other parameters for the successful launch of the business are given below.
Legal | $251,000 |
Consultants | $0 |
Insurance | $30,000 |
Rent | $28,000 |
Research and Development | $25,000 |
Expensed Equipment | $57,000 |
Signs | $5,400 |
Start-up Assets | $317,500 |
Cash Required | $348,000 |
Start-up Inventory | $55,000 |
Other Current Assets | $211,000 |
Long-term Assets | $227,000 |
Start-up Expenses to Fund | $396,400 |
Start-up Assets to Fund | $1,158,500 |
Assets | |
Non-cash Assets from Start-up | $1,531,000 |
Cash Requirements from Start-up | $364,000 |
Additional Cash Raised | $54,000 |
Cash Balance on Starting Date | $32,000 |
Liabilities and Capital | |
Liabilities | $28,000 |
Current Borrowing | $0 |
Long-term Liabilities | $0 |
Accounts Payable (Outstanding Bills) | $46,000 |
Other Current Liabilities (interest-free) | $0 |
Capital | |
Planned Investment | $1,554,900 |
Investor 1 | $0 |
Investor 2 | $0 |
Other | $0 |
Additional Investment Requirement | $0 |
Loss at Start-up (Start-up Expenses) | $352,100 |
Before you start a business plans for catering companies , you must identify the services you can provide under the catering domain. Including your services in your business plan about catering, can help you in acquiring the right licenses, required inventory, and relevant staff.
In this template of a catering business plan we are enlisting the services provided by Marlon Caterers.
We’ll offer on-premise and off-premise catering in the following categories.
In this catering, our waiters will lay out the food on individual tables. So, the guests will have to eat whatever is laid out on the plates for them.
In this type of serving we will serve the dishes and food in one place. The guests will have to prepare their plates themselves according to their needs and wants.
Our wedding or party dinner will be preceded by a cocktail hour. Our cocktail servings will include Manhattan cocktail, Daiquiri, Margarita, Bloody Mary, Mojito, and Hurricane.
We will supply food, snacks, and drinks to film studios, production sets, and shooting sites located near us. As the film crew works on a particular site on a weekly or monthly basis, so we’ll offer them various weekly and monthly packages.
We’ll offer fresh, healthy, and nutritious foods to hospitals for patients. Our nutrient-rich meals will help them recover fast.
If you are starting a business plan for catering companies , you should focus on doing accurate marketing analysis. Through market research, you can identify local trends and expectations. Besides, you can also select the most suitable location to launch your startup.
Marketing analysis should be completed before you create a business plans for catering companies. Because it will help you in recognizing your customers and setting your prices accordingly while also making sure that you are not running at a loss.
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The demand for the catering business has been high in the last few years. Due to a boost in average household income, more people had started utilizing private catering services to hold events. However, there is a slight problem these days. Due to the coronavirus pandemic mass gatherings aren’t allowed. So, your business might suffer a loss in the initial phases if you only provide catering for wedding ceremonies and parties. Marlon found the solution to this problem as he decided to offer hospital and film catering too.
Overall, business is surely profitable. According to First Research, catering industries in the U.S. make up above $11 billion in revenue on annual basis. More than 12000 catering industries are running in the U.S. Moreover, Statista also reports that the market size of this business has reached $12 billion in 2020.
Before you think how to write a business plan for a catering business, you should consider who will be your customers. Knowing your customers will enable you to devise customer-oriented pricing and sales strategy.
In this sample of business plans for catering companies , we have listed the market segmentation done by Marlon Caterers.
The detailed marketing segmentation of our target audience is as follows:
5.1.1 residential community.
The biggest consumer of our services will be the residents of Atlanta. They are expected to avail of our catering services whenever they host birthday or anniversary parties, gatherings, wedding ceremonies, etc.
The second category includes business organizations that will need our catering for their business meetups, events, and parties. They are also expected to contact us for arranging just a cocktail party as that contains light refreshments and drinks to boost the energy level of workers.
Moreover, film studios that happen to shoot in Atlanta will also be needing our services. This group usually spent weeks and months on a particular site and thus need catering service continuously for days. So to compel them to hire us, we’ll offer them various weekly and monthly packages.
The last category of our target customers include hospitals based in Atlanta. They are expected to contact us for making nutritious and healthy plated foods for patients.
Potential Customers | Growth | ||||||
Residential Community | 34% | 34,000 | 35,000 | 38,000 | 40,000 | 43,000 | 10.00% |
Corporates & Film Producers | 39% | 37,000 | 38,000 | 39,000 | 40,000 | 41,000 | 10.00% |
Hospitals | 27% | 26,000 | 27,000 | 28,000 | 30,000 | 31,000 | 11.00% |
10% |
Our business plans for catering companies targets to be achieved within a specified time are listed below
Our prices are almost within the same range as that of our competitors. However, we’ll be offering several discounts on our initial stage to attract as many customers as possible.
Sales strategy is also an important component of a catering business plan proposal. Through this, you can reach your qualified customers and make them comprehend that you are better than all your competitors. To give you an idea of what to include in sales strategy, we are providing the sales strategy of Marlon Caterers in this example of marketing plan for a catering business.
Our biggest competitive advantage lies in our customer service. We are highly customer-oriented and are always willing to go the extra mile to satisfy our customers. Secondly, we have developed a user-friendly mobile app that will allow our customers to
Third, we provide on-premise catering in which we prepare the food on site. This will be a competitive edge for us as just two to three competitors are offering it.
Unit Sales | |||
Sit-down Catering/ Buffet Catering | 42,000 | 44,520 | 47,191 |
Cocktail Reception | 29,000 | 30,740 | 32,584 |
Snacks For Film Production Sites | 28,000 | 29,680 | 31,461 |
Hospital Catering | 30,000 | 31,800 | 33,708 |
Unit Prices | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
Sit-down Catering/ Buffet Catering | $56.00 | $64.96 | $75.35 |
Cocktail Reception | $52.00 | $60.32 | $69.97 |
Snacks For Film Production Sites | $42.00 | $48.72 | $56.52 |
Hospital Catering | $39.00 | $45.24 | $52.48 |
Sales | |||
Direct Unit Costs | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
Sit-down Catering/ Buffet Catering | $54.00 | $60.00 | $71.00 |
Cocktail Reception | $47.00 | $57.00 | $65.00 |
Snacks For Film Production Sites | $38.00 | $45.00 | $51.00 |
Hospital Catering | $36.00 | $41.00 | $47.00 |
Direct Cost of Sales | |||
While writing business plans for catering companies you should also create a list of your required employees along with their job responsibilities.
Marlon will manage the business himself. However, he will hire the following people
Quality Manager | $13,000 | $14,300 | $15,730 |
Inventory Manager | $12,000 | $13,200 | $14,520 |
Accountant | $10,000 | $11,000 | $12,100 |
Sales Executives | $18,000 | $19,800 | $21,780 |
Catering Chefs | $48,000 | $52,800 | $58,080 |
Waiters | $24,000 | $26,400 | $29,040 |
General Assistants | $15,000 | $16,500 | $18,150 |
Drivers | $13,000 | $14,300 | $15,730 |
Front Desk Officer | $7,000 | $7,700 | $8,470 |
Web Developer | $8,000 | $8,800 | $9,680 |
As you make a catering business plan, you should also start analyzing your finances. Crafting a financial plan is an absolute need for a business as it maps the ways to minimize or even avoid loss. A good financial plan comprises a strategy to cover startup expenses with earned profits. Moreover, it also proposes a systematic approach to managing employees’ salaries, cost of business operations, and costs to cater for unexpected events.
