{"id":18808,"date":"2024-12-03T07:00:55","date_gmt":"2024-12-03T13:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/?p=18808"},"modified":"2024-12-09T10:17:22","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T16:17:22","slug":"the-complete-guide-to-starting-a-home-based-catering-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/food-entrepreneurship\/the-complete-guide-to-starting-a-home-based-catering-business\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Home-Based Catering Business"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><strong>Listen to This Article:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"elevenlabs-audionative-widget\" data-height=\"90\" data-width=\"100%\" data-frameborder=\"no\" data-scrolling=\"no\" data-publicuserid=\"d443feec80bf8c8f2e009e26dafa4118e6eb9f14056a5516af577c77d4404c4e\" data-playerurl=\"https:\/\/elevenlabs.io\/player\/index.html\" data-small=\"True\" data-textcolor=\"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1.0)\" data-backgroundcolor=\"rgba(153, 119, 85, 1.0)\" data-projectid=\"o5CNMBJlEqrbBl3Hbz9V\">Loading the <a href=\"https:\/\/elevenlabs.io\/text-to-speech\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Elevenlabs Text to Speech<\/a> AudioNative Player&#8230;<\/div>\n<p><script src=\"https:\/\/elevenlabs.io\/player\/audioNativeHelper.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With potentially lower startup costs than a restaurant and the ability to determine your own hours and dishes, a home-based catering business can be an exciting entry into culinary entrepreneurship!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With no brick-and-mortar, \u201ccustomer-facing\u201d space needed, starting a catering <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/food-entrepreneurship\/how-to-start-a-food-business-from-home\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">business from home<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can be more affordable, and a great way to either supplement your full-time income or replace it entirely.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Still, this is a big undertaking. However, you can follow this guide to help get your home-based catering business off the ground, and start wowing clients with your delicious food!<\/span><\/p>\n        <div class=\"tmm-table-of-contents\" tmm-table-of-contents>\n            <div class=\"tmm-table-of-contents__title\">Table of Contents<\/div>\n            <div class=\"tmm-table-of-contents__list\" tmm-table-of-contents__list><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        \n<h2>On-Site vs. Off-Site Catering<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Catering services are generally split into two categories\u2014on-site and off-site. With on-site catering, the food is cooked and completed at the event location, like a wedding venue or hotel. With off-site catering, food is cooked somewhere else and then brought to the event location. This is often the case with catered business lunches and private parties.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a home-based caterer, you may have the option to work either of these methods into your business. You could do the prep work at home, and bring everything to the event location for the final cooking and plating. Or you could do all the cooking from your home kitchen, and deliver the completed dishes to the venue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The method you choose could be influenced by your city and state catering regulations, so make sure to do your research before determining your business model.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"blog-cta\">\n\t\t<div class=\"magnet-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Culinary-Career-Interests-Survey-cover-page-and-internal-page-screenshots.png\" alt=\"Culinary Career Interests Survey cover page and internal page screenshots\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Take the Culinary Career Survey<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hide\">We\u2019ve compiled a checklist of all of the essential questions into one handy tool: career options, culinary interest surveys, educational opportunities, and more. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"btn-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"hide\" escoffier-data-layer-push >Download<\/button>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"form\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<form\n\t\t\tname=\"quick-form-mid\"\n\t\t\taction=\"#process-lead\"\n\t\t\tmethod=\"post\"\n\t\t\tid=\"escoffier-form-p0-f1\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"escoffier-contact general-validation general-js\"\n\t\t\tautocomplete=\"off\">\n\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"campus\" value=\"Escoffier Boulder Online\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"program\" value=\"Culinary Arts\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fields-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fieldset field-firstname\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"firstname-1\">\n\t\t\t\tFirst Name<span class=\"red\" aria-label=\"required\">*<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input\n\t\t\t\tid=\"firstname-1\"\n\t\t\t\tname=\"firstname\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"text\"\n\t\t\t\tvalue=\"\">\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fieldset field-lastname\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"lastname-1\">\n\t\t\t\tLast Name<span class=\"red\" aria-label=\"required\">*<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input\n\t\t\t\tid=\"lastname-1\"\n\t\t\t\tname=\"lastname\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"text\"\n\t\t\t\tvalue=\"\">\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fieldset field-email\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"email-1\">\n\t\t\t\tEmail<span class=\"red\" aria-label=\"required\">*<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input\n\t\t\t\tid=\"email-1\"\n\t\t\t\tname=\"email\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"email\"\n\t\t\t\tvalue=\"\">\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fieldset field-dayphone\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"intl-tel-1\">\n\t\t\t\tPhone<span class=\"red\" aria-label=\"required\">*<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input\n\t\t\t\tid=\"intl-tel-1\"\n\t\t\t\tname=\"intl-tel\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"tel\"\n\t\t\t\tvalue=\"\">\n\t\t\t<input\n\t\t\t\tid=\"dayphone-1\"\n\t\t\t\tname=\"dayphone\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"hidden\"\n\t\t\t\tvalue=\"\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-valid=\"false\">\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"submit-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<input name=\"submit\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Get the Survey