sample of business plan on catering

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10 free catering business plan templates and examples

• Published on February 8, 2024
• by Patricia Fernandes
• Last updated: 1 month ago

When starting a catering business, it’s essential to have a well-structured business plan in place. A comprehensive business plan not only helps you outline your goals and strategies but also serves as a detailed roadmap for success. However, creating a business plan from scratch can be a daunting task. That’s where catering business plan templates come in handy. Understand the importance of a well-devised plan for your catering venture , as it can significantly improve your chances of overcoming challenges and achieving long-term success.

Once you’ve found a suitable template, the next step is to customize it to fit your unique catering business. This involves filling in the specific details of your business, such as your target market, menu offerings, pricing, marketing strategies, and financial projections. Customizing key elements of the template allows you to tailor it to your specific goals and vision, ensuring that your business plan accurately reflects catering businesses. Understanding the challenges that come with taking on the catering industry, developing a strategy through a tailored catering service business plan from the onset can significantly influence your path towards achieving long-term success and stability.

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Why Creating a Catering Business Plan is Essential

In the catering industry, having a well-thought-out business plan is crucial for success. It provides a roadmap for your business and helps you make informed decisions. Here are some key reasons why creating a catering services business plan is essential:

Defining Your Goals: A business plan allows you to clearly define your goals and objectives. It helps you identify what you want to achieve with your catering business.

Understanding Your Target Market: By conducting market research and analysis, you can gain valuable insights into your target market. This information will help you tailor your services to meet the needs and preferences of your customers.

Outlining Strategies: Your business plan serves as a guide to outline the strategies you will implement to achieve profitability. It includes details on your menu, pricing, marketing tactics, and financial projections.

Setting Yourself Up for Success: By carefully considering all aspects of your business and planning for potential challenges, you can set yourself up for long-term success in catering companies.

If you’re dreaming of starting your catering biz, you’re in the right place. We selected 10 catering business plan templates to help you get from daydreaming to doing. We’ve broken them down into three categories: Basic, Intermediary, and Complete, so you can find just what you need, no matter where you’re at in your catering business planning process.

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Basic Catering Business Plan Templates

Template 01: the quick start guide.

This business plan template is like the fast food of business plans – quick, easy, and gets the job done. It’s perfect if you’re just getting your feet wet. Considering launching a catering service? Ensure you have a robust plan for your catering venture by understanding the essential components and pitfalls to steer clear of.

Use the Quick Start Guide Template

Template 02: The Budget Buddy

Focused on the numbers, this one helps you figure out your starting costs and financial plan for how you’ll keep the lights on.

Use the Budget Buddy Template

Template 03: The Startup Planner

This template helps you outline your business concept’s initial needs, legal structure, and pricing strategy.

Use the Startup Planner Template

Intermediary Catering Business Plan Templates

Template 04: conscious catering strategy.

Focusing on the growing trend for healthy and dietary-specific menus, this sample menu template is perfect for caterers wanting to market and specialize in health-conscious catering industry food offerings. Learn to adapt and enhance your catering business plan to cater to health-conscious consumers, ensuring the long-term growth and success of your business.

Use the Conscious Catering Strategy Template

Template 05: Full-Service Catering Plan

Designed for established catering services and catering companies ready to expand, this template focuses on operational and pricing strategies, detailed menu planning, and advanced, marketing strategies and techniques. It’s ideal for caterers looking to scale their operations and refine their service offerings. Discover strategies on constructing a lucrative catering business plan , with guidance on enhancing operations, menu selections, and marketing approaches. Visit Metrobi’s website to delve deeper.

Use the Full-Service Catering Plan Template

Template 06: Catering Growth Accelerator

Unless you’re planning to do everything yourself (spoiler: not a good idea), this template helps you plan out your dream team.

Use the Catering Growth Accelerator Template

Complete Catering Business Plan Templates

Template 07: the full feast.

This is the big one – a comprehensive marketing plan for a full catering company template that covers everything from A to Z. If you’re ready to dive deep, this is for you. Planning to launch or manage a catering service? Ensure you have a detailed catering service business plan to guide you through every step.

Use the Full Feast Template

Template 08: The Event Ace

Specializing in events? This template focuses on planning for different types of clients at events and managing bookings at networking events.