To give you an idea of how a financial plan should look like, we are giving here the financial plan of Marlon Caterers.
Plan Month | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Current Interest Rate | 8.13% | 8.18% | 8.25% |
Long-term Interest Rate | 8.30% | 8.39% | 8.46% |
Tax Rate | 23.05% | 24.67% | 25.90% |
Other | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Monthly Units Break-even | 5360 |
Monthly Revenue Break-even | $134,800 |
Assumptions: | |
Average Per-Unit Revenue | $239.00 |
Average Per-Unit Variable Cost | $0.64 |
Estimated Monthly Fixed Cost | $162,300 |
Other | $0 | $0 | $0 |
TOTAL COST OF SALES | |||
Expenses | |||
Payroll | $168,000 | $184,800 | $203,280 |
Sales and Marketing and Other Expenses | $130,000 | $132,000 | $135,000 |
Depreciation | $2,200 | $2,280 | $2,350 |
Leased Equipment | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Utilities | $3,200 | $3,300 | $3,400 |
Insurance | $1,700 | $1,800 | $1,900 |
Rent | $3,300 | $3,400 | $3,510 |
Payroll Taxes | $37,000 | $38,000 | $40,000 |
Other | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Profit Before Interest and Taxes | $85,600 | $202,538 | $336,174 |
EBITDA | $85,600 | $202,538 | $336,174 |
Interest Expense | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Taxes Incurred | $17,120 | $40,508 | $67,235 |
Net Profit | $68,480 | $162,030 | $268,939 |
Net Profit/Sales | 1.10% | 2.12% | 2.87% |
Cash Received | |||
Cash from Operations | |||
Cash Sales | $56,000 | $60,480 | $65,318 |
Cash from Receivables | $17,000 | $18,360 | $19,829 |
SUBTOTAL CASH FROM OPERATIONS | |||
Additional Cash Received | |||
Sales Tax, VAT, HST/GST Received | $0 | $0 | $0 |
New Current Borrowing | $0 | $0 | $0 |
New Other Liabilities (interest-free) | $0 | $0 | $0 |
New Long-term Liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Sales of Other Current Assets | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Sales of Long-term Assets | $0 | $0 | $0 |
New Investment Received | $0 | $0 | $0 |
SUBTOTAL CASH RECEIVED | |||
Expenditures | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
Expenditures from Operations | |||
Cash Spending | $35,000 | $37,000 | $39,000 |
Bill Payments | $19,000 | $19,600 | $20,000 |
SUBTOTAL SPENT ON OPERATIONS | |||
Additional Cash Spent | |||
Sales Tax, VAT, HST/GST Paid Out | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Principal Repayment of Current Borrowing | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Other Liabilities Principal Repayment | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Long-term Liabilities Principal Repayment | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Purchase Other Current Assets | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Purchase Long-term Assets | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Dividends | $0 | $0 | $0 |
SUBTOTAL CASH SPENT | |||
Net Cash Flow | $14,000 | $15,000 | $16,000 |
Cash Balance | $24,000 | $25,400 | $27,800 |
Assets | |||
Current Assets | |||
Cash | $279,000 | $312,480 | $343,728 |
Accounts Receivable | $25,000 | $28,000 | $31,472 |
Inventory | $5,300 | $5,936 | $6,678 |
Other Current Assets | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS | |||
Long-term Assets | |||
Long-term Assets | $10,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 |
Accumulated Depreciation | $18,700 | $20,944 | $23,562 |
TOTAL LONG-TERM ASSETS | |||
TOTAL ASSETS | |||
Liabilities and Capital | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
Current Liabilities | |||
Accounts Payable | $18,000 | $20,160 | $22,660 |
Current Borrowing | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Other Current Liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 |
SUBTOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES | |||
Long-term Liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 |
TOTAL LIABILITIES | |||
Paid-in Capital | $30,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 |
Retained Earnings | $56,300 | $61,367 | $67,504 |
Earnings | $195,000 | $212,550 | $233,805 |
TOTAL CAPITAL | |||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL | |||
Net Worth | $268,000 | $292,120 | $321,332 |
Sales Growth | 7.31% | 8.10% | 8.97% | 3.00% |
Percent of Total Assets | ||||
Accounts Receivable | 9.35% | 10.36% | 11.48% | 9.80% |
Inventory | 5.38% | 5.96% | 6.60% | 9.90% |
Other Current Assets | 2.43% | 2.69% | 2.98% | 2.40% |
Total Current Assets | 150.00% | 152.00% | 152.00% | 158.00% |
Long-term Assets | 11.98% | 12.07% | 12.10% | 12.00% |
TOTAL ASSETS | ||||
Current Liabilities | 4.66% | 4.70% | 4.74% | 4.34% |
Long-term Liabilities | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Total Liabilities | 7.31% | 7.37% | 7.44% | 7.38% |
NET WORTH | ||||
Percent of Sales | ||||
Sales | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Gross Margin | 93.90% | 96.44% | 99.14% | 99.00% |
Selling, General & Administrative Expenses | 93.20% | 95.72% | 98.40% | 97.80% |
Advertising Expenses | 1.60% | 1.64% | 1.69% | 1.40% |
Profit Before Interest and Taxes | 42.00% | 43.13% | 44.34% | 33.90% |
Main Ratios | ||||
Current | 35 | 37 | 38.75 | 32 |
Quick | 33 | 36 | 36.9 | 33 |
Total Debt to Total Assets | 0.22% | 0.18% | 0.17% | 0.40% |
Pre-tax Return on Net Worth | 76.00% | 76.40% | 77.12% | 75.00% |
Pre-tax Return on Assets | 92.18% | 96.79% | 101.63% | 111.30% |
Additional Ratios | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
Net Profit Margin | 33.40% | 34.44% | 35.50% | N.A. |
Return on Equity | 55.20% | 56.91% | 58.68% | N.A. |
Activity Ratios | ||||
Accounts Receivable Turnover | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.9 | N.A. |
Collection Days | 100 | 100 | 100 | N.A. |
Inventory Turnover | 32 | 33.6 | 35.28 | N.A. |
Accounts Payable Turnover | 16.3 | 16.4 | 16.6 | N.A. |
Payment Days | 27 | 27 | 27 | N.A. |
Total Asset Turnover | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.7 | N.A. |
Debt Ratios | ||||
Debt to Net Worth | -0.03 | -0.04 | -0.04 | N.A. |
Current Liab. to Liab. | 1 | 1 | 1 | N.A. |
Liquidity Ratios | ||||
Net Working Capital | $237,650 | $250,958 | $265,012 | N.A. |
Interest Coverage | 0 | 0 | 0 | N.A. |
Additional Ratios | ||||
Assets to Sales | 0.85 | 0.87 | 0.89 | N.A. |
Current Debt/Total Assets | 1% | 1% | 0% | N.A. |
Acid Test | 28 | 29.1 | 30.5 | N.A. |
Sales/Net Worth | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.4 | N.A. |
Dividend Payout | 0 | 0 | 0 | N.A. |
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Selling food as part of a catering service can turn into a profitable business entity and a business model that can bring home substantial revenue.