Now\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"disclosure-tooltip\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"tmm-edu-disclosure-text\">By clicking the <span class=\"btn-text\">&#8220;Get the Survey Now&#8221;<\/span> button, I am providing my signature in accordance with the E-Sign Act, and express written consent and agreement to be contacted by, and to receive calls and texts using automated technology and\/or prerecorded calls, and emails from, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts at the number and email address I provided above, regarding furthering my education and enrolling. I acknowledge that I am not required to agree to receive such calls and texts using automated technology and\/or prerecorded calls as a condition of enrolling at Escoffier. I further acknowledge that I can opt-out of receiving such calls and texts by calling 888-773-8595, by submitting a request via Escoffier\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/optout\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\"website link to the phone and text opt-out form\">website<\/a>, or by emailing <a href=\"mailto:compliance@escoffier.edu\">compliance@escoffier.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"returntourl\" value=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/thankyou\/culinarycareerguide_popup\/\">\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"redirect\" value=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/thankyou\/culinarycareerguide_popup\/\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"lead_source\" value=\"Website - Inline Form\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"lead_category\" value=\"Website\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"gaclientid\">\n\n\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"button\" value=\"Download\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"cta_lead_source\" value=\"Website - Blog Inline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"thanks\" value=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/thankyou\/careersurvey\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2>Know Home-Based Catering Laws<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you file any paperwork or spend a dollar to establish your business entity, you need to know what is possible (and legal) in your area.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Does your city\/county\/state even allow for catering out of your home? And if so, does your kitchen meet the health department guidelines? These rules may require extra ventilation, a three-compartment sink, and non-permeable surfaces, like stainless steel countertops. Rules vary from state to state and city to city, so make sure to get the specific details for your region!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may find that while you can operate the business side of your catering operation from home, you\u2019ll still need a commercial kitchen rental where you can do the actual cooking for off-site catering. You may have to rent a shared commercial kitchen, or you may be able to cut costs by operating out of a kitchen at a local church, restaurant, or community center. Get creative!<\/span><\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-23104\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Chef-plating-white-dishes-with-tomatoes-and-feta-cheese-768.jpeg\" alt=\"Chef plating white dishes with tomatoes and feta cheese\" width=\"768\" height=\"511\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Chef-plating-white-dishes-with-tomatoes-and-feta-cheese-768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Chef-plating-white-dishes-with-tomatoes-and-feta-cheese-768-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\n<h2>Start Looking at the Numbers<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two factors to a business&#8217; profitability\u2014income and expenses. Before you jump into your new venture, start sketching your financial outlook and making some projections so you build a profitable business.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>What Can It Cost to Open Your Doors?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are costs associated with every business\u2014your job is to figure out how much you\u2019ll need to spend starting and operating your catering business at home. Additionally, you should calculate your income to determine how long it will take to recoup those startup costs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping your expenses low at the beginning can help you become profitable sooner. Instead of buying all new equipment and serving dishes, what can you find second-hand or borrow? Can you purchase and store ingredients in bulk to save some money?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After you figure out your startup expenses, think about how you\u2019ll pay for them. Will you be able to cover these startup costs out of your personal bank account, or do you need to seek a small business loan or grant? Even if you don\u2019t need outside funds right away, you may want to secure a loan just to cover any possible emergencies that may occur as you get up and running. Unexpected expenses crop up, like higher food prices or broken equipment that needs repair.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember to factor in the cost of a rented kitchen space if you need one!<\/span><\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-23776\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Smiling-Caterer-Delivering-Tray-Of-Sandwiches-To-House-768.jpeg\" alt=\"Smiling Caterer Delivering Tray Of Sandwiches To House\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Smiling-Caterer-Delivering-Tray-Of-Sandwiches-To-House-768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Smiling-Caterer-Delivering-Tray-Of-Sandwiches-To-House-768-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\n<h3>How Much Can You Expect to Bring In?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How many events can you reasonably cater per year? And how large do you plan for those events to be? This is a vital part of your planning process and goes to the very heart of your home catering business.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s not all about how many events you can do\u2014it\u2019s about how many you want to do. Flexibility is part of the appeal of this business model, so it\u2019s up to you to decide what you want your business to look like.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is this going to be a full-time venture with a team that serves large weddings and corporate events? In that case, you want every weekend to be booked.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Or do you envision it as a supplemental business to your full-time job, or a fun money-making hobby? If that\u2019s what you envision, you may only plan to do one small, high-end dinner party per month, focusing on personalized service and top-shelf ingredients.