Use the Event Ace Template

Template 09: The Growth Guru

Thinking ahead? This template helps you map out marketing strategy detailed plan for how you’ll expand and grow over time.

Use the Growth Guru Template

Template 10: The Risk Wrangler

Every serious business owner faces challenges. This template helps you identify potential risks to business goals and plan how to handle them.

Use the Risk Wrangler Template

Taking Action and Customizing Your Business Plan

Now is the time to take action and start creating your catering business plan. While examples and templates can be helpful starting points, it’s important to customize them to fit your unique business needs. Remember, your catering business plan template is a living document that can be updated and adjusted as your business grows and evolves. Learn how you can adapt and refine your catering business plan to ensure it aligns with your goals, enabling sustainable growth and success in the competitive catering landscape. Explore strategies to advance and update your catering business plan , positioning your venture for enduring prosperity and distinction in the bustling catering market.

Turning Your Catering Company Dreams into Reality

Starting a catering business is super exciting, but it can also be a bit overwhelming. That’s where the catering business plan template comes in. They’re like your road map to success, whether you’re just starting to sketch out your catering equipment ideas or you’re ready to launch. So, grab the first operations plan template that fits your stage and start cooking up your new catering business and plan!

Why you must have a solid catering business plan

How will your catering business plan evolve as you grow your catering business

How to create a profitable catering business plan

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Catering Business Plan

Every event or occasion calls for good food. And although the majority of people like good food, not everyone has the talent to cook the same.

And if you are someone who receives constant compliments for your cooking then you must have thought of having your catering business.

But having a catering business is much more than that. It all boils down to the quality of your service in the end, but before that, you need to have a strategy to attract your customers’ attention, build trust, manage your finances, and many more.

All of the above might sound a little overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be. All you need is a catering business plan.

Catering Industry Highlights 2023

Here is an overview of the current state of the catering industry in 2023:

Market size and growth potential:

Employment scenario:, number of operational businesses:, major market drivers:, key market trends:, financial plan:.

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How Can a Catering Business Plan Help You?

The catering business is one of the most rewarding careers as it not only lets you pursue your passion, it has the potential to grow into a huge business by size and volume if planned properly.

A business plan is helpful for a catering business because along with great cooking skills, great management skills are an integral part of a successful catering business.

A business plan can help you conduct your daily business activities without chaos, have good finances, help you find your desired customers, and make your unique business idea a marketable one.

Things to Consider Before Writing Your Catering Business Plan

Make a list of items you can serve.

Having a list of items you will serve, helps you organize your services better. It also helps your customers understand what you can offer and decide if your service is the right one for them or not.

It also becomes important that you design your menu as per your target audience’s tastes and preferences.

Figure out your location and staffing coasts

Figure out from where you’ll provide services, what would be the amount of rent you’ll have to pay, which location would be good for your business , etc.

Apart from that, you also need to figure out staffing costs, the size of your team, the skills required, and so on.

Figure out where you’ll get your supplies from

Getting good supplies is essential for a catering business. Because you need to pay attention to quality as well as the taste of the food you’ll offer. Having a fixed supplier helps you maintain consistency in the quality of your food.

Make a list of important equipment

Although many catering services work on the go and prefer to rent equipment, it is a good practice to have the basic equipment in case of contingency. It would also decrease your reliance on other people, and pose fewer challenges while gathering supplies for new orders.

Having your equipment also makes it easier for you and your team to prepare orders as you get familiar with how to use those tools.

Now that you have done the research, let’s learn how you can write a business plan for yourself.

How to Write a Catering Business Plan?

A good catering business plan consists of a clear description of your business’s functioning, your target market, the services you offer, the size of your company, a pricing strategy, and a well-designed employee management system.

Now you might wonder, where to start from, how to go about writing a plan from scratch, and most importantly how to know if you have written a good one.

Well, you need not worry.

You can easily write a well-rounded business plan either through a pre-designed template or through online business plan software.

Moreover, online business plan software can help you write a flexible business plan that grows alongside your business.

Catering Business Plan Outline

This is the standard catering business plan outline which will cover all important sections that you should include in your business plan.

