The Business Side of Catering

The Business Side of Catering

The decision to open your own catering business is an expensive one. The initial financial investment is so great that potential caterers will often put up any property they currently own as collateral, risking their present in the hope of a successful future. Before you commit to your dream, you must thoroughly assess this risk. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose. Dependent upon the market and your location, you can start a catering business for as little as $2,000. This should cover not only the compulsory licensing but also the start-up gear you’ll need.

You can contact your local courthouse or search online to find out which state agency maintains and regulates catering licenses. This agency will vary from state to state, so it’s important to identify which one you’ll need to approach. You’ll also need a tax ID number, issued by the IRS, which will essentially serve as a social security number for your business. Lastly, you’ll need a food handler permit for yourself and all employees and a liquor license if you intend to serve alcohol.

Your budget for equipment and supplies will directly correspond to your initial goals for business size. Remember that your business will grow as your financials do, so don’t be too worried if you’re only able to focus on the essentials for now. With the paperwork and accouterments out of the way, you’ll need to focus on just one more expenditure: advertising. Minimal exposure should cost you around $500 to …

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The Right Business Catering for Your Meeting

The Right Business Catering for Your Meeting

The world of business catering is much different than any other sector of the catering industry. This particular industry is dictated primarily by the amount of disposable cash that the business has in its budget. These events are important to corporations because they help to boost employee morale, provide fancy accommodations for potential clients, and set up a venue for socializing that would normally not be available.

Most of the time a business catering event will be either hors d’oeuvres or some other kind of meal that will include food that has already been prepared before the event. Numerous businesses opt to have a buffet-style breakfast or lunch so that they can offer hot and cold choices to satisfy any eating habit. There may or may not be an open bar. Some employers do not see it appropriate for their employees to consume alcohol at a work function while others do not mind at all.

These types of catering events do suffer more when the economy is down. In a slow economy if a company has disposable money available, instead of having an event like this they may see it more advantageous to hire another person to stimulate their growth. Although this may slow things down a bit there are still numerous opportunities for a good business caterer to make a fair share of money in any economic state.

There is a new trend in business catering. It is the sales presentation which is when a corporation is trying to …

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