Starting and running a catering business, like any business, costs money.Not only do you need to purchase or rent work space, equipment and inventory, but you also need to incorporate the business, license and insure the business with the correct agencies, keep a payroll going, keep liquid assets on hand, and properly file business taxes.
Learning how to handle these required tasks is essential to the success of any business, but it is especially important when starting a small business in catering.The most important piece of the puzzle is determining where you will get financing for your business.
Many entrepreneurs secure financing once they develop a business plan, whether going to a bank for money or whether going to private investors.Once you’ve done all the legwork, you know exactly how much money you will need to get things moving.
Your business plan provides the road map for your company’s success. Your mission statement, your financial goals, revenue projections, cost projections, marketing strategy and more are all included in the plan. Investors will take a look at the plan and evaluate whether or not they think your small business in catering is a sound investment for them.
Most entrepreneurial-minded people have some natural business savvy, but there is a lot of learning that goes into knowing how to run a catering business. Investors need to know that you have business savvy, not just cooking talent.
Luckily, there are local organizations that can help prospective business owners learn how to:
* Incorporate
* Get a Tax ID Number
* Secure Permits & Licenses
* Use Bookkeeping Software
* Handle Business Banking & Insurance
* Acquire Necessary Equipment
As you can see, there are a multitude of tasks that will naturally befall to you, the business owner, at least for the first few years of your operation. Some people choose to research these things and learn on their own. Others prefer to take classes and seminars, or some may choose to acquire a start-up guide or manual, either online or in the form of a book.
But regardless of how you learn it, eventually you will realize that in business, it takes money to make money. Some people have been lucky enough to start a small business in catering with a few hundred dollars in their pocket.Most people, however, are not this lucky. A catering business requires a lot of equipment to get started – from ovens, stoves, pots and pans to serving equipment and vehicles.You will need to price all of these items and know the benefits of buying vs. the benefits of leasing equipment and make the best decision possible.
And while you may be tempted to buy everything that is cheap, it is simply not wise to cut corners in the food industry. Not only can your end product be affected, but never forget that your business will be subject to health department regulations. The slightest cut in corners can result in fines, penalties, or the complete loss of your business.
The prospect of tossing aside your daily grind to open a small business seems very exciting and romantic to a lot of people. But the truth is, there is a lot of drudgery that goes into planning a successful small business in catering.
Securing the money to get the business up and running, knowing the full cost of running your business, and knowing how to secure (and keep) the money to get it going is a giant step toward being a successful catering business owner.