• Keys to Success
• Financial Summary
• Legal Entity
• Locations and Facilities
• Facility Design
• Boxed lunches
• Buffet style lunches
• Alternative Providers
• Future Products
• Internal Bright Future Customers
• Nonprofit External Customers
• For-profit External Customers
• Market Analysis
• Market Trends
• Market Growth
• Value Proposition
• Competitive Edge
• Distribution Strategy
• Marketing Programs
• Pricing Strategy
• Promotion Strategy
• Of Grape & Grain
• Cravings Fine Foods
• Ariana’s Deli
• Fettuccini and Co
• Napoli Restaurant
• Brindiamo Catering
• Wild Duck Brewery
• Oregon Electric Station
• Local and national grocery stores chains
• Local and national sandwich fast-food chains
• Strategic Alliances
• Organizational Structure
• Management Team Gaps
• Personnel Plan
• Other General Assumptions
• Fundraising Strategy
• Fundraising Programs
• Funding Forecast
• Start-up Summary
• Income Statement (5-Year Projections)
• Balance Sheet (5-Year Projections)
• Cash Flow (5-Year Projections)

Although your plan will keep changing as your business grows, here are a few key sections that would form the foundation of your business plan:

1. Executive summary

This executive summary section would be the first one on your plan. It provides a summary of all that your business stands for. It can be divided into the following subsections:

• Objectives : This segment would consist of the chief objectives of your company. What it aims to achieve, who it wants to serve, and where it wants to reach.
• Mission : This segment includes the mission statement of your business, it consists of what market gap you plan on filling with your business.
• Financial Summary : This segment will give a summary of the past and present condition of your finances as well as projected gains of your business.

A clear executive summary can come in handy if you need funding.

2. Operational Strategy

The operational strategy section helps you plan how to work toward achieving your business goals. It can be divided into the following subsections:

• Day-to-day activities : In this segment, you’ll write an overview of the best way of carrying out your business from onboarding clients to fulfilling the services.
• Long-term goals : This section would consist of long-term goals like serving a certain number of clients, growing your business to a certain size, and expanding to a certain number of branches, etc.

A good operational strategy would make your business activities less chaotic and prevent them from being all over the place.

3. Market Analysis

In this segment, you’ll write down every single detail you can find out about the market. It would include the following segments:

• Market trends : Knowing about all the prevailing market trends can help you design a plan that would change as per the evolving market, and also help you maintain the foundation your company stands on. It would also give you an overview of what your competitors are doing.
• Target Market : This segment would describe everything about your target market. The locations they prefer, the kind of cuisines they are into, how and when they procure catering services, etc.

This segment helps you understand what you are getting yourself into.

4. Services

This section consists of a detailed description of the services you offer. For example, the events you cater to, the volume of people you can serve, the food options your services have, what additional services you offer, etc.

This segment helps your target audience understand your services better, it helps them in deciding whether you are the right fit for them or not. So, make sure you describe your services in a clear and precise manner.

5. Financial Plan

The financial plan segment includes everything starting from the funds you need to start your business, the funds you need for procuring supplies and employing people, the projected cash flow of your business, expected profit, and loss of your business, pricing strategy, etc.

Download a sample catering business plan

Need help writing your business plan from scratch? Here you go; download our free catering business plan pdf to start.

It’s a modern business plan template specifically designed for your catering business. Use the example business plan as a guide for writing your own.

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A business plan software like Upmetrics is the best way to draft your business plan. This incredible tool comes with step-by-step instructions, customizable templates, and 400+ sample business plans to help you get started.

So, whether starting a catering business or planning to grow an existing one, Upmetrics is the tool you need to create a business plan.

So what are you waiting for? Start planning today!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do i write a business plan for catering.

Writing a catering business plan from scratch requires a lot of research, but you can report it most effectively with the help of a catering business plan example. Using our business plan software, you can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less.

What should be included in a catering business plan?

These are the key components of a business plan your catering plan must include to stand out to investors:

• Executive summary
• Business Overview
• Products and services
• Sales and marketing strategies
• Operations plan
• Management team
• Financial plan

Where to find business plan writers for your catering business?