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you plan to be a company of one? This will limit the size of the event you can manage, but it also reduces your expenses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These factors determine how much income you can make per year. Build out a rough calculation of the amount you can expect to make versus your anticipated expenses to make sure there\u2019s room for profitability.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If financial planning seems a bit daunting, Escoffier\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/food-entrepreneurship\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Online Food Entrepreneurship<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> program can help you grasp the culinary math fundamentals to start a food business, such as money management, purchasing, receiving, menu pricing, inventory, and more! <\/span><\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-23777\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Group-of-people-smiling-and-talking-at-a-dinner-party-768.jpeg\" alt=\"Group of people smiling and talking at a dinner party\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Group-of-people-smiling-and-talking-at-a-dinner-party-768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Group-of-people-smiling-and-talking-at-a-dinner-party-768-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\n<h2>Create Your Business Entity<\/h2>\n<h3>Name Your Home-Based Catering Business<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Time to brainstorm some names!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check with your Secretary of State (if you\u2019re in the U.S.) to make sure that the name hasn\u2019t already been registered. It\u2019s also a good idea to do a web search of the name to make sure there are no catering businesses that already hold that name. Remember, you want to make it easy for people to find and remember you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plus, putting in a little research upfront can allow you to avoid confusion or legal troubles from a similarly-named company.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Build Your Business Structure<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consult with an attorney and\/or tax professional to decide what the best business structure for your company will be.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A sole proprietorship is the easiest to create, but it doesn\u2019t keep your personal and business assets separate. A limited liability company will protect your personal assets from business debts or liability, but it is a little more complicated to set up. If you\u2019d like help with setting up your business, consider contacting a local small business center.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve established your business name and structure, you can register for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) with the IRS.***<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">***Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts does not provide legal advice. Always consult with a professional advisor before creating a new business entity!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3>Set Up Your Business Banking<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep your personal funds and business funds separate, so you can accurately track your profit and expenses. This will also make paying your taxes much easier at the end of the year!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Get Any Required Licenses and Permits<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each state, county, and city will have its own requirements for permitting and licensing. To start, you\u2019ll probably need a business license. Contact the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sba.gov\/local-assistance\/find?type=SBA%20District%20Office&amp;pageNumber=1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small Business Administration<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (SBA) to get guidance on the rules in your local area.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your state allows you to cater from your home kitchen, you may need an annual health inspection from the local health department. You may need a food handler\u2019s or food manager\u2019s license as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And if you plan to sell alcohol as part of your catering services, you\u2019ll likely need a liquor license to stay in compliance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Long story short: be diligent in your permits and licenses! An error here could lead to financial or even legal trouble down the road.***<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">***Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts does not provide legal advice. Always consult with a professional advisor before creating a new business entity!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<div class=\"blog-article-callout-wrap\">\n<div class=\"blog-article-callout-text\"><strong>Want to know more about the licenses and permits you might need? Read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/food-entrepreneurship\/what-licenses-and-permits-are-needed-to-run-a-catering-business\/\">our guide to licenses and permits for catering businesses<\/a>.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22011\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Person-using-a-laptop-while-also-holding-their-phone-768.jpg\" alt=\"Person using a laptop while also holding their phone\" width=\"768\" height=\"555\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Person-using-a-laptop-while-also-holding-their-phone-768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Person-using-a-laptop-while-also-holding-their-phone-768-300x217.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\n<h3>Get Liability Insurance<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if you take proper precautions, any time you cook for others there is some element of risk. If someone gets ill from eating something you cooked\u2014even if it\u2019s not your fault\u2014you may face liability. Liability coverage can protect you and your business if something unfortunate happens. A specialty insurance provider like the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fliprogram.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Food Liability Insurance Program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may be a good fit for this type of business.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may also need to update your homeowner\u2019s insurance since you\u2019re running your business out of your home. Contact your insurance company for details.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Craft Your Menu<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that all the paperwork is out of the way (for now), let\u2019s talk food!