\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. 1  By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Obtain all the necessary licenses and permits. Our guide on starting a catering business covers all the essential information to help you decide if this business is a good match for you. Nov 7, 2019 - Learn how to start a catering business, one of the most lucrative and profitable home businesses with a high potential for expansion and growth. At a commercial kitchen, you’ll have ready access to grills, ovens, deep fryers, slicers, mixers, refrigerators and freezers, and any other appliances and equipment that you may need. Will you focus on a specific type of food or event? To do that, you may have to attend a food … But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. Interview each applicant yourself either in person or over the phone to get a better sense of their character. To be a go-to caterer, you’ll need to be reliable, punctual, trustworthiness, value for money, variety of food, professionalism, and proper decorum, especially for formal events. Research the laws related to food service in the area where you live to find out whether you’ll need a business license to get your catering business off the ground. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Catering businesses can be run from home full or part-time, and earn between $30,000 and $80,000 a year, according to Shmoop.. Maybe it will help you learn how to start a catering business from home. Clients might make unreasonable demands or be difficult to work with. Los Angeles is one of the most diverse and populated cities in America, making it a great place to start a catering business. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. Consider offering discounts for referrals. Follow other area businesses, venues, and entrepreneurs to build a network of local leads and plant a seed to ensure that they keep you in mind for future events. It provides opportunity to advertise on the job -- potential customers are eating your food. If you’re ready to start cooking, here are the steps to starting your home-based catering business. Let me introduce myself before we dive into the details around a home based catering business. All food service businesses are required to carry food liability insurance, including restaurants, food trucks, private chefs, farmer’s market vendors, and even food carts and concession stands. Hello!! While there is no surefire recipe for a successful home catering service business, a dash of culinary skills, determination, and grace under fire can go a long way. Starting a catering business in California can be done out of a commercial kitchen or out of your home. Next step is to obtain a catering license. [9] References. Last Updated: September 11, 2019 If you start a catering business without a business plan, then you might end up just like every other self employed caterer. Familiarize yourself with your local laws before you take any action towards officially starting your business. Does your state allow you to cater from home, and if so, do you need any special inspections or permits? If you plan to serve alcohol you may also need a separate license. Apply for a business license if your state or territory requires it. Do your market research. To take advantage of this opportunity, you need to understand the fit-out requirements for home … Look for a good location to rent. Maybe you’re an excellent cook, maybe you love throwing parties, or maybe you’re interested in event planning and want to get the ball rolling by catering. Additionally, you can start this business part-time. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. National Federation of Independent Business. Take note of the demand for catering where you live to pinpoint your target demographic and take advantage of the opportunities you have before you. You can then use your home as your headquarters to handle the business end of things, including advertising, order taking, and bookkeeping. Start marketing or use some contacts , to have initial business. Setting yourself up to cater meals efficiently from your home kitchen might require you to add things like one or more additional ovens, an oversized stove with multiple burners, a flat-topped griddle, a frying station, or some industrial-sized sinks. “Catering is more than cooking,” says Denise Vivaldo, in her book, “How to Start a Home-Based Catering Business” and we couldn’t agree more! Starting a business plan doesn’t cost you a dime or force you to launch a company. Contact your state's occupational licensing agency or health department to find out what you need to do to be approved to operate a home-based catering business. Tip: As a caterer, you’ll need an on-premise license as opposed to an off-premise one, as the alcohol you’ll be serving will be consumed there at the event venue. Reach out to deAsra for any of your query on your food business. Check back often, as content is loaded daily. This increases the likelihood that a person could b… On average, you can expect to invest $10,000 to $50,000 to get started, according to Entrepreneur.com. But if you start with small events, you should be able to open your business for less. Additionally, you can start this business part-time. Some of the key items to start with and build upon are: Deciding on a name for your business Having a good food liability insurance policy will protect you from a lawsuit in the event that one of your clients becomes ill after eating your food. Before you jump into a catering business, you should decide a few things: Once you've determined the above, you should gather needed equipment and supplies. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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