How to Write a Business Plan for a Catering Company

Successful catering businesses start off with a clear and concise business plan. Beginning a company without writing a business plan would be like a pilot flying a plane without a flight schedule. Don't crash and burn before your catering company even gets off the ground.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Determine the goals that you want to reach with your catering business. Finances are not the only consideration. Keep in mind that when you are starting a catering business, you will have personal goals that you want to reach, too.
2. Analyze the demographic that you want to reach with your catering company. Different segments of the population will require different menus and types of food. Weddings will require a more extensive variety of food than if you are going to be catering Sunday brunches for the older country club set.
3. Decide on the marketing strategies that will work best for your catering company. Without an endless amount of advertising dollars, you will need to be creative. Flyers on cars in a retail parking lot is one inexpensive way to get the word out about your new company.
4. Be honest with yourself regarding the risk involved in starting your new catering company. List the potential issues that could come up that would make or break a small catering business and go forward with these issues in mind. Are there are a lot of other catering businesses in your area? Do you have a lot of experience in this type of work? These types of things could help or hurt the risks of your business.
5. Take into account the eventuality of expanding your catering company. If you have a clear idea of how you might grow your business, it is more likely that your business will grow. Do some research on how to franchise a business in the event that you become an entrepreneur in the catering world.

Tips & Warnings

• Talk to people in the catering business that you admire. Find a mentor who can help you through some rough spots that can occur with a new business.
• Be aware that many catering companies go out of business due to the fact that the owner jumped into doing business without having a clear and defined business plan.