Food Business Startup Pointers

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Starting a catering business, let alone a successful one, is definitely not easy. Becoming a successful caterer needs a certain level of expertise, excellent communication and management skills, as well as outstanding time and staff management. If you're aspiring to be an event caterer in the near future, here are some pointers to help you out.

First step would be to prepare yourself to be a caterer. This means knowing about this industry, how it works, and the various types of opportunities you can explore or specialize in. This is also about taking advantage of career training opportunities to further improve your food presentation style and understanding of different skills needed in the business. Apart from career orientation and seminars, you can also gain experience through volunteer work or by having yourself employed by a reputable caterer in your area. Having personal experience in this industry will also help you learn more about how to deal with clients and present your catering expertise, as well as how to deliver the kind and quality of service expected from you. Make sure to take note of contacts and recommendations you'd likely get along the way as these will be helpful when starting out your own business later on.

Next, remember that starting a catering business is not just about planning the menu – it's definitely way more complicated than that. Since there are different types of catering you can offer, decide on particular kinds of service and events you'd like to focus and specialize in. The menu and food presentation will also largely depend on the types of events you choose to cater with. When planning prices, service charges, and costs of catering packages, though, it will help if you can take a look at current standard pricing in the market. Of course, fees charged by a company will likely depend on their level and areas of expertise, as well as their particular reputation in the industry.

No matter what type of events you choose to focus on, you'd still need basic equipment and catering supplies. Some of the things you'll surely need are commercial refrigeration or freezer for your supplies, as well as tableware, linens, trays, and different storage and kitchen utensils. You don't have to buy all the stuff you need right away: if you're pressed with money or looking for ways how to manage your resources more efficiently, renting equipment or buying second-hand items is a great idea. As for your professional kitchen, you can always start with your own at home, but be sure to apply for the necessary license and permits. To ensure that you'll be making the most of space and available kitchen utensils, renting commercial kitchens is also a practical idea.

Apart from the clients themselves, you also need to be concerned about your suppliers. Ask around for reputable food and spice suppliers you can work with, someone who can provide you with quality supplies with fast and reliable turnaround time. Even if you're starting small, you'd also need to hire hardworking staff – they can be all-around servers (during events) and helpers when preparing the food.

Last but not the least is marketing your catering business. Depending on the image you prefer to project, think of a business name that is unique, creative, and leaves a good-sounding impression to customers. You can also start promoting your business through your social circle – remember that good words and recommendations from people can go a long way in this type of industry. And of course, always value the various contacts you would encounter along the way: these can bring in more clients or help you reach your business goals faster later on.

Maximizing Mileage for Your Catering Startup

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Running a catering business is either a difficult occupation or a fulfilling endeavor: it all depends on how you decide to handle the difficulties that accompany the business. It's more productive than dealing with a restaurant, particularly in the event that you have a low overhead capital and you need to amplify accessible assets. What would you be able to anticipate from the catering business? Chaotic calendars, demanding customers, and securing operation permits from all the regions you'll work in. And these are simply a couple of the concerns you'll need to stress over. Profitable industries are breeding grounds for competition, so you should expect plenty of small-time outfits, heavyweights, even restaurateurs running their own deals to cover for slack.

Planning Marketing Campaigns

You'll be able to stand out on the off chance that you promote appropriately. Numerous cooks concentrate excessively on their operations that the significance of marketing is ignored. You must think about marketing your brand as a venture, one which pays off over the long haul. Any exposure is beneficial to a mobile business like yours. This can help you string along clients as you service events and occasions along your area of coverage. Obviously, the extent is all up to you, and you can cover the whole state in case you're eager to head out that far to expand business. Note that you're going to secure grants or permits to work on every occasion you go to, and the health and safety standards may also vary widely across locations.

Social Engagement gets more Mileage

One surefire method for drawing in interest is to be socially engaged with various communities. It's true that profit is a priority in a catering business, but you'll have to invest in charity once in a while -- pay it forward to your community. You'll get media mileage if you choose the right charities or institutions, those which bring in as many locals as possible. You can't envision the system of referrals you'll get just by word of mouth, and the quality of your service will be established once the wave of clients comes in.

Ads through Diverse Media

Ads may be as straightforward as printed supplies and shirts to vehicle decals, and you can likewise post promotions on local publications during peak periods of the year. You'll get more mileage with specialty magazines, however: those concentrated on the sort of occasions you represent considerable authority in. Newspapers and local directories cater to various demographics, and you may not pull in the type of clients that bring in business. Professional service should be incorporated into your image, and it has to be reflected in your advertisement campaigns, in your printed items, and especially in your website. A website is considered a necessity nowadays, and chances are potential clients get a good feel of what you have to offer by browsing through your website, check out your terms and variety of service.

