The 5 Important Elements of Catering Business
Catering is a business that is in demand all around the year. Be it a birthday, a marriage or an anniversary celebration, catering is always required and opted for since most hosts like to specify a menu and make sure that it is served perfectly to the guests. The occasion may be casual or formal; catering is a must for all gatherings. So, when you are thinking about starting your own business, it is important to consider the catering business information seriously.
Business that is always in demand will bring in better money and a consistent income. Catering is one such business and before you embark on a new catering business it is important to keep in mind a few tips and tricks to make sure that you succeed.
ARE YOU INTERESTED?
The business of catering involves food and so, it is essential that you have some prior knowledge of cooking or preparing food. It is not required that you are a good cook although that could be a huge bonus. If you are a good cook you can do away with hiring a professional cook or a chef. However, this is not a big let down and you can hire one easily. It is always good to have a good idea about food preparation since the business involves a lot of art in addition to science.
LOGISTICS
The second most important aspect of starting a catering business is to have a fair to good idea about catering supplies that may involve utensils and furniture. Some of the supplies could be table clothes, chairs, centerpieces, dinnerware (various types), food warmers, fuels and the list goes on. In addition to all these having your transport like a mini van could keep you in good stead since the business involves continuous movement of supplies from your storage to the catering sites (venues where the catering needs to done).
EMPLOYEES
Hiring the right people can make or break your catering business. In this business, manpower and their skills play a major role. In addition to preparing serving delicious dishes, pleasing the host and his/her guest is a major responsibility. Towards this end, you need to make sure that the stewards, waiters and waitresses you hire have a pleasant personality and offer professional service. Customer service is of prime importance here to make sure that the clients keep coming back to you.
FINANCES
Make sure that you have the right amount of capital to begin with. This business is not hugely capital intensive but keeping enough working capital to tide you through the first few orders is being realistic. AS in any business, business in catering also has its highs and lows and it is important to understand the importance of financial implications. Moreover, every catering contract needs a different capital outlay and thus the more working capital you have, the better and bigger catering orders you can bid for.
MARKETING
Marketing is highly essential to any business and so it is for catering business too. Marketing your catering business to the local clientele is highly essential and if you have a brand new catering business, it is important to make sure that you get a few traditional advertisements in local newspapers and social gatherings are inserted. Catering business mostly works by word-of-mouth and therefore advertising your business with existing client would work wonders.
The above are only a few pointers but the most important ones when you are considering starting a catering business. Keep them in mind and make sure you work on them so that you start and keep running a successful catering business.