Catering is one of those businesses that people idly dream of
starting because the entry bar appears to be pretty low. If you’re a
foodie whose dinner parties are a hit, it seems like an easy way to get
into the food business – easier, at least, than becoming a chef and
working at a high-end restaurant; easier than opening your own permanent
restaurant; easier even than getting into the food truck arena. After
all, all you need is a kitchen and a few waiters, right?
Well, no, actually. A lot goes into a catering business. It’s more
than just your secret recipe for to-die-for canapés or cheese puffs.
Licence/taxes
Depending on your local authority, you probably can’t run your
business out of your home kitchen. Health inspections are usually
required for any sort of food service. Also, you will need to register
as a business and get a tax ID or similar recognition. There are
industrial kitchens that rent workspace by the hour or shift, which can
be a very affordable way to cook up your delights if you’re not ready
for a permanent space of your own.
Suppliers
Well, the food has to come from somewhere, and picking it all up from
the local supermarket is not going to be cost-effective. While local
shops or markets are fine for special ingredients or high-end touches,
in general you’ll want to stick with wholesale grocers. Their costs will
be much lower for the basics you need. Keep orders under control – a
big mistake newbie caterers make is preparing too much food. Think hard
about the number of people you’re cooking for before you place a grocery
order.
A second supplier will be needed for the non-edibles a caterer is
expected to supply. If you need tables, chairs, table cloths, utensils,
serving trays, urns and cambros, you can either purchase them and drag
them everywhere (and store them when not needed) or rent them from a
supplier, getting exactly what’s needed for each occasion.
Van
Once you cook everything and assemble your flotilla of place settings
and serving trays, you’ve got to get everything to the destination
(even if cooking on-site, you’ll need to transport staff and materials).
You can rent a van, of course, but here it might be wiser to purchase
and use rentals only to handle bigger jobs and to get over mechanical
problems with your own vehicle. Keep in mind you’ll need something
appropriate for food transport – always follow the golden rule of
keeping hot dishes hot and cold dishes cold while in transit.
Staff
In the beginning, and for small jobs, you may be able to get by on
your own, but it’s unlikely. Even small parties will usually require you
to run the kitchen/staging area while at least one other person handles
bringing out serving trays and monitoring the party itself. A friendly
partner is a good start, and for those small beginning ‘gigs’ friends
and family, or students looking for work, may be adequate. Going
forward, though, you’ll need to hire at least one professional server.
Look for someone who has worked for caterers before.
Don’t forget, a uniform looks more professional. It doesn’t have to
be custom or something you’ve made. Simply specifying that all team
members wear the same style and colour outfits is usually sufficient.
You can have button badges made with your company logo to provide
instant professionalism.
Catering is a business like any other and requires strong business
fundamentals to be successful. Keep your eye on the receivables and
payables and adjust your budgets as necessary, and never ever underbid
your own costs just to get a job you think will be high profile. In the
end, it will be complicated and more work than you expect – but also
more rewarding, if you do it right!
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