January 24, 2019
How to Run a Successful Restaurant Catering Business
Of course, taking on this business venture will also require that you have enough financing, staff members, and equipment in order to flourish. Before you start advertising your catering company, you should review your business plan and be aware of the expenses that come with starting this type of business. That way, you can be confident that you're ready to successfully serve customers.
In this post, we’ll review eight ideas that you should consider implementing prior to starting a catering business.
8 Catering Tips Your Restaurant Should Consider:
1. Hire Enough Staff Members
In order to run a small catering business while maintaining your restaurant operations, you’ll need plenty of experienced food-service professionals on your staff. Due to this, you may need to hire extra employees that will work solely in your catering division. Although you may be hesitant about spending more of your business’s finances on recruitment costs, it will benefit the long-term success of your catering services. Being understaffed could make your company less productive, and you won't be able to properly serve your clients. When you begin the recruitment process, make sure that you hire employees to tackle various areas of your catering operations; scheduling, food preparation, set up and take-down, and other tasks.2. Market Your Catering Services
If you have loyal customers who frequent your restaurant, make sure they know about your new catering options! Chances are, your first customers will be people who are already familiar with your restaurant’s cuisine and service. After that, update your website, social media profiles and other platforms to reflect your catering options. This way, patrons searching for catering services will be able to easily locate your business! Also, make sure you tell your existing customers to tell their friends and family about your catering options. You may be surprised at how many referrals you get from word of mouth!3. Meet with Customers
Prior to catering events, schedule a meeting with each customer. This way, you’ll be aware of their expectations, and any special instructions they may have. You could even use their home kitchen to prepare samples so that they can taste options prior to their event. Customers will appreciate this gesture and will appreciate the personalized service. Plus, making each customer feel like their order is important could guarantee their business in the future.4. Follow Health and Safety Regulations
Since you may be transporting uncooked food prior to an event, you must ensure that you follow all safety guidelines. For example, different types of food may require additional coolers or other precautions (such as raw meat). Make sure that your business adheres to health department regulations, correctly handles food and equipment, and has necessary business licenses. If your entire staff is trained to perform according to these standards, you won’t have to worry about putting an employee or customer at risk.