While many business plan writers are available to help you, believe it or not, no one knows your business better than you. So we recommend you write your catering business plan and outline your vision as you have in your mind. You can use AI business plan generators like Upmetrics to speed up the writing process.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a catering business plan?

Following are some of the common mistakes to avoid when writing a catering business plan:

• Poor market research and ignoring industry trends.
• Inadequate and inaccurate financial projections.
• Undefined goals and lack of details.
• Including outdated and irrelevant information.
• Not proofreading the document for typos and grammatical errors.
• Not regularly updating your business plan.

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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How To Write a Catering Business Plan w/ Templates (PDF, Word Doc)

Whether you’re starting a catering business full-time or planning to operate out of your house initially , writing a business plan is essential to getting clear on the type of catering business you want to open. After all there’s some pretty important stuff covered inside of what can seem like a stuffy document.

For the purposes of starting a catering company, think about the business plan as the one place you put your operation details. Things like the cooking equipment you need to purchase and the total cost, tentative catering menu, food costs, and who your target customer is. These are all super important details you need to understand before opening! This document provides a place for you to organize everything.

By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to draft your plan and start on that first catering gig you’ve been planning to open. We also provide templates you can use in PDF and Word Doc you can download and edit. Let’s get started.

Executive Summary

Catering spread for a Mexican food concept.

Start your business plan with an executive summary. This is a way to introduce your catering business so whoever is reading your business plan will know what to expect. This will include a brief introduction of your catering business, a description of your company, the services your catering business will be providing, and the customer focus.

Introduction

A quick introduction helps the reader get a bird’s eye view of your catering business. Here you’ll be talking about what to expect and what you can offer as part of your catering service.

This section isn’t considered lengthy. This usually has two to three sentences. What you need to focus on when writing this down is by the end of it, your reader will more or less understand what your catering business is all about.

Here’s an example introduction you can use as a guide:

The Big Spoon is a small catering business headed by Lydia Smith. She specializes in Italian cuisine but can cater to American, Mexican, and Asian dishes as well. The Big Spoon can accommodate an intimate dinner for 2 up to a large party of 50 accompanied with table settings and chafing dishes to complete that delicious home-cooked meal experience.

Just by the introduction, the reader will know how big your catering business is, what cuisine they can expect to order, and how many people the business can cater for. It also gives them an introductory glance about your catering style wherein you already provide more than just food but also a table setting so they don’t have to look for a supplier for this separately.

Keep your introduction informative but also short enough. You will be able to add in more to the details later on.

Company Description

Some food trailers make more than 50% of their annual revenue from catering gigs.

A little background on your catering business is needed in the company description part of the business plan. Here, you can describe the meaning behind the name for your catering business, who the owners are, and what their roles are going to be. Who will be in charge of cooking? Who will be in charge of accounts and marketing?

This may just be brief but this is a way for you to introduce what’s going to happen behind the scenes of your catering business.

Catering works great for food trucks and restaurants.

Although your catering business may sound self-explanatory, it would still be of great help to you if you mentioned the services you’ll be offering.

For example, The Big Spoon already mentioned in their introduction that they’ll be catering food and offering table settings. They could also add that they will be offering an ice cream station and even a cocktail bar.

You will describe more of this in detail later on but you can summarize it and mention it here already.

Customer Focus

For a catering business to flourish, you must know your target market early on. And though a thorough explanation of that can be found in the Market Analysis section, you can briefly state them in this portion as well.

Also, remember that your customer focus would also have to coincide with your skills. You can’t be targeting customers who are vegans if your culinary skills and knowledge do not include cooking vegan food. This is why it’s important to write this early on so you can narrow down the customers you are planning to cater to.

Mission Statement

What’s your mission statement?

Businesses with clear goals stated from the start lead to a successful operation. Why? Because every decision you make revolves around these goals which will lead you closer to success.

Here’s a sample mission statement to picture it out clearly:

The Big Spoon aims to cater delicious home-cooked meals to its customers. Every dish that is served will contain natural and fresh ingredients. We see to it that the service we provide is top-notch so that our customers will feel as if they are being served in a fine restaurant in the comforts of their own home or wherever they choose to have us cater them.

