How to Start a Catering Business and Coffee Shop
Do friends drool over your mouth-watering pastries? Are your goodies the first to be devoured at school functions and employee potlucks? If you've ever wanted to be your own boss, you can use your culinary skills to get you there. Starting a catering business and coffee shop won't be easy, but with proper planning, it can be a very rewarding opportunity.
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Things You'll Need
- Business plan
- Accountant
- Lawyer
- Location
- State food regulations
- Health inspection
- Catering license
- Business license
- Liability insurance
- Barista training or trained baristas
- Commercial vehicle
- Food warmers and carriers
- Kitchen equipment
- Tables and chairs
- Cake stands
- Coffee roaster
- Coffee grinder
- Espresso machine
- Condiments
- Display cases
- Menu board
- Take out boxes
- Cutlery, plates and mugs
- Musicians (optional)
- Meat and dairy products
- Coffee
- Menu
- Cooking class (optional)
- Accounting software or cost spreadsheets
- Credit card processing merchant account
Instructions
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Start with a business plan. Catering can be a high-stress industry. In addition to creating recipes, you'll need to meet deadlines, minimize food waste, hire competent employees for both the cafe and the kitchen, be regularly inspected, adhere to regulations, meet with suppliers, get training and handle the accounting. Starting with a business plan will ensure that you understand what you're getting into and that you've covered your tracks. In the food industry, one slip up could be the end of your business. At this point, confer with an accountant and lawyer about incorporating your business and insurance concerns. Consider taking a part-time job working with a caterer to help you get a better idea of what to expect when starting your own business.
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Find a location for your catering business. Move into an old restaurant or café to reduce construction costs and zoning issues. Look for a high visibility area near a business park or busy shopping center. If purchasing a location that comes with equipment, make sure that the equipment is properly working prior to signing your lease. You don't want to pay extra only to have the equipment break down.
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Learn your state's food regulations. These will include rules on proper food handling, employee illness, approved facilities and equipment and food hazards. Get your facility up to speed and then contact your health authority to schedule an inspection of your facility and to schedule a test date for your catering license. Prior to obtaining your license, you will need to obtain your business license and purchase liability insurance.
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Enroll in a barista training course. Making quality espresso takes practice. Learn everything you can about making consistent coffee and espresso. You'll need to learn how to properly grind and press coffee for espresso, the best temperature for brewing your coffee and how to select the best roast. If you don't intend to work the coffee shop, hire trained baristas. You can even delegate the coffee selection process to a trained barista who can manage your coffee shop and hire outgoing baristas to work the cafe.
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Purchase a commercial vehicle, food warmers and carriers, kitchen equipment, tables, chairs, décor for your shop, cake stands, a roaster, a grinder, an espresso machine, condiments, display cases, a menu board, take out boxes, cutlery, plates and mugs.
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Create a theme and design your coffee shop. Clients may include college students, professionals or event planners and moms frequenting your shop to place catering orders. Consider setting up a separate station for customers who want to place catering orders or sample your food. If room allows, consider allowing musicians to play on Friday nights.
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Meet with local farmers and coffee farmers to purchase quality meat, dairy products and coffee for your café.
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Design your menu. Light fare, such as sandwiches, pastries, wraps and soups are best served with coffee. However, these may not translate well to catering. You'll need to carve out a niche in a way that makes both your catering business and coffee shop appeal to your clients. If sticking with light fare, consider focusing on catering lunch parties for corporations and business parks or birthday parties. Consider enrolling in a cooking class to gain knowledge on the latest food trends or to help you brainstorm menu ideas.
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Purchase an accounting software program or detail all costs in a spreadsheet. Then begin pricing your menu. Apply for a merchant account to be able to process credit cards.
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Tips & Warnings
Detail a policy on cancellations.
Conduct research to find how to estimate beverage and food amounts for parties of various sizes.
