How to Write a Business Plan for an Existing Catering Company

Every good cook can't be a caterer. It takes business acumen to maintain a catering business. Caterers must plan for all types of contingencies. Some entrepreneurs manage to get a business off the grown, but plateau and fail to grow the business. This is when the smart caterer will develop a solid, comprehensive plan. Here's how to write a business plan for an existing catering company.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Create a SWOT analysis. SWOT outlines the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for a business. Carefully think about each one of these and write them down for review. Bring in trusted experts to help flush out the analysis.

2. Develop a risk assessment contingency plan. This should naturally grow from the SWOT analysis. After threats and weaknesses have been carefully laid out, make a plan to address how the company will address each one of them. If, for example, the city is offering bid programs that allow caterers to compete for the city's catering functions, but only the lowest bids will be accepted, create a detailed plan that shows how the company can offer a superior product at the lowest price.

3. Revise the marketing plan. When the business started, the marketing plan may have been to get business any and every where it could be found. The new plan may address a niche market that the company has developed over time. The plan should detail how the company will grow niche markets or develop new ones.

4. Make sure the financial plan is sound. Most business don't make it to their fifth year of existence. Make sure that there are short-term and long-term plans to keep the business liquid.

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