Tips for Starting Up a Catering Company

Catering companies are always in demand because everyone likes good food, and many people don’t have time to make it. It’s so much easier for people to organise the food for an event by hiring experts rather than doing all the hard work by themselves. So, here are some top tips for starting up a catering company.

Find a Commercial Kitchen

No catering company can get started without having a commercial kitchen in which it can operate. This is the central hub of your business, so make sure you get it right. You don’t even need to buy it; renting a kitchen will probably be the smarter option if you’re on a budget. It needs to offer you the space you need to make vast amounts of food. You don’t want your employees to be squashed into a small space. Once you have a kitchen, you should hire a team of chefs that will be able to do that all important work.

Make Industry Contacts

Becoming a success in the catering industry means having contacts in important places. You should think about who matters and who will be able to get you the clients you need. It’s all about getting your name out there and reaching the industry influencers. You want these people to know your business exists. You should also make contact with a good supplier and build that relationship to get the best deals. If you ask me, it’s also a good idea to find a company that can offer catering equipment maintenance services. This will be crucial if something goes wrong.

Rent the Equipment

If the kitchen space that you found does not come with all the necessary equipment already installed, you will need to rent it. This shouldn’t cost you too much money if you find the best deals out there. But first of all, you will need to think about the specific things that your business will need. No two catering businesses are the same. So, the equipment that you will need will depend on what kinds of foods you will be making and preparing in the kitchen.

Set Your Services and Prices

Before you can find your first clients, you will need to finalise exactly what your business will be offering to them. There’s no point in trying to appeal to them until you’re 100% sure about what you can do for them. You might offer services that are only for certain types of events, or you might take a broader approach. Your pricing strategy is something else that needs to be thought about very carefully. You need to make the business profitable, but you don’t want to put people off with high prices.

Join an Association and Find Clients

Joining a respected catering association can help your business to gain some respectability. These associations are taken very seriously, and there are numerous ones in each country. Being a part of one could help you to find clients more easily. No business can exist without customers and clients, so you need to prepare a good advertising and marketing strategy.