In the UK, the catering industry is valued at £1.6 billion in 2024 . At the same time, forecasts suggest that the number of catering businesses will continue increasing, making this business structure even more attractive in the future.
If you’re planning to start offering catering services and hope to turn this venture into a successful business, you’ll need a bullet-proof strategy.
In the following sections, we offer a step-by-step guide on how to start a catering business. From choosing your business name to reaching potential customers via a catering van or a home-based catering business, we share everything you need to know.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Business planning, legal compliance, location setup, menu creation.
Financial management.
Starting your own business, regardless of whether it’s related to a catering operation or another industry, always starts with choosing a specific niche . Selecting a niche can help you gain a competitive edge over other catering companies and can make it easier to reach potential customers.
In the home catering business, there are several core niches you can explore. As a small business, it can be extremely difficult to cover all niches. This is because you’re likely to be limited in personal assets in your catering company.
However, as your food business gains popularity and you grow (both in terms of customers but also employees and other assets) you can afford to cater to multiple niches all at once.
Based on your available resources and areas of expertise, you can select from some of the following niches:
Keep in mind that these can be split into two main categories – private and corporate .
Of course, each and every one of these niches is broad and consists of smaller, more narrow market segments. For instance, if you’re interested in wedding catering, you can specialise in wedding cakes or you can completely focus on providing wedding snacks and quick bites.
The right decision will be based on your market research . Which segments are most and least competitive? Which ones are easiest to tap into, and what types of food safety qualifications will you need? Most importantly, which types of catering services have the highest demand?
Answering these questions will help you choose the right and most profitable path, ensuring that your business grows over time.
Once you’ve selected your niche, you can also think about the catering service styles you’ll be targeting. For example, large, sit-down events can have buffet-style catering, a wave service, a drop-off, or a full service.
Each one of these styles comes with its own peculiarities and characteristics. For example, buffets are extremely demanding as they feature a variety of hot and cold foods that need to be maintained on the spot, while a drop-off means that the food is pre-cooked and simply dropped off at the location.
Before you can turn your catering business dreams into reality, you’ll need a reliable business plan. The planning process can vary from individual to individual. However, there are some fundamental components to take into account.
First, it’s key to conduct market research . Gather data on your local market and try to understand consumer preferences when it comes to catering. What are people interested in? How much are they spending on catering? Do they prefer to work with specific types of catering companies over others and why?
There are plenty of different approaches you can use to collect this information. You can rely on free tools like Google and other search engines to discover publicly available statistics, research documents, and insights . In addition, you can utilise paid keyword research tools to figure out what people in your area are searching for most in relation to catering.
This can help you get to know your potential customers better and best of all – understand how to communicate with them effectively in order to secure sales.
During your business planning phase, you can brainstorm ideas for a business name and business structure , identify your competitors, target audience, potential products to offer, pricing, marketing, and more.
When selecting your business name, make sure that it hasn’t been taken by another company.
Once you’ve laid out the basics of your catering company as part of the planning stage, it’s time to consider legal compliance.
Running a successful catering business is more about your food menu and marketing. It’s also about registering as a limited company or sole trader, complying with food safety laws, having a proper business licence , and more.
If you plan to operate a solo operation, you’ll need to register a sole proprietorship . On the other hand, if you plan to hire employees, you’ll have to register a limited company.
Next, check with your local authority and local health department about the food and safety laws that you’ll need to abide by . You can request that an expert from your local council visit your catering premises for an inspection, consulting you on the improvements and upgrades that need to be made.
In most cases, the main areas of concern will be food hygiene, ability to clean all the equipment in your kitchen, safety , and others.
Keep in mind that catering businesses in the UK should become familiar with the General Food Law requirements that they’ll need to comply with as professional caterers. You can find out more about these by reading more about the Food Standards Agency guidelines.
Let’s not forget that starting a catering business requires buying equipment and investing in your commercial kitchen. Of course, the necessary equipment in your kitchen will vary depending on the type of food you plan to prepare and serve.
Usually, the must-have assets include refrigerators and freezers for food storage, cooking tools and instruments, and food preparation equipment.
Some of the equipment and assets you’ll need include:
You’ll probably also need a sink and a washing machine, depending on how busy you plan to get.
Although you might be tempted to go all-in and invest a lot of financial resources into expensive catering equipment and furnish your kitchen from A to Z, don’t make any rash decisions.
Carefully plan your budget and purchase the equipment that you’ll need to get your business up and running. At the same time, don’t try to cut costs by buying cheap and low-quality assets as this can turn out to be costly in the long term.
As your catering business grows and evolves, chances are that you’ll need to make additional investments in equipment.
After you’ve acquired your catering kitchen equipment, you’re ready to set up the initial outlay of your premises.
Keep in mind that the equipment and machinery you’ll be working with are more advanced compared to that of the standard home kitchen. This means that you’ll need to carefully plan each asset’s allocation in order to ensure that you can achieve maximum efficiency in your cooking space.
Before making any physical changes to your food preparation zone, make sure that you’ve created a detailed plan of where everything needs to go. Organise your storage area in a way that guarantees ingredients, supplies, and equipment are adequately arranged and properly stored.
Next, it’s time to consider your catering business’ menu. What will you be offering to your customers? This is a fundamental part of preparing your business in a way that will grab the attention of potential customers, generating revenue.
When it comes to menu creation, the first and most vital part is identifying your target audience and its preferences. You should already have this information available as part of your business planning and market research step. Also, make sure that you’ve researched your competitors , gaining insights into the type of products they offer as part of their catering.
Where possible, choose a theme or cuisine that reflects your business identity and appeals to your target audience. For example, this could be organic food, ethnic food, gourmet dishes, vegan-inspired treats, or others.
It’s highly advisable to have a balanced menu, featuring appetisers, main courses, side dishes, and desserts . This will allow you to be perceived as the go-to catering solution for any occasion, eliminating the need to hire other businesses that you’ll have to split earnings with.
Last but not least, make sure you properly define portion sizes based on the event types you’ll be catering for. For example, a corporate meeting might require lighter fare, while weddings will probably demand more substantial meals.
When crafting your menu, don’t forget to provide as much information as possible on the types of ingredients you use, preparation methods, and others. Also, visual appeal sells best, so make sure that you have professional photos of your dishes .
The main mission of any catering business is to offer great prices to their customers, guaranteeing bookings. However, in order to achieve this, it’s key to have a clear understanding of your food costs, labour costs, and any other overhead costs that you might accumulate as part of the catering process.
Make sure that you’re not underselling your services just to please the crowd. This is especially important for small businesses that heavily rely on a stable cash flow in order to survive. Once you gain more experience and you stabilise your finances, you can afford to offer more significant discounts that won’t affect your business in the short or long term.
When setting prices, don’t forget to analyse what others in your niche are doing. You don’t want to undersell or oversell as this can put you in a disadvantageous position compared to others.
No matter whether you’re striving to win new customers or secure repeat business, the best way to do so is through proven marketing techniques.
Running your own catering business inevitably means investing time, effort, and resources into promoting your business and your services .
There are several ways to do so.
In today’s highly connected and digital landscape, businesses are actively targeting consumers online. The catering industry is no exception.
