About The Book

Starting and Running a Catering Business
Carol Godsmark

This comprehensive guide provides a wide range of information, including writing a business plan, running a business & retaining customers. In-depth advice is also provided on marketing and promoting a business...

Further resources

About the Author

Carol Godsmark - CAROL GODSMARK food journalist, restaurant critic and consultant. She is also the author of How to Start and Run Your Own Restaurant and a caterer with twenty years experience. She is based in Chichester, West Sussex.

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Starting and Running a Catering Business

Below is the chapter list for "Starting and Running a Catering Business". Click any of the chapter headings to read the full text of that chapter online

 
  1. Preface
  2. Running Your Own Catering Business Why Run A Catering Business?; Skills You Need; Types Of Catering; What Next?; Working Out Your Strengths;
  3. Getting Into The Catering Business Starting Your Own Business From Scratch; Making Your Business Unique; Being A Sole/Joint Partner; Partnerships; Forming A Company; Buying An Existing Business; Becoming A Partner In An Existing Business; Working For A Catering Company To Learn The Ropes; W
  4. Finding And Equipping Your Business Premises Registering Food Premises; Moveable/Temporary Premises; Working From Or At Home; Renting Or Buying Dedicated Catering Premises; Renting Or Buying An Established Catering Company; Scrutinising The Property; Ventilation Requirements; Hygiene; The Kitchen; Ki
  5. Health And Safety Fridge Storage And Temperature Control; Food Poisoning; Hygiene Standards; Environmental Health Requirements; Safety In The Kitchen; Transporting Food; Further Information And Useful Contacts;
  6. Business Finances Your Business Plan; Estimating Your Start-Up Costs; Estimating Your Business Finance; Your Assets And Liabilities; Dealing With Seasonal Peaks And Troughs; Calculating Menu Costings; Raising Capital; Dealing With Banks; Business Partnership; Capital Expend
  7. Marketing Your Business Making Marketing A Priority; Identifying Your Target Market; Choosing A Name; Your Signage; Promotional Material; Advertising; Your Media Profile; Other Ways To Publicise Your Business; Cookery Classes; Adult Education Classes; One-To-One Cookery Classes;
  8. Looking After Your Customers What Will Your Catering Company Offer?; Pricing Your Catering Services; Meeting The Client; The Right Kind Of Clients For Your Business; Sample Letter And Proposal; Invoices; Post-Event Summary;
  9. Food And Drink Working Out What You Can Do; Compiling A Menu; Sample Menus; Different Diets; Your Clients’ Equipment; Dinner Parties; Keeping Up To Date; Sourcing Your Ingredients; The Sandwich And Salad Trade; Client With Unsuitable Menu Requests; Recipes; Instructing K
  10. Designing Menus Creating A Menu; Menu Planning And Dish Creation; Create Contented Customers; Good Food Communication Between Kitchen And Waiting Staff; Menu Writing;
  11. Food Suppliers Finding Suppliers; Tips For Buying; Sourcing Your Ingredients; Quality And Provenance Of Produce; Useful Contacts For Sourcing Produce;
  12. Specialist Suppliers Dealing With Specialists; Marquee Hire Companies; Equipment Hire; Tips For Dealing With Specialist Suppliers;
  13. Staffing For Your Catering Business The Importance Of Service; Waiting And Kitchen Staff; Finding Staff; Motivating Your Staff; The Staff Interview; Other Employment Tips; Overtime; Employers’ Responsibilities; Kitchen Hierarchy; The Kitchen Career; Kitchen And Waiting Staff Working Together
  14. Keeping Your Business On Track Keeping Your Customers; Effective Time Scheduling; Solving Business Problems; Reducing Risk; Long-Term Success For Your Catering Business;
  15. It’s Show Time! Running An Event Dealing With Crises; Planning Ahead; Example Dinner Party; Managing An Event; After The Event; Being A Caterer;