Becoming a caterer requires culinary, business, and organizational skills. Caterers must also obtain licenses and have a jurisdiction-approved venue. Advertising in local directories, newspapers, and magazines, as well as creating a website and asking for referrals, can help attract customers.
Becoming a caterer requires a number of different skills. First, a person typically needs some talent to cook, prepare, and serve food that looks and tastes good. Next, a person in this field also needs business and organizational skills to help ensure the success of their catering business. In many places, caterers are also required to seek licenses and have a jurisdiction-approved venue to offer their catering services.
A person who wants to become a caterer usually needs to know how to prepare not only tasty food but also serve it in an attractive way. An individual starting this business needs to have experience preparing a wide variety of foods and the ability to select or suggest menus for various types of events. For example, he usually needs to know how to prepare fun foods, basic and elegant meals, and complex dishes. Knowing how to prepare at least a few ethnic meals can give a new food supplier a broader target market. An aspiring caterer can be a self-taught cook or take cooking classes.
In addition to culinary skills, a person who wants to become a caterer typically needs business and organizational skills. Since catering is a business, a person choosing this career path often needs to know how to start a business and manage it in a way that maximizes profitability. He will need accounting skills and the ability to create and maintain a budget, as well as planning, scheduling and marketing skills. Often times, a person who wants to become a caterer can read books on starting a business and hone their business skills as they gain catering experience. Others, however, may find it helpful to take business courses or even earn a business degree.
Organizational skills are also important for a person who wants to become a caterer. A person in this line of business may have to schedule events, create menus, create filing systems, and keep careful records. He may also have to keep an inventory of supplies and equipment. Good organizational skills are needed to pack and transport food, keep the service kitchen in functional order, and even decide where to position staff to prepare, cook, and serve food.
Many jurisdictions require food vendors to obtain a license. Licensing requirements vary from place to place, but may include having a kitchen separate from the personal kitchen, having certain sanitary supplies, and having knowledge about safe food preparation and storage. In some places, an aspiring caterer’s kitchen needs to be inspected before he can be licensed.
When a person is ready to start their career as a caterer, they will need to find customers who need their services. He can advertise his services in local telephone directories, as well as in newspapers and magazines. For example, a food supplier can secure new customers by advertising in a wedding magazine. He can also hand out flyers and business cards, asking his friends and family for referrals. Some new food suppliers can also find customers by publishing websites and press releases. Even cold calling can help.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