By writing this down in your business plan, you and your staff will have to stand by the standards you’ve set for yourselves. For instance, as stated in The Big Spoon’s mission statement, no fast food will be served and no artificial ingredients will be used so you and your staff will always remember this by heart.

By following this and revolving your decisions around your mission statement, you will be able to keep such standards which will lead to pleased and returning customers.

Company Concept

This is the section of the business plan where you can finally put in detail the concept you’ve been planning for your catering business. Remember the things you’ve been holding back in saying in the introduction? This is the time to write them all down now.

Related Reading: 7 Powerful Ways I Promote and Market My Catering Business

You can start by answering the following questions:

• What cuisine will you be offering?
• How many people can you cater to?
• Will you be offering healthy options such as vegan, keto, or paleo meals?

You may also add in other concept ideas that are not mentioned above. Just make sure to cover everything so you can have a basis for your product line and services to be tackled later on.

Market Analysis

A compelling catering business logo.

Planning to put your business out there means you also have to know the industry you’ll be diving into. This is to help you analyze your potential customers, the growth of the catering business in your area, and the competition.

Target Market

As mentioned above in the customer focus, your skills will have to match your target market. You’ve already written a brief introduction about it so in this section, all you have to do is to explain it in detail.

Industry Analysis

The catering business has been going on for a long while now so it’s important to gather in as much information as you can regarding this industry. This is to help you figure out if there is a potential market for your business and how to put your plans into action.

Another helpful guide is to look into the type of cuisine most people in your area look for. You can then incorporate it into your business and offer it as part of your menu.

The bottom line is that analyzing the industry around you helps you plan better for the future of your catering business.

Competitive Analysis

You will not be the only catering business in your area. You’ll have to consider restaurants as your competition too. Check their prices and set menus. Do a competition check by tasting their food once in a while. Knowing who the players are in this competitive business game gives you the upper hand because you’ll be aware of their strengths and weaknesses and how to deal with them on the field.

Management Structure

Determine the key players in your business.

A catering service is run by a few people. In this section of the business plan, you’ll list down everyone who is working on this business alongside you as well as the roles they possess in your business. This includes:

• Business Partners
• Accountants
• Co-chefs (If you’re not the only one doing the cooking)

Why is this so important, you might ask? Stating clear business roles and laying out the management structure keeps everyone in check and helps avoid any misunderstandings. Most businesses that don’t define this early on end up having a messy workflow. So make sure to state each duty clearly for everyone to follow.

Product Line and Services

Burgers are a proven catering option.

This section of the business plan goes hand in hand with your company concept. Here you can present your different sample menus for all the cuisine you wish to cater to. Be sure to include the prices for the set menus per head.

You can also write down the services you plan to offer. Here are some you can consider for your catering business:

• Out of town catering
• Cocktail station
• Set up style (buffet or plated)
• Table setting (formal or casual, rustic or summer feel)
• Wait staff or food display only

Writing them all down in this section will keep your business more organized which is very important when you start on your catering business.

Sales and Marketing

Grilled chicken is another popular option for caterers.

How are you going to market your catering business? Do you plan to have an ad out in your local newspaper and on social media? Both strategies are fine but you need to find more ways to get your catering business out there.

One way to market yourself is to partner up with rental spaces such as function halls that do not provide food. Give them a proposal that when there are inquiries regarding the rental of their halls, they would present your set menus to the guests as well so they don’t need to trouble over finding a caterer.

Related Reading: How I Started a Legit Catering Business Out of My House

Partnering with several event coordinators is also a way to get your business known. People these days hire event coordinators to do all the planning for them. They expect these coordinators to answer all their questions from food, music, and decorations. By partnering up with an event coordinator, they’ll be the ones to pitch in your catering business to their customers.

Remember to uphold your mission statement as well. By providing good food and high-class standards during your catering event, you’re already marketing your products and services to the number of people you’re catering to. So always make an exceptional first impression because that will stay with the guests long enough for them to remember hiring you on their next and succeeding events.

Financial Plan

Plan your financial future.

Knowing where you’re going to get the funds to start your catering business is a must. This is how you’ll know if your plans are going to be achievable or not. Besides, having a solid financial plan will also allow you to go through with your ideas without any interruptions.

In this section, break down your financial plan into two categories which are your plans to request for funding and your financial forecast.

