List of Things to Be Done to Start a Catering Company
A catering business can be a good small business to start if you enjoy cooking, meeting new people and creating a food display as the centerpiece to an event. But starting a catering business requires more than a functional oven and reliable transportation. There is a list of things to be done before you can get your catering company off the ground.
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Location
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Cooking and preparing food for a catering business falls under different rules than cooking for a party in your home, according to the business experts at the Home Business Center website. You will need to contact your local zoning board to see if you can run a catering business from your home. Local health regulations may not allow your home kitchen to be used as a commercial place of business. You may also need to get certification to operate a food service business from your local health inspector or business certification office. Contact your town or city clerk to get the contact information you need to see if you can work from home, or if you need to rent a commercial space.
Transportation
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To determine what kind of transportation would be appropriate for your catering business, you will need to determine what kind of catering you will be doing. If your catering business will be offering cakes and pastries for events, then a smaller vehicle such as a minivan may be appropriate. But if you plan on catering entire meal events, then you will need a much larger vehicle. You will also need to discuss auto insurance with your insurance agent to determine what kind of insurance you will need to legally operate your vehicle for a catering business.
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Display Equipment
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Renting equipment may be the inexpensive way to create your catering displays initially, but buying the equipment may be more cost-effective over time. Cooling racks, display tables, tablecloths and any other display items you may need should all be put into an inventory of start-up expenses. Catering is more than cooking; it is also presentation. You will want to have all of your presentation equipment available at all times to meet customer demand.
Cooking Equipment
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As you create your business plan and analyze your start-up costs for your catering business, one of the expenses you will need to include is the cost of the proper cooking equipment. You should start your business out small to reduce the need to invest in a great deal of expensive cooking equipment initially. But you should also create a comprehensive list of all of the cooking equipment you will need to get your business started. You do not want to start taking on clients only to realize that you do not have all of the equipment you need to meet initial demand.
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