For many, owning your own catering business is a dream come true, and there are many ways to satisfy your love for cooking whilst also making a decent living. If you’re up to date with the latest food trends, and you love to host dinner parties for friends and family, you can easily combine you’re entrepreneurial drive with your favourite hobby to give your skills a platform to develop. However there are a number of things that need to be in place before you start taking bookings!

In the world of catering, whether you get your business through word of mouth or you actively seek clients, you will need to find your culinary niche, and make sure it carries the name of your company through every bite and smell. Additionally, you’re going to need a solid foundation of equipment to ensure you can actually prepare hot and cold food, and seeing that most start-ups will be working to a tight budget, this can be tricky.

Thankfully there’s no need to fret, as we’ve compiled a list of the top catering considerations as well as some equipment you’ll be able to pick up within your budget.

Guest Profiles

One of the first things you’ll have to do when starting up your catering business, other than find your culinary niche, is to distinguish your guest or client profiles. Not only will you need to understand and differ the services you offer to friends and business clients, but you will also need to be knowledgeable about the services your competitors offer.

In order to make your business stand out, it’s imperative that you complement your food with a bespoke and professional service, as well as offering more than the next catering company in your area and price range. One you have these targets set out, there’s no going back, and you’ll need to retain that high level of food and service in order to retain customers.

Understand Preferences

With different clients come different preferences, and this can be a good thing and a bad thing. Within the catering industry, you must be able to offer a variety of menus depending on the age group of your clients, and limiting your menu will ultimately limit the expansion of your business.

For example, if you’re catering for an older group of professionals, like a book club get together, a milder menu is advisable. Your food will be there as a refreshment, and not as the centre piece of the engagement; offering something for everyone is the key to these types of bookings.

You will also get bookings where your food will be an essential element of the event, such as a charity auction. It is here where you can offer something more outlandish, and show off your culinary delights though a specific menu. You can have a look at the latest Catering equipment with Fridge Freezer Direct.

Essential Equipment

When you’re on the road with your catering business, you’ll need to keep a few pieces of equipment to hand when things get busy. A quality chef’s knife can be picked up relatively cheaply, however it’s good to note that the more you pay, the longer it will last. A portable rice cooker always comes in handy when catering for large groups, and again there are a variety of brands that offer great prices on this essential. Finally, don’t forget your lemon squeezer!

David is an experienced foodie and loves all aspects of food and drink. David also has a keen interest in the catering business.