Funding Request

Some business owners are ready to put up their catering business due to having saved enough money through the years. But what if you lack the funds to do it? Don’t fret. You can still loan from the bank and invite investors.

Whatever your plan is that deals with requesting for funding, include it here so you can document it.

Financial Forecast

Make conservative and best case scenario financial forecasts.

Reaching break-even is the ultimate goal when you’re putting up a business. You can compute how long it will take you to reach it early on in the planning stage.

You can also list down all your proposed expenses here which include the following:

• Pots, pans, and other large kitchen appliances and tools for cooking
• Chafing dishes
• Dessert displays and trays
• Table cloths, plates, glasses, and utensils
• Uniforms for you and the staff
• Storage boxes and food warmers

You may also add in tables and chairs if you do not want to keep on renting these. But sometimes, the venue where you’ll be catering can provide these as well.

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Be sure to include your staff’s payroll expenses. Since catering events are not done daily (unless you’ve already made a name for yourself and you’re booked every day), you can just have your wait staff be on call and pay them per catering event rather than a daily wage.

By computing these, you’ll know just how much you should allot for your startup capital and how much should your goals be to reach during every catering gig in order to profit off of it.

Operational Plan

What’s your operation plan?

Put your plan into action by making a timeline of your operations. Here is an example:

Date Plan [Insert Date Here] – Finalize the business documents you need such as permits and registrations for your catering business.[Insert Date Here] – Start marketing your business on social media and the local news. Send out proposals for partnerships with event coordinators and function halls.[Insert Date Here] – Hire and train staff.[Insert Date Here] – Start catering when booked.[Insert Date Here] – Achieve goals and reach break-even.

The appendix section of the business plan is where you can put all your documentation. This includes photos of your food and table setting and your copies of the permits and registration for your catering business.

Download Templates

Here are the catering business plan samples in PowerPoint, Word Doc, Google Doc, and PDF. These are ideal for commercial or home-based catering businesses.

• Catering business plan template Google Doc
• PDF catering business plan sample
• Catering PowerPoint template
• Catering businesses are ideal because there is no space for you to rent which is considered one of the main expenses that can be quite heavy on the pockets. You will be cooking in the comfort of your own home. Just make sure your place can handle heavy cooking and there is enough space for you and your staff to move about.
• It would be nice to learn more about the different cuisines as you go along so you can cater to a wide variety of audiences.
• Include a checklist of all the equipment you need to operate at the start. These equipment requirements make up the bulk of your startup costs. You can download a checklist of frequently used catering equipment here .

Throughout this entire guide, we have been referring to your readers as one of the main reasons why you should make your catering business plan easy to understand. But in truth, making this business plan is for you as well. You will need this plan when you’re requesting for financial assistance in banks and this would also serve as your work guide. So remember to keep it detailed and easy to comprehend because you will be using this on the road to putting up your business.

While opening a catering business can be extraordinarily rewarding there are a few factors you should consider before deciding to push ahead. Creating a business plan lets you understand what the factors are, what’s going to make this business become a success, and how you can profit from the venture.

If you’re serious about starting a catering business, don’t forget to sign up for our Food Business Startup Kit . This free community will give you access to exclusive interviews with catering professionals you can use to help grow your own business.

Want to start your own food business?

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We interview successful founders and share the stories behind their food trucks, restaurants, food and beverage brands. By sharing these stories, I want to help others get started.

If you liked this story, sign up for our newsletter that includes our food business startup kit and most popular interviews sent straight to your inbox.

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About the Author: Brett Lindenberg

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Catering Business Plan Template

Published Nov.11, 2016

Updated Sep.14, 2024

By: Brandi Marcene

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Table of Content

If you are planning to start a catering company, you need to have a professional catering business plan. OGS Capital can help you with that; we have a team of professional business personnel and writers who work with us on a daily basis to ensure that clients get customized plans for their business. We strive to make sure that we deliver the final copy of the business plans for catering companies  to the customer on time, and this has so far helped us to get referrals and returning customers.

Tips for Succeeding in Writing a Mobile Catering Business Plan

The quality of your catering company business plan will determine whether you will get capital from investors and financial institutions. Hence, it is important to make sure that every detail in the plan is factual and verifiable before presenting it to the investors or banks.

