Catering Archives - BOLLYWOOD SURKHIYAN

Some Useful Tips On How To Start A Small Catering Business

Since a lot of people love to eat, many entrepreneurs view this is an opportunity for them start a business that can be quite profitable. However, setting up and opening a restaurant or food truck can be an expensive and time-consuming venture. If your heart is into succeeding in the food industry but don’t want to go through the hustle and bustle of opening a restaurant or food truck, starting a catering business may be your best option.

The good thing about opening a small catering business is that you can operate one right in the comfort of your home. This means you won’t have to spend more money on buying certain cooking or baking equipment and wares since you already have the basic items or even everything you may need for this venture.

To make sure that you are on the path to starting a small catering business the right way and to ensure its success, there are certain useful tips you can follow. These tips include the following:

Make sure you meet the local health and safety codes for home-based catering. Although you are not opening a restaurant, you still need to apply for and get a business permit or operating license. Learn about the process of getting one and the different health and safety codes that you will have to meet or pass as well.

Create a list of all the equipment and wares you need and make sure you have them. The equipment, wares, and supplies you will need for your kitchen will depend on your type of operation. If you plan on cooking your food at the venue’s kitchen for a particular event, you will only need the most basic commercial prep supplies in your home. The same principle will also work if you will be cooking from a mobile kitchen or creating a temporary kitchen at the event sites. In such instances, you will need mobile coolers or refrigeration units, basic kitchen supplies, steam table pans, kitchen work tables, disposable catering supplies and food carriers. You will have to invest in cooking equipment like a fryer, convection oven, and range (if you don’t have them yet) if you will not be using a temporary or mobile kitchen for the events you are catering. Since you are just starting, you can rent other items such as chafing dishes, catering display items, and table skirts. Once your business is going well, you can consider buying these items to save money in the long run by reducing your rental costs.

Invest in catering software. Using the right software for catering can help you a lot in keeping track of and managing your business. Catering software can help you quickly and effectively calculate your costs. It will help you become more organized with all the tasks and information that you need to manage since this will provide you a platform where you can document contacts, data, budgets, team schedules, activities, etc. Finally, with this software, you can come up with and present your clients with professional and impressive proposals.

Finally, work on getting clients for your catering business. Using catering software can already help you out in getting clients. Aside from this, come up with a solid marketing strategy, capitalize on your low profile (ie. sell your business as providing “the best homemade comfort food”) and offer tastings so that you can win some clients.

Learn more about optimizing the right catering software and other useful tips to have a successful catering business here.

Important Facts in Catering Business

If you’re one of those fearless people who enjoy giving elegant dinner parties, you get rave reviews from guests and your relatives beg to have holidays at your house because of your cooking, then catering might be your cup of tea. As a caterer, you’ll plan menus and elegant or playful presentations for everything from company picnics to debutante balls, then cook it all up, deliver it to the event, serve it and clean up afterward. You can specialize in affairs like weddings; specific goodies like cakes or cookies; or clients like corporations, charities or individual parties.

A catered organization business provides foods program for the company occasions for example conferences, conferences, employee morale boosters, and grand openings. It also provides service for small or large events, weddings, and even private dinner events. The most important portion of operating any business is gaining purchasers. You truly ought to be a salesman having a magnetic persona from the catered group. You will be coping with distinctive clientele including business executives, celebration planners, and nervous brides. So which you can close to the sale, you might be heading to have to persuade them which you will not only provide a memorable feast, but it’ll possibly be there on time, offered attractively, and served rapidly and unobtrusively. Productive caterers go out and produce a referral network to be able to drum up organization. You ought to introduce yourself to other women and men and businesses which could possibly be involved in event and occasion preparing as very well. Some of those women and men contain wedding ceremony planners, bridal boutiques, pastry chefs, florists, and card and celebration offer shopkeepers. Generally have on brochures and business enterprise cards offered to supply out. But, don’t leave it at that – confirm in frequently to do the job up a mutual operating romantic relationship. You’ll be capable to also acquire firm by bringing a couple of snazzy hors d’oeuvres or tasty desserts to produce as goodwill gestures. This really is really a fantastic solution to create particular that you are remembered fondly and may well properly even end result in vendors referring you to their clientele. It’s achievable to send a product sales letter and brochure to organization offices along with other kinds of enterprises to acquire prospective clients then, comply with it up getting a phone call. You will be able to also request an appointment to discuss your experience.