As a catering business owner, you can take advantage of some or all of the following online marketing strategies:
Online marketing can be a low-cost way to appeal to your local audience and gain interest from potential clients. However, if you plan to rely on more advanced and sophisticated marketing strategies, you may also need to prepare for a more substantial investment.
While online marketing can work wonders, there are also plenty of offline channels to explore.
For example, you can attend industry events like trade shows, food festivals, and wedding fairs where you can network with others who are indirectly part of the industry. You can use this opportunity to promote your services and network with potential clients.
Another intelligent way to popularise your catering business is to partner with local businesses. For example, establish partnerships with local event planners, venues, DJs, florists, and photographers . This can help you get referrals, enabling people to easily find you.
Another essential part to concentrate on when starting your catering business is hiring the right catering staff.
The people that represent your business can make or break your image. This is why it’s vital that you work with inspired, motivated, and dedicated individuals who can help you build your brand from the ground up.
Throughout your hiring process, make sure that you are fully aware of the number of employees you need and clearly define their roles and responsibilities. Decide on the qualifications and experience they’ll need to be considered a good fit for the role. For instance, you may assess them based on their certifications, catering experience, or other skills.
After you’ve outlined all the details about the positions, use recruitment channels and social media platforms to notify your area about the opportunity. Post job openings on job boards, like Glassdoor, Indeed, and others. It might also be helpful to take advantage of industry-specific sites and local community boards.
If you’ve identified a potential person for the role, don’t forget to check references, conduct thorough interviews, and even perform skill assessment where necessary.
Starting a catering business in a crowded market is a challenge that usually demands an innovative approach and precise execution. In such a competitive environment, tech integrations can certainly make a difference.
For example, consider investing in automated ordering systems that can help simplify the ordering process. This can make booking your company for an event easier for you and the client. In addition, it can eliminate the need to hire employees to handle this specific part of the business, leading to opportunities to save money.
As you grow, you might also find inventory management software a must. Such a solution can help you keep costs down and guarantee that you have all the necessary ingredients available. Via such software, you can track stock levels, expiration dates, and even make forecasts about reordering.
Moreover, you can utilise an online menu and ordering systems to make orders more convenient for clients.
When discussing marketing, we mentioned the importance of networking for starting and growing your catering business. Networking is extremely powerful for several reasons.
First, it enables you to communicate with other businesses that are part of the wider niche you’ve positioned yourself in. This can help you learn more about the market, identify gaps, and source new opportunities.
Second, networking can expose you to the ability to form valuable partnerships that can lead to mutual gains for you and other local businesses. For instance, imagine being recommended by one of the most renowned photographers in your area for an upcoming celebrity wedding. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity can open the doors to new and exciting potential for your catering business.
Third, forming such partnerships can quickly build trust among your target audience . After all, you can leverage the authority of your partners to make a name for yourself. Of course, in order to achieve this, you’ll also need to back up recommendations with outstanding quality and attention to detail.
Last but not least, when it comes to how to start a catering business, there are certain financial implications worth having in mind.
For starters, it’s key to estimate your startup costs. For example, the final upfront cost includes kitchen appliances, catering utensils, catering vans, licensing and permits, rental costs, marketing and branding, insurance , and more.
You’ll also need to factor in operating costs . These feature the expenses that you use to pay people, and the costs incurred for things like raw ingredients, beverages, supplies, serving equipment, and others.
Don’t forget that you’ll also be accumulating business tax that you need to be prepared for. Proper tax planning is crucial for financial management. To make sure you’re properly prepared, register for the necessary tax identification numbers and for VAT if applicable.
Ensure that you always keep detailed records of all tax transactions and expenses in order to prevent legal disputes and be able to plan your payments accordingly.
In addition to managing costs and taxes, it’s essential to establish a reliable system for accepting payments. Offering a variety of payment methods can make transactions smoother and more convenient for your customers.
Consider accepting credit and debit cards through a mobile point-of-sale (POS) system , which allows you to process payments on the go.
For corporate clients, consider providing options for direct bank transfers or checks . Offering flexible payment options can work well for customer satisfaction and improve cash flow management for your catering business.
By implementing these steps on how to start a catering business, you can turn your catering dreams into reality and unlock the potential of this lucrative market.
With forecasts revealing that this market is expected to continue growing in the future, entering the niche makes sense for entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts with a flair for cooking.
Is starting a catering business expensive.
No, starting a catering business is not considered extremely expensive, especially when compared to other business ventures. However, the initial investments you’ll need to make depend on the size and scope of your business.
Necessary licences and permits for a catering business vary by location but generally include a business licence, food handler’s permit, and health department permits. Chances are that you’ll also need a food service establishment licence if operating from a commercial kitchen. Make sure to ask your local health department and business regulatory agencies about the licences and permits you’ll need.
Successful caterers usually have outstanding organisational skills, a strong understanding of food safety, and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. It’s also helpful to have a creative and appealing menu and presentation, combined with attractive prices that are neither too high nor too low.
Desi Tzoneva
Tips / 21.08.2024
What is a prepayment and how it works.
Tony Sekulich
20 min. read
Updated July 3, 2024
Free Download: Sample Catering Business Plan Template
Do you find the process of shopping and chopping, sautéing and flambéing for large groups of people rewarding and fulfilling? Would you rather die than serve a salad that is topped with anything other your homemade vinaigrette dressing? Are people constantly asking you to cook for their next gathering?
If any of this sounds familiar, you’ve probably at least toyed with the idea of starting a catering business. It’s a thriving industry which can be scaled and tailored to whatever best suits your skills and situation. This article is intended to serve as a step-by-step guide to show you how to get started.
To supplement this guide, I interviewed two seasoned veterans of the catering business:
Jean-Marc Fontaine is a French-trained chef, event planner, and sommelier who now serves as the Catering Sales and Events Consultant for Urban Source Creative Catering in the heart of downtown Toronto, Canada. Warren Dietel is the Owner and President of Puff ‘N Stuff , a full-service wedding, corporate, and holiday event caterer and planner serving the greater Orlando area and all of central Florida.
In the United States alone, the catering industry is an $11 billion juggernaut and growing every year—more than 4.5 percent between 2014 and 2019.
An industry report shows that in 2012, the average costs for the foodservice at a wedding reception in the United States was to $3,579 U.S.; wedding planning website The Knot surveyed their users and found that in 2017, the average cost was $6,528, or $70 per guest. Wedding Wire says the average cost is about $4,000, but most couples spend between $1,800 and $7,000. Not surprisingly, the largest market segment that supports the catering business is households earning at least six figures. In 2015, of households with a combined income of 100,000 U.S. dollars or more, 5.4 percent spent $500 to $999 U.S. on catered events outside the home.
Though there are major players in the catering industry, there are a lot of reasons why it’s appealing to entrepreneurs: Unlike most other sectors, the industry is highly fragmented, meaning there is no single corporate entity dominating the market share.
This means there’s room for everyone who has some skill and hustle. Large companies can leverage their ability to scale to any size event and cover multiple events at the same time; smaller outfits can push their personal touch for a competitive edge.
There’s no shortcut to determining if you are just a “weekend warrior” dazzling your friends and colleagues in your own home or someone who is a great candidate to branch out and start their own catering business. Jean-Marc Fontaine says to find success, people need to spark that burning desire from within.