Minimize costs for profit

You must genuinely consider organizations with suppliers and sponsors, once you've developed a customer base for your business. Associations can help you fund operation expenses, for example, rented equipment or wages for your wait staff, chefs, and delivery personnel. The cost of rented equipment is a significant part of your overhead expenses, but you can check out essential catering equipment like refrigerators online at Getprice that suit your budget and needs.  Cost-efficiency is the primary characteristic of the catering business; maximize your revenues, minimize costs for profit.

Tips to Get You Started with a Home-Based Business

Photo Credit to: Chron

Why should you consider starting a home-based business? Presently, the economic slowdown has led to employee benefits being cut. With the frantic pace of life, many people are considering putting up a home-based business, with no boss and no working schedule to beat, to augment their income.

There is no need to use all your savings or whatever severance pay you would receive in the event that you leave your job. Doing business at home only requires a small startup capital. There is no need to spend too much on lavish office interiors, high-end equipment, or staff yet. You can count on members of the household to help anytime and on short notice, often without the need to compensate them.

Today, generating an income and managing the family at the same time is no longer an inconceivable idea. It is achievable, as long as you have a foolproof home business idea. Of course, everything would seem easier said than done. Hence, here are several proven home-based business tips to help you start promptly, without spending a big amount of money:

1. Have a clear idea of the type of home business you want to start. Are you good with organization? Do you enjoy planning events and assisting people? Then you could probably start a small personal assistance firm or become an organizer of different events. Do you love to cook? Then perhaps you’d want to put up a catering business.
2. Know your competition since they can make or break your business operations. It wouldn’t hurt to do a background check on each of your business rivals to check their strong and weak points. Obviously, you can use the knowledge you would glean from your research to be a step ahead of the competition.
3. Understand the needs of your area. Pay attention to what people want and need in the area. If they mention something that interests you and you happen to be good at it, try it. Some people are adept at more than one skill, so by all means, try them all. There is no existing law that stops you from doing so.
4. Figure out your profits. Estimate how much you will be receiving for your service. Is it a feasible income for you? A perfect example of this is if you make specialty cakes. Because of the complicated designs, sizes, and special flavors of most cakes, people are willing to pay as much as $350 per cake. However, with the very detailed work that goes into making specialty cakes, you need to decide how many cakes you can work on per week. Keep in mind that the profits you will be making will go towards ingredients and supplies. Eventually, you will need to invest on equipment such as a commercial fridge to keep your cakes fresh. Incidentally, you can browse commercial fridges online. That way, you can choose the one that gives you the best value for your money.
5. Inquire about the licensing requirements for your home-based business. Some cities enforce rules and regulations for home-based businesses. Check at the city hall before investing much time or money. In some cases, you may be required to apply for a business license only and nothing else.
6. Visit your local insurance agent to know if you need any special insurance. Once you start a home-based business, you will be exposing your home and family members to different risks. Hence, you need to make sure you are covered before it is too late.
7. Have a business plan. Not only will it help you list down things you may have overlooked while cooking up the idea in your head but it will also help you determine what kind of start up costs you are looking at.
8. Invest time and effort on advertising and marketing campaigns for your business. You don’t need to spend money. You can create simple fliers or brochures on your computer and have your kids hand these out to your neighbors. It’s a simple yet effective marketing strategy.

Hopefully, these tips will guide you as you try to come up with a foolproof and feasible plan for your home-based business.

3 Restaurant Options for Investors and Entrepreneurs

Image credit: Matthias Rhomberg (flickr.com)

Are you planning to open a restaurant in the near future? One thing you should know beforehand is that you actually have a lot of choices and concepts to play around with when you go for this type of food business. 

Naturally, various factors should influence you as you strive to come up with the right decision. For example, some of the first things that you have to consider include the money you are willing to invest, the market you are planning to target, plus the kind of food you intend to offer.

Here are the three general categories you can choose from as you explore the industry:

Fine Dining

While “fine dining” definitions may vary from one person to another, the term usually refers to a formal dining experience. This means that the clients get the highest quality of food, atmosphere, and service when they dine in such a setting. You need to implement high standards if you are planning to open this type of restaurant. You have to hire the best chefs, dress your waiters in formal attire, and purchase classy furniture.   

Fast Food 

As the name implies, fast food gives heavy emphasis on providing fast service for customers. Fries burgers, and pizzas are often served in these restaurants. As opposed to fine dining, ordering the food is typically done in the counter not on the table. Drive-through and take-out systems are also implemented here for the convenience of customers. Food carts and stalls also belong in this category.    

Casual Dining

The name is likewise a giveaway. Casual dining refers to restaurants that serve food in a casual setting. Prices are usually moderate and table service is provided – except for restaurants that offer buffet meals. Casual dining falls in the middle between fine dining and fast food.  

