How to Run a Catering Business

You have the ambition. You have the means. But are you really ready to run your own catering business? Running any kind of business takes a lot of time and effort. There are few days when you can leave your work "at the office". You will have to work longer hours and take on more responsibility.

Once a job is booked, there are many tasks that need to be performed before and on the day of the event. First, you will need to gather all of the necessary information from the client including what type of event it is. You will also need to know how many people will be attending the event. Is this event going to be a sit down meal or a buffet? You will need to plan the menu accordingly. Some clients already know what they would like to serve while other will need your input to suggest a menu that is appropriate for the occasion. Many clients will require a tasting prior to the day of the event.

Prepare a small sample of the kinds of foods you plan on serving. The kind of food that you have discussed with your client that you are planning on serving might be just right of the client. Oftentimes, the client will find the food you planned on serving to be spot on, However, there will be other times where the client will discover at the tasting that the foods that they thought would be perfect for the occasion, might not be all that perfect. Therefore, you should always prepare a few alternatives to offer your client, just in case. Showing that you know your craft and can anticipate their needs will be highly impressive.

The size of the event will determine how much additional help you will need to hire to ensure a successful event. It is a good idea to have a list of people that you can hire on occasion when the event calls for it. Most people who own their own catering business do all the cooking themselves. But, with a very large event, it might be worth hiring additional cooks. Having servers that you can create a relationship with and train is especially useful. Look for those who have a flexible schedule and can work for you sporadically. You also need to figure out how you are going to transport the food and equipment to the event.

Before the event you need to order all of the ingredients, supplies, and equipment you will need. You will also need to plan how long it will take you to prepare the food and schedule your time accordingly. Once the event is over, you are also going to handle the cleanup. So keep this in mind when you are considering hiring extra help.

It is not difficult to run a catering business if you stay organized and create a well thought out plan for each event. Although it will necessitate a lot of extra effort and stamina, you must to be able to maintain a positive outlook. Running your own catering business grants you the opportunity to try new things and improve your talents.

Source: EzineArticles.com