“I really have a passion for food and entertaining and the reason I’m still doing this job today is because I am passionate about the food industry,” he says. “It’s a very special area, it’s not like an office job, it’s more like art—you have to really love it.”
Jean-Marc believes this passion is necessary because almost everyone who enters the foodservice industry greatly underestimates the amount of time, effort, and expense it requires to be successful. This is a lesson he has learned personally.
“Many years ago when I was in France, my brother (also a chef) and I opened a small restaurant together—30 seats so not a big operation. It was just his wife serving and we had someone helping in the kitchen. We knew it would be a lot of work; we didn’t know we’d be working literally 18 hours a day, seven days a week. So many things to think about, not just food prep but cleaning and overhead, you need equipment, you need a vehicle which means expenses for gas and parking. If you don’t anticipate all the expenses and overhead charges, it can be overwhelming,” he says.
Warren Dietel also cautions anyone thinking of entering the business against getting swept up in the glamorous portrayal they may have seen on television, as the reality of the industry is altogether different.
“Catering is not for the faint of heart, this is a hard business,” he explains. “You can’t get into this thinking this is what you see on the Food Network. I think the cooking networks have done a fabulous job of showcasing the glamorous side of what the foodservice and special event industry is, but at the end of the day, it takes hard work, grit, and determination to be successful.”
If you are driven by that burning desire to start a catering business and are prepared for the work and accompanying expenses, the catering industry will offer some distinct advantages over starting a traditional sit-down restaurant. Before you get started, take this quiz to help you think about what it takes to start your own business.
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Caterers know exactly how many people they are expected to serve. That means you can buy only what is absolutely necessary and reduce the expense of food waste. A traditional restaurant may be prepared to serve 150 people on any given night, even if only 30 walk through the door.
Since most small catering operations only need their equipment for a few days each week, it makes more sense to rent it for only the times they will be in use. This expense is factored into the overall job quote. That means, unlike the new restaurateur, the caterer does not have to deal with a staggering amount of overhead right out of the gate.
Most catered events are buffet style, which means the catering company can get by with two or three servers for a party of over one hundred guests, whereas that same guest list in a restaurant would require at least eight to ten paid serving staff.
You’ve seen the advantages, you know what’s in store, and you’ve decided you will forge ahead and start a catering business.
Before you lease space and start advertising, there are some “test drives” you should do first. These are things that can give you a better sense of the professional landscape and either confirm or challenge your commitment to moving ahead.
As obvious as it may seem, there is no better way to prepare yourself for the realities of making it on your own. You will get a master class in everything that goes into running a successful (or not so successful) catering business.
It will also show if you have the one trait Jean-Marc believes any caterer must have to make it in the business:
“I know it sounds a little cliché, but you always have to keep a positive approach because there are so many factors that can be stressful,” he says. “A lot of things can go wrong from the get-go. It could be accidental food poisoning or the delivery van could have an accident on the way to an event. No matter what happens, you always have to have a positive approach.”
For any prospective caterer, the ability to multi-task is just as important as the ability to prepare mouth-watering dishes. The most delicious food in the world will not save an event that is an organizational train wreck.
The experience you gain from helping to plan fundraising events for your favorite charities or church functions could reap huge benefits further down the line.
This is a very common training ground for many eventual caterers.
By working as a personal chef, you not only hone your skills in the kitchen, but you can also develop a client base and begin networking, which will be very beneficial when you transition to catering.
When you’re finally ready to make a go of it and launch your catering business, the first thing you have to do is determine what makes your business unique. One way to describe this is your unique value proposition , or UVP. In a nutshell, your UVP covers: how your catering service works, what makes it valuable and unique, and why it’s better than the rest.
When you’re first starting out, you will likely be a very small operation and that makes it especially important to establish your niche in the marketplace. Large corporate events like Jean-Marc’s Urban Source Creative Catering can scale up or down depending on the order. They can be a large one size fits all operation that can be, in many ways, everything to everyone.
“A couple of weeks ago I was planning a corporate lunch for executives for one day and the next day, it was a birthday party for a five-year-old girl,” he says. “We’re flexible enough to adapt the menu to the needs and preferences of the client.”
With that in mind, it’s very unlikely you will have the same capability. Most businesses benefit from identifying their target market —and it probably won’t be everyone who needs to eat, from five-year-olds to corporate executives.
So here are some things you can do to narrow the focus of what your catering business is all about.
This is essentially determining what the DNA of your catering business will be.
What’s your most identifiable and unique business trait? Are you a target-based caterer, meaning you specialize in certain events like weddings, corporate lunches, or social fundraising events? Or are you a cuisine-based company that specializes in vegan and vegetarian dishes, Southeast Asian food, or catering for some of the more common food allergies and restrictions?
Maybe you decided that you are going to be the premier vegan and vegetarian caterer in your city. You’re going to want to find out how many other businesses out there are trying to service that same market. You need to know who else is serving your same target customers in your area. Putting together a simple competitive matrix can help you see where you and your competitors overlap, and where you stand out.
Practically every business has competition . If there aren’t any other caterers serving your style of food in your area, don’t make the mistake of thinking that you don’t have competition. Find out how your target customers are getting their needs met already. What do they do when they want to serve 30 of their friends a huge meal? How do they make it happen? Make it your business to find out.
You may be in trouble before you begin if your chosen niche is already oversaturated in the market. So, find out who has been successful locally and why. What are people saying about them? Why do they get repeat business? The answers to these questions will help you guide and shape you’re growing catering business.
If you’ve done some market research and thought about competition, it’s time to start thinking about putting together your business plan . You’ll need a formal business plan if you plan to seek a bank loan or investor funding. Check out a free sample catering business plan in the Bplans sample business plan library to give you some insight on what to include.
If you’re not planning on seeking funding, consider putting together a Lean Business Plan instead. It’s shorter by design, and it will help you make sure you’ve thought through all the critical aspects of your business.
A caterer does many things and must wear many hats, all at the same time. But, nothing is more central to the core identity of the business than the menu .
Your service and presentation must be impeccable, but it is the food that will keep customers coming back and offering referrals to their friends and associates. For many, it is the single defining aspect of a catering business.
Here are some things to consider when putting together your catering menu.
The larger corporate catering firms which often target large and expensive executive lunches can scale their operation up or down to meet any food request presented to them. Starting out, your focus will have to be more narrow, partly because for budgetary reasons and partly because that will help you create an identity.
By targeting your menu to what you do best, you put yourself in a better position to deliver a top-quality product to your client. This is something Warren Dietel believes is crucially important for new caterers.
“Know your limitations and always try to undersell and over-deliver,” he advises. “You don’t want to promise something that you can’t deliver upon.”
Food is no different from fashion, architecture, or technology in that it is nearly impossible to stay on top of all the current trends.
The advent of food and cooking television networks over the past 10 years has given rise to self-proclaimed “foodies” who are very specific about what they consume, and this is the biggest change Jean-Marc has seen in the industry in the last five years.
“We are seeing a big demand for gluten-free items these days, but it’s always changing,” he says. “Up to a couple of years ago, it was all about cupcakes, everybody had to have cupcakes. You would see cupcake shops spring up all over the place, but now that’s fading away and now we’re in the macaron phase. Everyone now wants macarons for their parties.”