Other than a commercial kitchen, the only things you need to get started are a phone and a delivery vehicle. A computer and printer are always nice but not a necessity for starters. You can get around the kitchen problem by arranging to use a restaurant’s facility for a small fee in its off-hours or by sharing the rental costs of a commercial kitchen and its use with other caterers.

Like any company, your success with catering will most likely be immediately linked to the power of one’s preparing, as well as the execution of that strategy. You are required to realize precisely what your customer wants, and provides that in the way that displays upon the customer positively. Amazingly ample, only seventy percent from your restaurant enterprise is created up of meals, although using the rest goes to firm, group, and so forth. Actually this changes in the catering group. Thirty percent inside the catered organization business is meals even however the rest goes to delivery, transporting the meals, lining up rental gear, and juggling personnel. This actually is precisely exactly where your organizational abilities truly count. Prioritizing duties and devoting your extremely finest perform to finishing each job successfully is what it’s going to take to recognize accomplishment in this business. Enthusiasm, discipline, and intelligent option generating are also essential elements to making your venture do effectively. Consistently maintain the clientele would like your priority. Treat them with endurance and understanding in any respect events. They should comprehend that you simply have what it normally requires making the greatest out of any situation.

Catering Business Information – An Ideal Venture for You

Do you want to earn extra income? Then start a catering business now. Creating a catering business might not be too hard but it is definitely risky. Venturing in this kind of business needs your skills to capture the taste of countless people and discovering the fine art of preparing food. Like any other types of business, of course where you invest your hard earned money, you hope to make the business grow. It is indeed necessary that you got to be prepared and wise from the very beginning of the business venture. You cannot just go through the business venture lacking any preparations and knowledge of being a caterer.

There are some things that need to be considered in opening a catering business so that it will succeed in the long run. Besides hiring a caterer, you must device a business plan to be your guide. It would be better to put into writing the ideas which are playing in your mind the moment you think of opening a catering business. This business plan must include goals classified into short term and long term and also the activities and plans that you want to carry out.

The business plan must also have manpower, investment needed as the marketing initiatives. This will be your reference and guide in making your catering business successful. Whatever plans you have for the business, it would be of help if you include the feasibility and profitability of your plans. The initial cost should be taken into consideration before putting up the catering business. The costs include salaries for the chef and first few employees; cost for the utensils and the industrialized kitchen you will work with. The next thing to focus is the definite regulations and rules of the local health department.

It is important to check the local health department and check the regulations that apply to you. You might need to check out laws governing your business and might need to get permits. This might save you from any problems that may occur later on. It might be of help if you will hire an expert to manage legal matters. Aside from the business plan, marketing strategy is a must for the business. You must know how to capture the taste of the potential customers with no spending lavishly on the ingredients. It is also to think of ways on how to reach the target market. In addition, you have to make a way in keeping a good business relationship with them.

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to market and promote your catering business. Therefore, you have to make it a point to make a goof impression on every customer that comes to your business. Another thing to promote your business is through networking. Never miscalculate the power of having connections. Other people go for charity and volunteer works or organize fund raising events. Clients will come to your business and there is a possibility that they will be your regular customers. Printed coupons and flyers can also be effective in promoting your catering business. In the opening, discount can be given to the first few customers so they can become loyal customers.

In opening a catering business, one must be ready for all the risks since all business ventures come with risks so make sure to be well-prepared when starting your business. Being ready and prepared increase your opportunity of creating a profitable business. Business people know that it’s hard to gain potential customers but it is even harder to keep the loyal customers to continue and stay to support you. However, these risks can turn into something profitable as long as you have expert and friendly caterer and the business plan and marketing strategy are prepared well.

The Best Time Management Tips for Catering Business Owners

While mapping out your goals and your day is good, it is also good to be flexible. Life seldom accommodates a perfect schedule, and when you try to fit into one, you will only stress yourself out.

