9 Key Ingredients to Starting a Wedding Catering Business

You have incredible cooking skills, and people love your food. Now, you’re ready to take the leap and market to the masses with a wedding catering business.

However, you must consider the initial steps to ensure success before opening your kitchen doors. Ready to take charge and be your own boss?

Explore these nine key ingredients to kickstart your wedding catering business.

 

1. Conduct Market Research

Research is the foundation of any good business. It gives you an overview of the market size and competition and helps your company prepare for issues that may arise as your business grows.

Find your competitive advantage against competitors. You may discover that many caterers in your area focus on Caribbean cuisine but more people are looking for those specializing in European food. Therefore, you should explore creating and adding Italian dishes to your menu.

Here are some tips to start your research:

• Ask around: Approach friends and neighbors, especially those who just had a celebration, and ask about their catering preferences. How was the food, who are the popular choices in the area and what was the service like?
• Call married friends and relatives: Get firsthand information from friends and family who once hired a wedding caterer. What are the qualities they looked for? How much was the package?
• Use the internet: Visit your competitors’ websites, Facebook pages and Google Business Profile. Check out what people are saying about their service and food. What do they love about these caterers? What could you possibly deliver better?

 

2. Choose Between On-Site or Off-Site Catering

On-site catering is when you cook and prepare food at the event location. Off-site catering will have you complete meal preparations somewhere else, usually at home, and bring them to the reception. Each option comes with benefits.

On-site caterers are extremely familiar with the event venue, which creates a seamless experience. They already have items on hand, from silverware to linens. They can also quickly accommodate any dietary restrictions guests may have.

Off-site caterers offer clients preset package costs, which can benefit budget-conscious clients. They offer more menu options since they aren’t limited to the resources available at the event venue.

3. Name Your Business

It’s time for the fun part — brainstorming for names. You’ll want something easy to remember, unique and available in the region where you’re operating your wedding catering business. There are over 87,000 catering businesses in the United States, so ensure your name stands out.

You also need to choose the business entity. If operating as a sole proprietor, you will own the business alone or with your spouse. You can register as a different entity if you have a partner, such as a general or limited partnership.

 

4. Create a Business Plan

A business plan will be your roadmap to success as you grow your company. It helps you identify your short-, medium- and long-term goals. You may want to become the first choice for small weddings in the city or serve big-name clients.

Another reason to create a business plan is it will help you gain more capital. Banks and investors usually require you to present it before offering funding.

An ideal business plan contains the following:

• The client problems you want to address
• Your unique selling proposition
• Your business resources
• Vision and mission statements

 

5.Get Licenses and Permits

Licensing requirements vary per region. Depending on your location, you may be required to purchase new kitchen equipment for your business. Some standard licenses and permits include:

• General business license
• Zoning permit
• Health permit

Contact your secretary of state and local health department for specific licensing requirements.

 

6. Create Your Menu

If you’ve spent the past months daydreaming about your catering business, chances are you already have a few menu items in mind.

However, after stalking your competitors and interviewing potential clients, you might want to create a more solid menu based on the gathered insights. For example, if there’s an unfulfilled demand for Asian cuisine, you may consider adding dim sum, nasi goreng or tempura to your offerings.

7. Excite Potential Customers

Jumpstart your catering business by offering free tastings in your area or at a wedding expo. Bring the kitchen to potential clients with a catering van and leave a lasting impression.

Let’s cut the clutter and make some eye-candy! Before heading out, ensure everything is meticulously organized. Place essential items within easy reach on shelves and in drawers. As a general rule, items unused after six months should be removed from your space to keep your look neat and tidy. Installing proper lighting also helps you find items more quickly and brings a bright, warm mood to your van.

A well-organized and well-lit workspace ensures a smooth and efficient operation. Remember to keep and distribute marketing materials in an accessible spot so that your audience can contact you for future catering needs.

 

8. Gather Necessary Equipment

Consider the scale of your business and what your region requires when listing the equipment you need. Instead of shopping alone, contact a restaurant supply company and get a quote for your needs to make the procurement process more efficient.

 

9. Market Your Business

Spread the word! Use strategies like word-of-mouth, referrals and online directories. You can also create an Instagram account and stay active — shoot videos, capture crave-worthy food shots and use relevant hashtags. When you post consistently on social media, more clients will consider you and businesses will show interest in partnerships.

 

 

Start Your Wedding Catering Business Today

Opening a catering business is a challenging task. These tips will help you realize your dreams of owning a company and making people’s special days delectable.

 

 

Author Bio: Oscar Collins is the editor-in-chief at Modded, where he writes about a broad spectrum of topics. Follow him on Twitter @TModded for frequent updates on his work.

 

 

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