It would seem keeping current has never been more important in the foodservice industry. Consider joining a food service organization or other professional group with a mission of helping food businesses succeed to help you keep your ear to the ground.
Like most other goods or services, catering businesses range from the very affordable to quite expensive. You’ll need to determine where in that spectrum your business is situated.
If you are going for high-end clients like corporate lunches or expensive wedding parties, you will need to price your meals and services accordingly. Or perhaps you’ve decided to make catering affordable to those who would normally not consider it, and so you’re going to offer delicious catered meals at a lower price.
In either case, how successful you are in your targeted market is going to depend in large part on determining the right price point.
The other side of this is putting together a sales forecast. Once you have a sense of what your price point will be, and what your materials and other overhead costs will be, put together a simple sales forecast to help you model different scenarios.
This may seem self-explanatory, but there is no faster way to put yourself out of business than by delivering amazing dishes that cost more to produce than what you are receiving from the client. Be sure to factor in all food preparation costs when deciding what you will put on your menu.
Before you can place that first order and take that first piping hot tray out of the oven, you will have to clear some logistical hurdles to get your business operational. To work through this next step, you will have to wear the hat of a shrewd CEO and CFO.
Perhaps the biggest difference between the catering and restaurant industries is that the restaurant mantra “location, location, location” does not really apply as much when it comes to starting a catering business.
Jean-Marc believes what is most important in choosing a location is what amenities are available rather than what part of the city you are situated in.
“I don’t think it really matters where you are located,” he says. “What is important is to have plenty of preparation and storage space. We have office space plus a basement for storage with walk-in fridges and walk-in freezers.”
Setting up shop anywhere you’d like is a positive, but having reliable and sizable transportation is an absolute necessity. You will have to determine if it makes sense to buy a company van or simply rent one on an as-needed basis.
Of course, there’s more to transporting food than simply loading it into the back of a van. You will need special units to keep the food properly preserved from your location to the function.
This might include:
Anyone entering the foodservice industry absolutely must protect themselves with adequate business insurance coverage .
Even with the most careful attention to detail, accidental food poisoning or other mishaps can happen and you must be prepared for all eventualities. Your serving staff will also require workers’ compensation insurance.
Pay attention to workplace safety . Catering disasters aren’t unheard of. Plan for the unexpected . Think about what can go wrong and come up with a few ideas for how you might deal with it. You can reduce your risk if you plan ahead. You’ll encounter challenges that it never occurred to you to think through. Do yourself a favor and check a few of those off the list, well before go-time.
You’re already the culinary master, you’ve taken on the role of CEO and CFO, and now it’s time to put on yet another hat: marketing specialist.
No matter how great your food is, your business won’t survive without the clientele. Here are some things to consider when it comes time to start marketing your catering business.
Not long ago, this was one of the go-to methods for getting exposure for a catering business. Handing them out a wedding or trade shows was considered a no-brainer for any enterprising caterer.
“We used to do brochures and flyers but that doesn’t really work these days,” Jean-Marc says. Instead, they now use a targeted cold-call method when they have on-site office jobs. “Let’s say we have a job in the building at 110 King Street. What we do is take business cards to the neighboring businesses and let them know who we are and what we have to offer. That has worked well for us in the past.”
Your website is the first place most people will go to see what your business has to offer and determine if it’s a good fit for them. This is by far the most effective marketing tool you will use.
Having a strong web presence is an absolute must. Make it easy for clients to reach you and understand what you’re about. Should you run your entire catering business on a Facebook page? Probably not. There are some risks associated with running your business from a platform that you don’t own and don’t have much say over. Think of social media as one arm of your marketing strategy, but not the entire thing. Especially as Facebook and other platforms have evolved to deprioritize business-related content, remember that you get what you pay for. Instagram might be a great way to generate some buzz around your food, but don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
This is a tactic that Jean-Marc has found to be very effective during his years in the business. Find a great cause you want to support, and offer to cater the event as your contribution in exchange for the organizers using your company name and logo on all promotional materials and at the event itself.
You will be incurring a significant expense at the outset, but it is a great way to penetrate a target-rich environment.
Look to develop long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with other organizations that frequently use caterers. Establishing a great working relationship with the top two or three event planners in your area is a great way to keep your business going strong.
Below you’ll find a list of different resources that can help you find out more about what goes into getting your catering business off the ground.
One visit to Amazon will give you numerous options for published guides on starting a catering business.
Some of the titles you’ll find include:
Both Jean-Marc and Warren stress the importance of patience and determination in those early days. It will be harder and more labor-intensive than you can possibly imagine, but it will also be unbelievably rewarding.
Warren said anyone new to the field must anticipate seasonal ups and downs—there will be natural ebbs and flows and it is important to be both psychologically and financially prepared.
“This is a very seasonal business . It seems we work really, really hard for eight months out of the year and for four months out of the year we get to regroup, recalibrate, reorganize,” he says. “That’s a good thing, but you just have to be sure you prepare for that from a cash flow perspective.”
So, the next time you amaze your social circle with your culinary mastery and someone says “you should really start your own catering company,” ask yourself one question—are you ready to flip the switch?
Tony has returned to his early love of journalistic writing by freelancing long form articles and blog posts. He is currently turning his TV series pilot for The New Twenty into his first novel. Tony lives in Toronto where he continues to be tormented by his beloved Maple Leafs.
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Food so delicious, our customers can't stop raving., numerous satisfied customers:.
The whole event (servers, food, bartender) was professionally handled and the staff were very friendly for my wedding. Great quality of service....
The whole event (servers, food, bartender) was professionally handled and the staff were very friendly for my wedding. Great quality of service.
We used San Jose Catering for our business’s small Holiday Party and we were quite pleased. They were able to accommodate us on short notice and even showed up a few minutes early to deliver the food. Quick responses to my emails...
We used San Jose Catering for our business’s small Holiday Party and we were quite pleased. They were able to accommodate us on short notice and even showed up a few minutes early to deliver the food. Quick responses to my emails and friendly service. We would be happy to use them again for another event!
Beyond happy with the service and execution of our catering! The food was so delicious and the staff was very helpful from start to finish. We had a short time frame to have our party (less than 1 week) and they managed...
Beyond happy with the service and execution of our catering! The food was so delicious and the staff was very helpful from start to finish. We had a short time frame to have our party (less than 1 week) and they managed to pull it off on such short notice! Thank you so much Angela and everyone that helped us out! Stellar work! I will be recommending you to everyone!
Easy ordering, easy communication, timely delivery and the food was very good. Very pleased with the process. Thank you!...
Easy ordering, easy communication, timely delivery and the food was very good. Very pleased with the process. Thank you!
A pleasure to deal with. Food was fresh and delivered on time by friendly courteous staff. Definitely use them again and recommend to anyone looking for great value....
A pleasure to deal with. Food was fresh and delivered on time by friendly courteous staff. Definitely use them again and recommend to anyone looking for great value.
It was all great and arrived on time! The tossable burning trays is a great touch so that you don’t have to come back and pick up anything. Everyone loved the breakfast food items we selected and the scones, fruit and potatoes...
It was all great and arrived on time! The tossable burning trays is a great touch so that you don’t have to come back and pick up anything. Everyone loved the breakfast food items we selected and the scones, fruit and potatoes were the biggest hit!
