5 Steps to Starting Your Own Catering Company
The food and hospitality sector are one of the biggest in the UK, accounting for 3% of the UK’s total economic output.
There is huge money in catering and hospitality, but competition is fierce, so it’s essential to get the basics right to ensure success.
Here are five steps to creating a successful and profitable catering company.
- Ask Opinions
Canvassing for opinion is so important when starting a new business. It will tell you what your potential customer base are looking for, what prices they are looking to pay, and which food they would like to eat.
There are several ways you can canvas opinion. You can speak to people in the street and ask a few basic questions, or create an online survey with websites like SurveyMonkey, which will allow you to collect your data while abiding by GDPR laws.
You can also advertise via social media, offering incentives for participation with money-off vouchers or giveaways.
- Create a Brand
Creating a brand for your business will help you to create an identity for the products you are selling, ensuring that it becomes memorable to the customer. This leaves them more likely to keep coming back time and time again.
You can create templates of Instagram posts, Facebook banners and stories for social media with Canva, and even create a colour scheme for your posts that reflect your brand.
- Use Recruitment Software to Save Time
The first few months of a new business are incredibly hectic, so it’s important to come up with reliable and valuable time saving solutions.
You can use recruitment software like Oleeo to build up your workforce. Oleeo uses artificial intelligence to find the candidates who are the best fit for your positions, meaning that you don’t have to spend an eternity trawling through hundreds of CVs.
- Build Good Relationships with Clients
If you’re going to be catering for events or other businesses, you’re going to want to network and build as many positive relationships as you can.
Attend events and parties and take business cards, talk about your company, and if possible, provide samples of food. The more memorable their experience is, the more likely they are to consider you as a supplier.
You can also build relationships with a well-made website and social media. Using channels such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to advertise your business will build engagement with your brand, and a following.
- Have a Remote Unit
Take your products on the road with a remote unit like a van or truck. Show up at festivals and events – you never know who will be there!
This will also get your food out in the public domain and attract attention. Advertise your catering services and social media channels at your location for maximum impact, and train staff to talk about your services and provide excellent customer service.
Do you have any tips for starting up a catering business? Leave your answer in the comments below!