Stress does not help you get more done; on the contrary, it hampers your productivity. In some cases, the best approach is to accept that certain tasks won’t be completed on schedule. You can do this and still stay focused on your important objectives. What it does mean is that you don’t have to panic if something you planned to do in the morning has to be put off until the afternoon. Do what you can and move on. If you are too much of a control freak, you will only drive yourself (and others) crazy!

Each day, start by thinking about your goals for the next 8 hours and write them down. Once you have them all written down prioritize them. All of your high priority items go up top and the low ones down below. You can now use this organized list as a “to do” list. There is no better feeling than crossing items off one by one. These lists will save you the time and frustration of wondering what you should do next, instead you can ask what’s next on the list.

Anyone knowledgeable about time management will tell you that, to be truly productive, you must learn how to delegate. People who try to do everything themselves seldom get very much done. The trick of delegating is to find others who can do the smaller, less important tasks for you. Then you can devote more time to your true objectives. It’s hard to focus on the big picture if you’re constantly dealing with tiny details. Delegation is something that many people have difficulty with. You will just have to learn to get over this.

Figuring out good time management skills for a catering business owner can be hard to do at first. The more work you put into your time management skills the quicker you will see how focuse and on task your days are. Before too long you could be as good or better than the most organized person in your office. It is good to have goals. Just don’t get carried away. Leave time for fun in your life. It is important to remember that your body and your mind both need to relax from time to time!

Basic Catering Equipment for Your Business

Food preparation and catering had been a lucrative business in the recent years. It has been growing consistently. Many of these practitioners or catering service providers had been enjoying their food as much as they enjoy making them and serving them to guests. However, being a successful caterer does not mean you are good with cooking foods only. It also requires you to have high quality catering equipment in order to produce quality food.

Catering equipment varies and if you wanted to tap this kind of business, it pays to learn the basics of catering service. First, understand that you need to impress your guest with the taste and aroma of the food then excite them with the presentation. How can you provide them with mouth-watering recipes if you don’t own kitchen appliances and equipment that will help you cook and prepare the food? In other words, buying and owning good quality catering equipment is an investment. It is also a key to the success of your business.

Now, do you want to have those kinds of equipment? Are you looking for the right one stop shop for your catering business? Are you looking for commercial kitchen equipment in an online warehouse? Know first the basic kitchen equipment that you will need:

Silverware and Utensils –These are knives, spoons, forks and other silverware. For your business, you may need customized catering equipment that is designed to your food preparation needs. This equipment should not be fancy. It just needs to be durable and rust proof.

Plates and Bowls –The standard plates for any occasion are white ones. Bowls in the other hand should be transparent to be served for punch and other fruit mixes. White and transparent plates and bowls are used to project cleanliness and uniformity.

Ovens – If you are looking forward to serve at functions with large group of people, reliable ovens are very important. This should be at the top of your buying list of catering equipment. Choose one that is durable and can stand through times and frequent use.

Refrigerators –Storage and right refrigeration is needed to preserve the raw materials and ingredients for your catering service. Having refrigerators will keep the excess ingredients in cool and dry storage. It will also help prevent food from spoiling.

The success of your business relies on the quality of the equipment you are using. Investment wise, purchase the tools and equipments that will last long and those that can endure frequent usage. You can find top-notch catering equipment will help in the smooth running of your business.

Catering Business Profits, Earnings and Salaries – How Much Money Can You Really Make?

Many people have turned their love of cooking and entertaining into a good living by starting catering businesses.

Catering is a multi-billion dollar industry in the U.S. and as one of the fastest growing segments of the food and beverage industry, the catering business offers great opportunities for those wanting to start a small business with a low start up cost.

In this article we will look at catering business profits, earnings and salaries and how much money it is really possible to make in this industry. Then we will examine some of the things that separate the really successful players from the amateurs.

Is a $100,000 Yearly Profit Possible in Catering?

Many people consider a $100,000 pre-tax salary or profit to be a benchmark for success and they wonder if they can reach this level of earnings in catering.

Most small catering business owners who put in the effort can expect to earn between $20,000 and $40,000 profit per year for the owner during the first couple of years. After a couple of years in the business, you can easily scale up to earning a ‘six figure’ annual income from catering.