My family ordered from SJCC for our Mom’s Memorial Service Reception. The menu is multi-dimensional. People with varying dietary needs are complemented by the choices in the menu. When the staff delivered the food to our site, they were timely, respectful, and...
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San Jose. Yes, the one in the song. We’re all grateful to Burt Bacharach and Hal David for the tribute, but there are so many more reasons for this town to be on the map. As the heartbeat of Silicon Valley, San Jose is a place with a lot of creative energy going on, energy that needs to fed. That’s where we come in. When it comes to catering San Jose parties, business meetings and cultural events, we’re the company to call. San Jose produces more patents than any other American city, which makes us a good match, because we take a creative approach to catering.
Our system is designed to eliminate hassle for busy people responsible for catering San Jose parties and events. We’ve reduced the process to just a few clicks on a screen. Our menu is clean, easy-to-navigate and has the prices right up front, so you can keep your budget in mind. And our packages for rentals, wait staff and bartenders fit seamlessly into your plan. We’d love to visit with you and show you what we’re talking about. Throwing a big reception for a product launch? Feeding a staff full of midnight-oil-burning software engineers? Celebrating life with your family? We’ve got you covered.
Whether your guest list includes 20 people or 2,000 our versatile chefs and skilled planning professionals will create the perfect meal and atmosphere. And your guests will give you the credit! Spend a little time speaking with one of our professional planners and let them do the rest. They’ve been catering San Jose soirees and such for years. Whether you’re ordering a tray of sandwiches for the office or a major meal for a reception, they’ll help you make your catering experience as high-end or low-key as you want. And if you need a service we don’t provide ourselves—such as alcohol, tents or onsite chefs—we’ll get it for you through one of our carefully selected partner companies. Also, every member of our staff will treat you like the most important customer in town. Because that’s who you are.
To place an online catering order please click here.
San Jose. Yes, the one in the song. We’re all
Catering and event planning services we offer, full-service event production.
Hosting a large group? Cooking on site? Need full service event production with audio/video and all of the works? Our serving personnel, event planners and trained chefs will do everything required to create the perfect event so you can relax and enjoy the occasion. Event staff hours will be charged based on your specific event details. Most events require two-hour set up and a one hour clean up in addition to your actual event time.
Handheld Catering knows that a wedding is a special day for a couple. With a respected party and wedding planner in close communication to explain the ins and outs of your celebration, we are sure to make your vision become a reality.
Handheld Catering believes in seasonal, Farm to Fork catering, and with our mobile equipment your event can take place anywhere!
Executive set ups.
Looking for an elevated presentation but don’t want staff? An Executive Set Up is a delivery option that provides more than just a drop off. Our Executive Set Up delivery team will come to your location and set up your food using linens, chafers, decorative serving platters and risers. Additional fees may include rental of chafers, linens, and pick up of the equipment. Executive Set Ups are scheduled within a one-hour window of your choice.
Let’s plan an event.
Handheld Catering isn’t just a clever name. It’s who we are. We believe that you should know where your food comes from. We take our job as Bay Area event catering experts very seriously. We take the time to work with local farmers to provide our clients quality, healthy food that takes the Farm-to-Fork journey.
When you’re planning your event in the San Jose, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto or other Silicon Valley CA area, Handheld Catering knows just what to do. We pride ourselves on our ability to build a pop up kitchen on site, which allows us to cook all of our food onsite. This means that you and your guests will eat the freshest food possible! This also means that you have greater flexibility in choosing the venue for your event.
We know that event planning can be stressful. That’s why we connect you with an all-star event coordinator that works with you from the start. Our event coordinator will be onsite at your event so you don’t have to worry about anything except enjoying the event! All the details will be in place to make your event a memorable one.
Events celebrate the milestones in life. Anniversaries, party catering , family reunions, and weddings—these are the moments in life that we all remember and hold dear to our hearts. At Handheld Catering, we’ll work with you to make your event one that will create fond memories for all in attendance.
We transform simple flavors into extraordinary experiences. We’ll even work with you to create a custom menu for your event. Take your event to the next level by working with our experienced staff. Start planning your exceptional event today.
From intimate gatherings to large parties with up to 1,000 guests, Handheld Catering knows how to cater it all. We are your San Jose CA event catering experts. Call us today at 408-692-4782 or email us at [email protected]
More event catering information, how do you choose the best event catering company.
Are you planning a special event and need to find the right catering company? Choosing which solution is ideal for your needs might be challenging given the variety of possibilities available.
In this blog post, we will discuss the best ways to choose the right Silicon Valley event catering company for your special day. From understanding your budget and equipment requirements to checking reviews and comparing food quality and options, we will provide you with all the information you need to ensure your event is a success.
Event catering is the preparation, serving, and clean-up of food for special occasions. It can include weddings, birthdays, bar mitzvahs, quinceañeras, retirement parties, housewarming events, and other life events that you want to make memorable for your guests.
The catering industry has grown rapidly over the past decade. Corporate catering is the business of preparing and serving food for large groups at events such as conventions, trade shows, seminars, and other functions. It also includes a variety of other services such as staffing, tableware, decor, and cleaning up after the event.
Social events require menus that are versatile enough to accommodate a wide range of dietary needs, allergens, and preferences. These can be complicated, so it’s essential that event planners have a deep understanding of their clients’ needs to provide them with the best service.
Whether you’re planning a wedding, anniversary, holiday parties, or just an everyday cocktail party, a professional catering company will help you create a memorable event that your guests will talk about for years to come. They’ll help you streamline the process and leave you with one less thing to worry about. You can avoid tension, time, and money by doing this.
If you are having a cocktail party to celebrate the launch of an important project or to announce the inauguration of an event, then you should consider using an event catering service. This is a great way to make your guests feel welcome and have a good time.
You should choose an experienced caterer with a good reputation in the area where you are planning your event. They should be able to offer you advice and suggestions on menus, drinks, and food presentation.
They should also be able to handle any special dietary requirements or allergies that you may have. They should be able to provide vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, or nut-free options so that everyone will be able to enjoy the food without fear of an allergic reaction.
In addition, they should be able to provide staff to serve the food at your event. Depending on your needs, this could include servers, runners, and bartenders.
It is a good idea to request a tasting from the caterer so that you can get a better idea of their food quality, service, flavor, and choices. This will help you decide whether they are right for your needs and ensure that the food served at the party is delicious.
In the world of event catering, you’ll find a wide variety of events that need to have food and beverages served. These include big social gatherings, major sporting events and other public events that involve large numbers of people.
Some of these events require a lot of planning, so it’s worth hiring a professional to ensure that all of the details are covered and your guests have a fantastic time. For example, if you’re hosting an anniversary party for a loved one, it would be a good idea to hire a caterer that has experience with events like this and can make sure that everyone is having a great time.
Other types of events that need event catering include formal dinners and awards ceremonies. For these events, you may choose to serve a plated dinner or a buffet meal. If you want to serve a full meal, you’ll need to coordinate the menu and guest list with your caterer ahead of time.
You should also consider the type of room you’ll be using for your catering service. For example, if your event is taking place in a boardroom, you might want to choose a table configuration that allows the attendees to move around easily so they can get some work done.
When planning an event, it’s important to understand your budget and the necessary equipment that will be needed. Not all events require the same level of catering, so it’s important to get a feel for what you’re willing to spend.