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Caterers may choose numerous specialties, from regional cuisine to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/academics\/farm-to-table\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">farm-to-table<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/plant-based-programs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">plant-based<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> catering. Choosing a specialty in your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-arts\/4-menu-planning-tips-for-young-chefs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">menu plan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reduces your pool of possible clients, but it also makes it easier for you to stand out and market directly to your ideal customer. After all, if I\u2019m a client who wants to serve guests a gluten-free, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/so-you-want-to-be-a-vegan-chef-heres-how\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">vegan meal<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, I\u2019m probably more likely to hire the gluten-free vegan caterer than a \u201cjack of all trades.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"quote\">\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe most valuable part of my Escoffier education has been the knowledge I gained from all of the Chefs. Each one had a different take on things. It was a great experience.\u201d*<br \/>\n<strong>Kathy Gadison, Escoffier Culinary Arts Graduate<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To avoid reinventing the wheel for every event, you can opt to offer a set number of dishes that customers can pick from. You may also want to establish \u201ctiers\u201d in your menu, with each tier having a different per-person cost. This gives your customers flexibility in choosing their dishes while still working with their budgets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When pricing your menu, consider your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/food-entrepreneurship\/3-tips-for-properly-managing-food-costs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">food costs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, labor costs, and additional overhead (insurance, kitchen rental space) to make sure you can cover all of your expenses and still have some profit left over from each event.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, consider your service method when designing your menu. If you\u2019re only offering buffet-style catering, you may want to avoid dishes that rely on exquisite presentation or need refrigeration. Finally, think about on-site vs. off-site delivery. Food that you plan to deliver from your home kitchen to the venue must maintain quality through the transport and setup process.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Escoffier\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/food-entrepreneurship\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Online Food Entrepreneurship<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> program curriculum also examines the various aspects of menu design and management, including how to use home-based catering menus as a strategic financial tool. <\/span><\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-23778\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Mini-sandwiches-and-bread-on-a-plate-in-front-of-flowers-768.jpeg\" alt=\"Mini sandwiches and bread on a plate in front of flowers\" width=\"768\" height=\"514\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Mini-sandwiches-and-bread-on-a-plate-in-front-of-flowers-768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Mini-sandwiches-and-bread-on-a-plate-in-front-of-flowers-768-300x201.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\n<h2>Assess Your Equipment<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What do you have, and what do you need?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you offer baked goods on your menu, for example, you may need a second stand mixer or multiple ovens. A dedicated catering refrigerator can give you extra cold storage, plus make it easier to keep your catering supplies safe from hungry family members if you\u2019re cooking at home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may also need chafing dishes and Sternos to keep food hot when it reaches its destination, plus serving utensils and dishes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you have all these extra items, where will you keep them? If you have a large garage or storage shed, that can work. But you may need to rent a storage unit nearby to keep these things out of your home or rental kitchen space.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Start Building Relationships with Vendors<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a catering business owner, you have access to wholesale food suppliers that can supply you with bulk ingredients at better prices. They may also be able to help you source specific ingredients, which is valuable if you\u2019re in a specialty market.<\/span><\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-23779\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Event-planner-using-checklist-while-examining-delivery-of-crockery-and-decorations-while-movers-unpack-boxes-768.jpeg\" alt=\"Event planner using checklist while examining delivery of crockery and decorations while movers unpack boxes\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Event-planner-using-checklist-while-examining-delivery-of-crockery-and-decorations-while-movers-unpack-boxes-768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Event-planner-using-checklist-while-examining-delivery-of-crockery-and-decorations-while-movers-unpack-boxes-768-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start communicating with vendors early to get an idea for who has the best prices, quickest delivery times, and most responsive customer service. And if you\u2019d like to source ingredients from local farmers and small food producers, start reaching out early to build relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to sourcing, think beyond the food. If you can source linens, flatware, and plates as part of your service, you can both charge a higher rate and provide a useful service to your clients. So strive to develop relationships with rental vendors as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Start Marketing Your Home-Based Catering Business<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How will you get the word out? If you plan to cater to an older crowd, you may want to go with traditional marketing methods, like taking an ad out in a local publication. If your ideal customers are younger and tech-savvy, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/food-entrepreneurship\/how-to-promote-your-restaurant-on-social-media\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">social media<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is probably a better place to focus your efforts. Focus on high-end photography.