Conclusion

As mentioned above, you have to honestly assess your strengths and capabilities, especially in terms of finances. You have to be properly informed about the required investments. Do some research ahead of time so you have an idea about what to expect. Purchasing the needed equipment is also essential. Browse the market for the best deals as you buy a fridge freezer, ice maker machine, and others. Likewise, you have to look for a good location that suits the type of restaurant you have in mind. Finally, food pricing and hiring enough number of employees (cooks and waiters) should also guide you in decision making.       

How to Start a Catering Business

Photo Credits: Albert Herring (commons.wikimedia.org)

If you enjoy cooking for parties and you are thinking of entering the business world, establishing your own catering service can be a great idea.

This type of entrepreneurial venture presents you with the opportunity to get started even without spending big. As opposed to running an actual restaurant, catering can be done with low overhead expenses. You can then expand your business as you go along and get more customers.      

Here’s how you can begin:

Step 1: Begin with a menu

Of course, your initial step should be to come up with a menu you can present to prospective clients. Also, this allows you to have an estimate of the kitchen space and appliances you will need.

When creating a menu, it is important that you offer variety in order to reach a greater number of potential customers. There’s nothing wrong with having specialty cuisine but make it a point to be a bit diverse because this will increase your chances of earning. For example, veggie meals are particularly attractive to consumers who do not eat meat.  

Step 2: Get a space and the needed supplies

Generally speaking, local laws do not allow catering services to be operated from your home. Compliance with the business and health requirements in your area is very important. Otherwise, they can order you to stop operations.

One idea here is to work from a commercial kitchen. You can rent such a space for an entire day or even for a few hours, depending on how long you will need one. This is ideal if you are starting out and you only cater during weekends.

If you can already afford it, you may also consider renting a space. This makes it easier for your contacts to pay you a visit whenever necessary. You may also invest in needed equipment such as pots, pans, silverware, glassware, disposable plates, refrigerators, freezers, and everything else. Those in Australia can check out catering equipment Sydney via premierrentals.com.au.

Step 3: Be a legitimate business

As mentioned above, observing requirements set by the local government is crucial. Learn about the licenses and permits in your area.

Once you’re done with that, you can then begin hiring people. Servers should be given appropriate uniform plus you have to take the time to train them well. Also, having a spacious vehicle is important so you can transport food to various locations with zero hassle.

Related Articles:

Starting a Catering Business (entrepreneur.com)

Successful Catering 101: 4 Operational Tips to Boost Sales and Improve Efficiency (edgl.com)

Choosing The Best Commercial Fridges Worth Your Time and Money

Photo Credit: James Faw (pinterest.com)

When you are running a food business or planning to open your own food business, one of the things you need to prioritize is investing in the best kitchen equipment. Every food business owner knows how expensive buying your own equipment can be, especially since you can’t settle for anything less if you want to offer your clients or customers the best service and high-quality food.

This is why it pays to come up with checklist of the equipment you may possibly need. You don’t need to buy everything on the list right away, but at least determine what you need to have on hand first. Most start-ups rent their equipment and are able to slowly build their inventory as time goes by. Wise catering/kitchen/restaurant equipment buys will always help you save money in the long run and allow you to have some left over for other expenses like payroll and supplies.

One of the biggest and most important investments you will need to make for your business is for commercial fridges. Since you will need to adhere to health and safety regulations concerning food preparation, storage and handling, a good commercial fridge is essential. However, with so many makes and models out in the market, you’ll need to base your decision on what your business needs, the amount of food you need to store daily and of course, the size of your premises/location.

If you have budget constraints, you can always check commercial fridges available online for rent as this way, you get what you need at a price you can afford. The great thing is there are suppliers who offer a rent-to-own option where you can eventually buy the fridge at a percentage of the original sale price after your rental period. You won’t have to go out and buy a new fridge but simply use the one you’ve come to depend on.

Another thing you need to remember when choosing the best commercial fridges for your business is you need to choose one that is energy efficient. With the heavy use you’ll be putting it through, you may find yourself complaining more and more about high utility bills and as such, you need to get a fridge that won’t bleed you dry in this department. You may want to consider using commercial fridges and freezers that have earned the Energy Star rating because these fridges are approximately 30% more energy efficient than standard models. You can save close to $60-70$ annually which is pretty significant considering.

You will also benefit from fridges with high-efficiency compressors and improved coil designs, as well as those with electronically commutated motors, variable speed fans, improved fan blade designs, anti-sweat heaters, improved insulation and gaskets, as well as efficient interior lighting. All these contribute to significant savings due to high energy efficiency.

And lastly, never attempt to consider using residential fridges for your business. You can always do research and gather as much information as you can about the best fridges to use for business and the wear and tear that your fridges will be subjected to from heavy use is not something residential fridges are designed for, not unless you don’t have anything against spending constantly for repairs and upkeep.

You might also like:

What Are The Different Types of Commercial Refrigeration? (wisegeek.com)

How To Run A Restaurant: Sourcing Supply (forbes.com)