How To Run A Catering Business

Need to know how to run a catering business? People have to eat, and with today’s busy lifestyle, you can make money if you can run a catering business.  There are many different types and styles of catering to choose from. There are small intimate affairs for two people on a special occasion, larger family group affairs, corporate picnics and huge events where and undetermined amount of people will flock to find good food. To run a catering business select the size of an event you can comfortable cater to.

1. Develop flexible menus based on three or four entrées. Plan for different side dishes and desserts so that your potential customers can choose what they would prefer.  Large events can be successfully catered by doing a BBQ style meat with beans, coleslaw and bread while an intimate affair could consist of steak, potatoes au gratin, steamed asparagus with a decadent dessert to polish it off. 
   
2. Be sure to have all of the necessary health certificates and business licenses in hand.  You will definitely want to stay on the good side of the government while you run your catering business.  You may also need a local business license which will allow you to purchase bulk items less expensively.
3. A good marketing tool to run your catering business is to use social networking sites. By setting up pages and inviting customers and potential customers to link to you, your name will keep appearing. Update your pages before or after each event.  If it is a private event, post how well it went.  If the event was public, post before so that someone who may be interested can show up and sample some of the items you may serve. This will also keep you in the front of potential customers. When they want to have an event catered, yours will be the first they see when they log in to their own social network page. 
4. Word of mouth is also an excellent source for new customers. Always be professional and on time when you are catering an event. This will go far in promoting your business.
5. You may want to consider joining a catering association. They can help you to network to find local catering jobs. They are also a great source for equipment and products you will need to run your catering business.