First and foremost, be sure to have a clear idea of your budget. It’s always helpful to know how much money you’re willing to allocate for an event before beginning preparations. Once you have a ballpark figure, start looking at catering companies in your area. You can find reputable companies by reading reviews or searching online.
When estimating how much food will be needed, it is important to take into account the type and number of guests that are attending the event. Remember: every guest counts.
One consideration when catering an event is ensuring that dietary restrictions are met. For example, gluten-free foods must always be ordered in advance since they cannot be easily substituted on site once they arrive at the venue.
Additionally, dairy-free foods must also be taken into account – whether they need soy milk as a replacement or not – as those types of foods often require more preparation time than other items on the menu do (gluten-free bread).
It’s also essential to make sure that all of the food being served is safe for consumption by those with food allergies or intolerances – even small details can make a big difference in someone’s life (cross contamination may trigger serious reactions). While most caterers are knowledgeable about these issues and will take care of them promptly once they’re aware of them; it’s always wise to double check just in case.
In addition to ordering food and setting up tables/chairs/etc., another task that may need attention during an event is cleaning up afterwards. This includes taking down decorations/setups as well as clearing away any leftover trash or leftovers from the meal itself – this includes anything from allergy-causing ingredients like nuts/seeds (even roasted) all the way down to the disposable cutlery and plates used during mealtime.
The food is a big part of the experience at any event, so it’s important to hire a caterer with good taste and a high level of professionalism. You also want a caterer who can handle any special requests you might have and is willing to work with you to achieve your vision.
Whether you’re hosting a wedding, a company party, a birthday, or holiday parties, it’s important to choose the right caterer. It can be a stressful process, so you want to make sure that you hire someone who will do the job well and who you trust.
Before you hire a caterer, ask about their background and experience. This will give you a better idea of how well they know their stuff and whether they’ll be able to deliver on their promises.
It’s also a good idea to find out where they source their ingredients from. This will help you determine how quality the food is, and whether they’re using local or organic produce.
Before you sign a contract with your caterer, check their reputation online and on social media sites. You can also ask friends and family for recommendations. You may even want to speak to a former client, if possible. This will give you an idea of how they handled their food and how satisfied their guests were with it.
There are many things that need to be considered when planning corporate events. These include reserving a venue, entertainment, dress attire, and guest speakers. However, one of the most important aspects is the food.
A good catering company will ensure that all guests at your event get enough food to eat without leaving anyone hungry. This is a key reason why they are a good choice for large events.
Whether you are planning a buffet or a sit down dinner, it’s important to choose a caterer that can meet your specific needs. Consider the theme and style of the event, and the number of attendees.
Catering menus should be tailored to your specific needs and budget. It should also be presented in a beautiful manner to impress your guests.
Choosing a catering company that prioritizes efficiency and respects guest time is also an essential part of planning a successful corporate event. Ideally, you should start the planning process at least six months in advance of the event so that you can find a catering company that can deliver on your expectations.
Event design is an art that requires a lot of creativity. It also involves a lot of planning and organization.
Having an event designed by an experienced professional will help you to ensure that your event is successful. They will be able to find the right venue, catering services and other important elements for your event.
They will also be able to help you set the right budget for your event. This will save you from spending too much on your event because they have the knowledge and experience to know what is affordable.
Many designers get into the field because they have a passion for decor and styling. Others have a background in floristry, interior design or set design and use their skills to make the most of an event space.
A good event planner will be able to find a venue that meets your requirements, offer you excellent catering options and provide you with elegant linens for your tables and chairs. They will also be able to help you with coordinating the entertainment for your event. They will also be able to ensure that your event is on brand and that it will attract the right attendees.
When selecting the best catering company for your event , there is a lot to consider. From understanding your budget and equipment needs to checking reviews and ensuring everyone’s dietary restrictions are met, you should do your research before committing to a caterer.
Knowing the type of food you need and the atmosphere you want will help narrow down the choices. Additionally, don’t forget about insurance coverage and legal compliance; this is essential for any successful event.
With some planning and research, you will find Handheld Catering and Events is the perfect catering company that meets all your needs and offers delicious food at an affordable price.
What our clients say:.
Handheld Catering and Events is a local Bay Area Catering company that uses fresh locally grown produce and meat whenever possible for all their events. Servicing the Bay Area; Handheld Catering and Events can cater your next event in style.
Corporate, Special Event & Wedding Catering
Catering for the Bay Area , Palo Alto , Menlo Park , Mountain View , Los Altos, San Jose , San Jose Private Event Planning , San Jose Catering for Events , Business Event Planning San Jose , San Jose Wedding Catering , Saratoga, Silicon Valley , Sunnyvale , and other nearby areas. Corporate Event Catering Private or Special Event Catering Wedding Catering Handheld Catering
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Use these 10 customizable free catering business plan templates and examples to create your own catering business plan.
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Provide a glossary for the rest of your business plan by describing your style of food and approach to service, providing information about the ownership and management of your business, and describing the client experience. A particular concern of a catering business is delivering food to clients. Detail how you will travel with prepared food ...
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Use this free Catering Business Plan Template to create a detailed roadmap for your catering venture, covering aspects like menu development, pricing strategies, and marketing approaches. It's a crucial resource to ensure your catering business is well-prepared for success in the competitive food service industry. .
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A catering business plan is a comprehensive document that outlines an upcoming catering venture's operational, financial, and marketing goals. It includes detailed plans for managing sales and expenses, a marketing strategy, customer service policies, and other important business components.
A catering business plan provides an overview of a catering business that is already in operation or one that you plan to initiate. The plan looks to the future regarding expansion plans, goals and strategies, and operation plans.
When writing the strategy section of your business plan for a catering company, you should detail your competitive advantage, pricing strategy, marketing plan, milestones and risks and mitigants (how to counter the risks). The competitive advantage should highlight how your services are unique from other competitors in the area.
Explore a real-world catering company business plan example and download a free template with this information to start writing your own business plan.
Explore a real-world catering business plan example and download a free template with this information to start writing your own business plan.
The first step before starting a catering business is creating a description of catering business plan. Your catering company business plan should cover all aspects such as startup expenses, market analysis, sales strategy, personnel plan, and an extensive financial plan for your business.
A catering business refers to a business engaged in the preparation of food for service at various venues as determined by clients. Below is a list of local, state, and federal requirements that may apply to these business types.
Before you can turn your catering business dreams into reality, you'll need a reliable business plan. The planning process can vary from individual to individual. However, there are some fundamental components to take into account. First, it's key to conduct market research. Gather data on your local market and try to understand consumer ...
Plan Your Event With Our Services Handheld Catering and Events creates unparalleled experiences through customized food, beverage and event services, using sustainable practices and a driven team to exceed all expectations as a San Francisco Bay Area Caterer. We do full service catering and event planning, You do life!
Wondering how to start a catering business? The catering industry is thriving, and this step-by-step guide will help you get started as a caterer.
Catering San Jose & Santa Clara. We cater for special events, weddings, parties, & corporate catering events. Our menu includes breakfast, lunch, & dinner.
We are your gourmet Bay Area event catering experts for business or wedding events. Call us today at 408-692-4782 or email us at [email protected].
The business, located at 455 Plum St. in Bibb County, Georgia, offers several screenings & hassle-free appointments to prioritize women's health. ... New Macon imaging center is catering to ...