Tips for Getting to the ‘Six Figure’ Level

1) Forget catering from your home kitchen if you want to get to this salary level. Business savvy caterers do volumes that require them to either rent commercial kitchen space by the hour, arrange access to restaurant kitchens during off-hours or focus on ‘on-premises’ jobs only and use the kitchens of their clients.

2) Successful players love spending time creating menus, following food trends and interacting with people without neglecting the business side of catering.

3) Start to create a powerful brand right from the start with your logo, company values and unique service that will grow into a valuable asset that allows you to command a premium price for your catering services in the market.

4) Develop systems for every part of your business to streamline day-to-day operations. Analyze the way that you and your staff work and strive to increase productivity.

5) Understand that there are ‘niche’ markets within the catering industry that you would never think of until you really start looking. Top caterers find these untapped opportunities, and carve out a business catering to the specific needs of these groups.

6) Perfect the process of consulting with new clients and learn how to politely up-sell them on some of your more expensive offerings.

7) Realize that you are leaving money on the table if you don’t also up-sell additional event related services to your customers.

8) Learn how to hire, train and organize a small team to assist you with food preparation, delivery, service, and even sales if you want a realistic chance of getting to an income level above $100,000.

9) Don’t neglect traditional advertising methods but also pursue other modern marketing methods such as networking, cross promotions and guerrilla marketing.

10) Successful caterers also recognize the importance of customer referrals. Customers may introduce friends to you because they like your food and services but there are also other ways to get them talking about your company.

To get started on the right track, do as much reading as you can about general small business management and the catering business specifically. Many highly successful caterers have published start up guides and you have a chance to learn from their mistakes instead of making your own and you can benefit from their expert advice and insider tips.

It is possible to make a lot of money in the catering business if you put in the effort. Reaching a level of earnings that will allow you to make a ‘six figure’ salary from your catering business is entirely possible within your first two years in business.

Tips on Selecting Catering Equipment

Catering equipment is the driving force behind any catering business. It is crucial that you spend some time planning your operation before purchasing any catering equipment. There may be a huge difference between the equipment you want and the equipment you need for the job and selecting the right ones will contribute to the ease and success of your catering operation.

Here are some tips on selecting the right catering equipment:

o Plan ahead. It’s like your mise-en-place or your preparation before operation. Your level of planning and preparation will determine your success. Remember: people who fail to plan, plan to fail.

o If it’s a new venture, you need to decide on how much space you are allocating to your commercial kitchen and how much to your customers. The kitchen space should be proportionate to the maximum number of customers you will be serving. Think of your kitchen as the engine of your catering operation. A small kitchen will struggle to cope with large numbers.

o Decide on what type of food you are going to produce. This will pinpoint your equipment needs.

o Establish the maximum number of people you will be serving. This will help you decide on the size or performance of the equipment.

o Decide on the lay-out. It is best to consult with a professional designer as you need to give consideration to where the equipment is placed, the service space for your staff, traffic flow and many other factors.

o Research the brands to ensure you are buying quality equipment. Base your decision on quality and performance and then try to buy at best possible price. Many people try to economise and opt for second hand equipment. Good second hand equipment is hard to find and even when you do find it the chances of break down in the middle of service is high.

o Inferior quality equipment is just as bad as the second hand. Remember that you need to depend on the equipment every day to produce good quality products and earn your living.

o Ensure there is decent warranty and after sales service with the equipment. Although all suppliers conduct the warranty work during business hours Monday to Friday, it is good to know that they have trained technicians and spare parts to come and repair your equipment quickly.

o Take out a preventative maintenance agreement with your supplier or have your equipment serviced regularly to ensure it’s always working to optimum performance.

o Learn how to use your equipment and ensure your staff is familiar with the operational procedures of the equipment. This will prolong the life of your equipment, will prevent injuries or tragedies and create staff satisfaction.

o Clean your equipment regularly and keep it clean. Hygiene is very important when it comes to handling and preparing food and beverage products.

The above guide should help you select the right catering equipment for your operation. If in doubt, please consult with your supplier to ensure you get the best catering equipment for your needs.