7 Tips For Running Your Very Own Catering Company

If you love to cook and host parties,  running your own catering company can be a dream come true. By having your very own catering company, you will be able to show off your cooking skills and earn money as well.

However, running a catering company can also be a challenge. Not only do you need to invest money into the venture, but you will also need to know what you are doing. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

• Do Your Research

Before you jump into this exciting but risky venture, you should do your research. You should never invest money into any venture before doing your research first.

The catering business may seem fun at first, but you have to be realistic. Your first priority should always be to make a profit. You don’t want to own a business where you are just hemorrhaging money. So it is important that you research your competition. 

Your competition should be the catering businesses that are within your city. They will be your main obstacle in getting catering jobs. You should also reach out to other caterers online. Ask them how they were able to establish themselves despite the competition. By doing your research as thoroughly as possible, you will be able to weigh out your options and decide on whether to push through with your catering plans.

• Choose a Specialization

Aside from conducting very thorough research, you should also choose your specialization. What type of cuisine will you serve? What type of parties will you cook for? What demographic will you cater to? 

These are just some of the questions you should ask before you set up your catering business. By answering these questions, you will be able to figure out your menu, target market, and the overall theme of your catering business.

• Have a Set Budget

If you are going to spend your hard-earned money on this business venture, you should have a set budget that you can follow. Remember that any type of business will cost money, and if you aren’t careful, you may end up spending your whole budget in a matter of weeks.

So if you want your funds to stay intact, you should have a set budget. Don’t just spend on whatever takes your fancy. List down the essentials and don’t spend on anything else. 

• Hire the Right People 

One of the most important aspects of running your own catering business is hiring the right people. Don’t just hire people because they are willing to work for less. This just means that you’ll have to teach them the ropes. If you’re going to hire help, you should make sure that they have experience. 

Your head chef and support cooks should at least have experience working for a restaurant or a cruise line. If you’re going to hire a waiter he should have a pleasant personality and have prior experience in the service industry. Aside from your food, the experience and skills of your serving crew can affect your company’s chances of success. 

• Automate Your Operations If Possible 

Most catering businesses have commissaries. These are separate kitchens where your crew cooks the food. This is where the real work happens. This is where your kitchen crew work long hours to create great food for your clients. These cooking sessions can be very stressful, and you should make sure that your crew gets the best help possible.

One way to make their work easier is to automate key aspects of their work. For example, instead of having your cooks chop mountains of onions, potatoes, and other vegetables, you could purchase an industrial robot that could do the job for them.

This may seem a bit extreme, but industrial robots are becoming popular in workplaces nowadays. There are specialized robots that would be perfect for kitchen operations. 

Companies such as EVS produce quality industrial robots at very affordable prices. Interested parties can visit this website and take their pick of some of the best robots available. 

• Take Your Marketing Seriously 

There is a lot of competition in the catering industry and most of them are likely to be established already. So it is imperative that you take your marketing as seriously as possible. Take the time to set up your very own website. By having your own website, you will have a marketing platform where you can post pictures of your food and events.

You can also post promos that potential customers can take advantage of. However, the most important function of your website is that it allows potential customers to contact you as fast as possible.

Setting up a website is relatively easy and does not cost much. Overall, having a company website is a truly affordable and effective marketing method that you should take advantage of. 

• Quality Control Is Key 

All these tips are very helpful and will allow you to achieve catering success. However, if there is one essential aspect of the catering business to remember, it is quality control. You can market your products very well, and you can have the best help available. However, if your quality control is lacking, your catering business will not thrive.

Remember, first impressions last, and a stray hair or a raw dish can damage your catering company’s reputation. These minor mistakes have a way of getting out, and you won’t be getting jobs anytime soon. So from the very beginning, it is important that you prioritize quality control above all else.

 Conclusion

Setting up your very own catering company may be a lot of work at first because there are a lot of facets to the business you’ll have to take into account. You will need to set up a commissary, gather a competent cooking crew, and market your business. Your work will seem endless at first. However, once you establish your brand it can be a very lucrative business. So follow these tips and start your catering company the right way.