Know How to Cook for Large Groups
Cooking for a few people is vastly different from preparing food for a wedding, bar mitzvah or christening. Techniques differ slightly depending upon the group's size and the timing of each course. Ingredient percentages may also change for a large quantity serving dish. Great caterers know all the secrets to serving for 50, 100 or more people -- without ever breaking a sweat (or appearing to).Make Sure You're Up to Code
Many fledgling caterers start small, with basket-size sales to local delis and other small food operations. If you're working out of your kitchen, make sure your setup complies with your local health and safety codes. Once you have the green light to go ahead, you'll feel more confident about starting a business that you won't have to halt right in the middle in order to bring matters up to code.Practice Makes Perfect
Enlist family members and friends to help you through your first catering trial runs by serving as customers. Start with 25 people, then move on to 50. Caterers work under pressure and need nerves of steel in order to produce a delicious and memorable meal for their clients.By practicing on friends you'll be able to discover not only whether your talents are up to par but whether the pace of catering is for you. If it is, bravo! You're ready to move to the big leagues: taking your offerings on the road in search of paying clients.
Showcasing Your Talents
Before advertising your new catering business to potential customers, research other catering companies to find out what types of food are on-trend. You'll discover a few basic dishes repeating themselves from caterer to caterer; these are the selections you'll want to reinvent and make your own. They're the current big sellers, but you'll need to put your own personal twist on them in order to shine.Create a website on any free domain -- these are simple to do, and many domain sites offer step-by-step instructions. Make it professional but friendly and welcoming. Meanwhile, print out flyers advertising your catering business; check with your city government to find out where you may and may not distribute them.
You can also approach restaurants and other businesses directly. Arrive with a big basket full of beautifully arranged samples of your finest treats and leave it with the owner or manager along with your business information and a "welcome" card. You'd be surprised how many caterers have started their businesses with just their talents, a mouthwatering selection of goodies and a "go get 'em" attitude.
What About Negative Reviews?
Cooking is an art form, and as such, is subject to negative reviews just like any other creative venture. Since you can't please everyone even with what you consider the finest dish ever created, be prepared for a little rejection along the way. Take criticisms for what they are: opportunities to make changes and sharpen your skills.Most of all, don't give up. With persistence and the correct attitude, your catering story might just have a deliciously happy ending.
