Detailed Guide
on How to
Get Started.
How to Start a Catering Company is a complete and thorough guide to becoming a professional caterer. Starting a food catering company demands complete dedication and commitment. Before you decide you're ready to make the necessary sacrifices, there are some important things to consider before starting:
Financing
Money. To start, you may have to make a financial investment but you may also have the opportunity to make money. One very important thing to remember when weighing the financial pros and cons of starting a home operation: never gamble more than you can afford to lose.
Catering Service
Freedom. You'll be the boss and get to run things the way you want them done, but you will invest longer hours and probably take fewer hours off, at least until you are well-established.
Ideas
Creativity. You'll be able to channel all your energy and ideas into something you really enjoy, and you'll have the opportunity to meet the challenges of running a food service business.
Ownership
Owning your company mandates that you not only deal with, but become proficient in all of the aspects of catering. You'll be an accountant, secretary, tax preparer, people manager, marketing/sales/advertising representative and bill collector - just to name a few. You don't need an MBA to start your own show, but a few courses in services management go a long way toward helping you handle the various aspects of your venture, and this guide is an excellent start.
Sales
Do you have the right personality to start a services-oriented operation? Are you a "people person"? Succeeding in this specialty calls not only for the ability to cook well, but also salesmanship - the ability talk effectively to acquaintances and strangers alike, and a love for diversity (age, ethnicity, philosophy, et al.).
Attitude
Service also necessitates a lot of effort and stamina. (You may be on your feet a lot, sometimes with few breaks in your day.) You must to be able to maintain a positive outlook through occasional slumps - to hang in there and always be willing to try new things to improve your talents.
Planning
In addition, you also must have the will to succeed. To start and operate any enterprise, you must have self-discipline, the willingness and ability to make sacrifices, and a strong desire to succeed. You must motivate yourself and demand of yourself that you "work smart" - prioritizing tasks and devoting your best effort to completing each task effectively. Enthusiasm, discipline and intelligent decision-making are key elements to making any endeavor succeed. Be customer-oriented. It requires lots and lots of patience and understanding and it's also nice to know that you have what it takes to make the best of any situation.
Home Based Services
The USBA has developed a short checklist of questions:
- What do I like to do?
- What technical abilities have I learned or developed?
- What do others say I am good at?
- How much time do I have?
- Is my idea practical and is it in demand?
- What is my competition?
- What is my advantage over existing services?
- Can I deliver a better quality service?
- Can I create a demand?
- What services or products to sell?
- Where to be located?
- What skills and experience do I have?
- Legal structure?
- Company name?
- What equipment or supplies?
- What insurance?
- What financing?
- How will I compensate myself?
Your answers to these questions help you make the final decision. They also help you create a focused, well-researched plan that can serve as a blueprint for your new company by detailing how it will be operated, managed and capitalized.
How to Get Started in the Catering Business
Business Planning
- Money - Capitalizing Your New Venture
- Freedom - Rewards and Responsibilities of Self-Employment
- Creativity - Putting Your Mind to Work
- Personality - Selling Others on You
Financing
- U.S. Small Business Association Checklist
- Government Loans and Assistance Programs
- State Programs and Resources for Small Business
- Specialized Training
- National and International Professional Organizations
Business Plan
- Contents of the Plan
- Elements of the Plan
- Examples of Real Business Plans
- Start-Up Costs
- Equipment
- Sources of Equipment and Supplies
- Pricing - Materials, Overhead, Labor
Starting from Scratch vs Buying
- Pros and Cons
- Financing
- Risk
- Research
The Legal Requirements
- Regulations on Food Preparation
- Individual States' Catering Licensing
- Business License
- Certificate of Occupancy
- Fictitious Business Name
- Tax License
Form of Business
- Sole Proprietorship
- Partnership
- Corporation
- S Corporation
- Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Insurance
- Liability Insurance
- Property
- Business Interruption
- Key Man
- Automobile
- Office and Director
- Home Office
Becoming an Employer
- Human Resources Laws
- Tax Withholding
- Federal Minimum Wage
- Health Department Testing
The Basics of Taxes
- Sales Tax Permit and License Laws
- Sales and Use Tax
- Payroll Administration
- Records & Bookkeeping
- Banking
Cost Control Procedures for Catering
- Purchasing
- Receiving
- Maintaining Cash Flow
- Recording Actual Cost
Catering Service Management
- Food Handling and Storage
- Consistently Preparing Good Food
- Sources of Catering Equipment and Supplies
- Catering Service Menus
Business Management
- The Food Catering Contract
- Sample Catering Contracts
- Marketing, Advertising and Image
- Maintaining a Thriving Operation
- New Clients and Customers
- Customer Service
Sample of Catering Menu
Research Resources
No need to wait for the Catering Guide to be delivered! Download from the Internet and start reading, literally within one minute. (The file is verified to be virus-free.)
catering services