Starting your own catering business demands a whole lot more than just your love for food and the art of serving people. You should have the stamina to cope, be willing to work under pressure and be capable of handling last minute goof-ups. Not to mention having to deal with erratic working hours.
Starting Up
The scope of catering is immense due to the growing demand for catered events - from corporate lunches and cocktail dinners to birthday parties for kids. While a professional qualification in Hotel Management and Catering would qualify you to begin with, nothing beats experience.
Your primary requirement would be to set up your own kitchen or pantry. This could be in your own home or you could also rent a kitchen. Renting out a place would, however, increase your initial investment cost.
Food handling and storage, sanitation and cleanliness must be given priority and is of utmost importance to when catering food.
You would be required to invest in kitchen equipment, utensils and gadgets. You would also have to provide for the service platters, dishes, crockery and cutlery for the occasion.
Calculate the need for kitchen labour required to assist you. Since your credibility depends on the quality of food, you could also employ a trained assistant to depend on, in case of an emergency. Don't forget to rope in family and friends too!
Depending on the type of food and occasion you wish to cater to, you'll have to prepare a menu. You would need to develop a relationship with wholesale suppliers and estimate the food quantity required for any occasion.
Investment and Returns
A basic investment of Rs. 50,000 should get your catering business started. This would include all your expenses incurred in setting up the kitchen, equipments and crockery, labour charges etc.
Remuneration depends on the number of people and parties catered to. Most caterers charge on per head basis. This could range from Rs. 150 - Rs 350 per person for an occasion depending on the budget, the purpose of the occasion, vegetarian or non-vegetarian food catered and the food items provided. For weddings, this rate could also go up to Rs. 500 per person.
Marketing and Sales
Whatever the occasion, the quality of your food and service coupled with word of mouth publicity will help in building reputation. Effective communication and interpersonal skills are a definite advantage. You could also advertise with referrals, pamphlets and through displays when catering events.
Negotiate with the client before signing any agreements and make sure you charge a deposit before you start working. Maintain a portfolio of your delicacies and specialties as well as a record of your accounts and billing.
You would be responsible to procure the necessary permits and licenses from the police and local authorities if required. You could also insure your business to protect it from unforeseen circumstances.
(Author: Dipali Oberoi Bhasin)
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