Aside from investing in a restaurant or franchising food stalls, there are other ways to involve yourself in the food industry. One of them is by starting your own catering service. However, much like any food-related business, setting up a catering business is no easy feat as well.
Here are some of the key factors you have to put in consideration before actually starting one.
Equipment
Just like setting up a restaurant, starting a catering business also involves investing in equipment. The difference is that the equipment you need should be ones that can easily be transported since you will be hired to set up in various types of venues. You can either obtain these resources on your own or hire another company as a supplier.
Moreover, there is also the matter of getting repairs for catering equipment. Even with enough preparation, there are still risks of something going wrong in an event. So, whether you invest in having your own equipment or hire from someone else, you will have to shoulder expenses for the repairs needed.
Personnel
This aspect of the business is relatively easy because unlike restaurants, catering services have the option to take in contractual workers. This means you will not have to pay staff and personnel like regular restaurant workers. Instead, you can pay staff depending on the projects and events you are hired for.
Well, aside from kitchen staff, that is. Remember that you need a team that will take over the kitchen, so you still need to hire regular employees who will facilitate and handle cooking preparations. Nonetheless, hiring waiters and servers will vary depending on how big the project is.
Resources and Suppliers
Catering services also need to have a reliable supplier that will provide ingredients and cooking resources for the business. Without one, a catering business can struggle to get a hold of various ingredients for dishes in their menu.
Moreover, without a standard supplier, a catering service will have a hard time stocking on high-quality ingredients. And as we are all aware, quality is an important factor when it comes to the food industry.
Menu
Your menu is potentially the most important aspect of your business. After all, this is what gives you a competitive advantage over similar catering service providers. This means that you will have to create a menu that is distinct from what other catering business can offer.
Furthermore, you will have to consider having a menu that will fit the niche of your target market that is well within your resources and cooking capability.
Although it seems relatively easy, starting a catering business still involves mindful decision-making. Listed above are some of the most important factors to prepare for. However, it will be helpful to keep in mind that these are not the only things to consider prior to starting a catering service.
In addition to that, it is best to take your time in planning before actually investing your money in it. After all, the food industry is fragile; even one mistake in handling the business might cost you a lot.