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll also need a website. A website makes you \u201cfindable\u201d online, and it can be your home base to display menus, testimonials, photos, and pricing. It\u2019s also where you can share your story and credentials, like your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/food-entrepreneurship\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Food Entrepreneurship degree or diploma<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and what is special about your cuisine.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"blog-article-callout-wrap\">\n<div class=\"blog-article-callout-text\"><strong>Increasing visibility to potential customers can be key for a catering business. Read our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/food-entrepreneurship\/how-to-promote-your-catering-business\/\">guide to promoting your catering business<\/a>.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"quote\">\n<blockquote><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-15394 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/kristendouglas_300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Kristen Douglas, Online Culinary Arts Graduate\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/>\u201cFor me, having access to the school online means it is now possible to receive the culinary education I have desired, while still being able to grow my business and take care of my family, without even having to leave our valley. It is awesome that in my lifetime, we have developed the technology making this educational venture even an option. I am grateful for the opportunity, to say the least.\u201d*<br \/>\n<strong>Kristen Douglas, Online Culinary Arts Graduate, Owner &amp; Catering Chef at The Main Event<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Hire and Train Your Staff<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re catering small events, you may be able to handle them on your own. But as events get larger, they often grow in complexity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if you can handle all the cooking on your own, who is going to serve it? Two or three people may be enough to keep a buffet well-stocked, but if you plan to do seated meals, you\u2019ll need more staff to prevent slow <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">service and cold food.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re an Escoffier graduate, you may be able to find some team members among your fellow alumni through the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/escoffieralumniassociation.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Escoffier Alumni Association<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">!<\/span><\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-23780\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Smiling-chef-cutting-carrots-and-other-vegetables-on-a-white-cutting-board-in-a-kitchen-768.jpg\" alt=\"Smiling chef cutting carrots and other vegetables on a white cutting board in a kitchen \" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Smiling-chef-cutting-carrots-and-other-vegetables-on-a-white-cutting-board-in-a-kitchen-768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Smiling-chef-cutting-carrots-and-other-vegetables-on-a-white-cutting-board-in-a-kitchen-768-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\n<h2>Collect Reviews and Testimonials<\/h2>\n<p>One of your best sources for new clients can be be old clients. Along with relying on word of mouth, encourage past customers to leave positive reviews and testimonials you can share.<\/p>\n<p>Some bookkeeping software has this function built in. After you send the final invoice and the client pays it, the software can send out an automated email with a link to your review platform of choice.<\/p>\n<h2>Celebrate Major Moments Through Food<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Starting a catering business at home can be flexible and rewarding! You have the opportunity to make rewarding connections with interesting people and help them to celebrate life\u2019s big events through food. But it can also be challenging and demanding.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Education can be a great way to prepare you for starting a catering business. Escoffier\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/food-entrepreneurship\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Online Food Entrepreneurship programs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> include core culinary principles, marketing concepts, and business planning methods that may help demystify some of the important aspects of entrepreneurship and help set you up for success. And with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/about\/campuses\/online-programs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">online culinary school<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you may even be able to complete your program while you start your catering business. To take the next step in your entrepreneurial journey, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/contact-us\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">contact us<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> today to get started!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Interested in learning more about culinary entrepreneurship? Try these articles next:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/food-entrepreneurship\/how-to-start-bakery-business-from-home\/\">How to Start a Bakery Business From Home<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/food-entrepreneurship\/how-to-start-a-restaurant-with-little-to-no-money\/\">How to Start a Restaurant with Little to No Money<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/food-entrepreneurship\/how-to-start-a-food-business-from-home\/\">How to Start a Food Business From Home<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>This article was originally published on June 11, 2021, and has since been updated.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>*Information may not reflect every student\u2019s experience. Results and outcomes may be based on several factors, such as geographical region or previous experience.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>**Consider your situation and resources to determine what is affordable and on budget, for you.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here are the key steps to follow to start a home-based catering business.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":20016,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1296],"tags":[1300,1342,1303],"class_list":["post-18808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-entrepreneurship","tag-career-change","tag-catering","tag-start-a-restaurant"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Home-Based Catering Business - 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