Here are four tips for writing a good business plan for your catering company.

• Carry out an intensive study to understand the hospitality industry
• Convey information about the firm in a professional, cohesive, conscious language
• Layout the various sections clearly using headings and sub-headings
• Proofread the catering business plan to ensure that it is free of any grammatical errors and typos

Adhering to these four tips will help you to come up with business plans for catering companies  that you will not be afraid to present and defend when pitching the business idea to the financial institution. Let us proceed and discuss the primary benefits of having an expertly written small catering business plan.

Assist in Decision Making

Every decision that you make will have a positive or negative impact on your catering business. It is, therefore, important to make sure that you consider all the plausible direct and indirect effects that a resolution may have on the enterprise before implementing it to avert regrets.

A good catering company business plan will act as a blueprint that will guide you through the decision-making process. Our team will work hard to make sure that each recommendation made is right for your business. Without a catering company business plan , rest assured that you would be prone to making hasty decisions that could plunge your business in deep financial crisis.

Proper Management of Funds

Unknown to most people is that a catering company business plan does not aim to discuss the business idea only. It goes an extra mile to provide precise details of how the funds will be spent at every stage of the business growth. For instance, it describes the total amount of money that will be used to acquisition equipment. Hence, it will be instrumental in helping you manage your funds correctly. Note that it only takes one financial mistake to compromise the financial stability of the business.

Fosters Transparency and Management

Transparency and proper management are the two primary virtues that set professional catering companies from their counterparts. Poor or lack of transparency results in losses and unnecessary disagreements. All this information will be included in the plan to not only increase your chances of getting funding but also to help you make informed managerial decisions.

Facilitate Setting of Sales Targets

The marketing teams need to have sales goals that they want to achieve after a given duration. Without these goals, they will be operating in a void, and you will also not be able to monitor their performance.

Our marketing professionals will not only help you to come up with a marketing strategy but also provide ideas on how you should set sales targets and objectives.

If you are looking for professional business plans for catering companies that will enable you to enjoy these four benefits, get in touch with us by filling this form. One of our customer care business consultants will get in touch with you to discuss our services in details.

Catering business plan for starting your own building firm

Catering is a business in which you provide food to remote locations to serve people at parties, ceremonies, events, filming sites, and hospitals, etc. The service can sometimes also include the provision of furniture, tables, chairs, utensils, and crockery.

If you are a person who wants to start a business that holds minimum risks, takes a small team and a little investment, then catering is the right choice for you. Besides, another good thing about this business is that it starts yielding profits as soon as it is launched.

What you need to do is just ensure that you manage and market your business plans for catering companies properly. For that purpose, the first step to take is making a business plan for catering. If you need any help regarding how to start a catering business plan, you can have it from here. Here we are providing a business plan for a catering startup, Marlon Caterers.

Executive Summary

2.1 the business.

Marlon Caterers will be a registered and licensed catering business in Atlanta. The business aims to help people celebrate their memorable events with an unforgettable dinner. Moreover, the business will also take care of the needs of patients in hospitals by offering them healthy and nutritious food according to their doctors’ advice.

The business will provide several types of catering such as buffet catering, sit-down catering, hospital catering, corporate catering, and more.

2.2 Management

Management is a very important factor in the catering business. It’s only through efficient management that you can ensure

• The quality of your servings is intact
• The food prepared fulfills the dietary and hygiene requirements of your clients
• The order is delivered and served timely and perfectly

To maintain a good reputation among your customers, you must know all the difficulties and risks you can encounter. The risks may include budget disruptions due to sudden cancellation of orders, or any small/ large mistake during the business operations.

Before starting a catering business, you should study many catering business startup plans and then prepare a set up catering business plan for your business.

2.3 Customers

Our target customers belong to various niches. They will include the residential community, business organizations, film studios, government institutions, and hospitals.

2.4 Target of the Company

In this how to start a catering company sample business plans for catering companies we are enlisting the business targets set by Marlon Caterers.

• To reduce our customer acquisition cost by 20% by the end of five years
• To keep our customer churn rate below 5% throughout our service years
• To achieve a net profit margin of $22k per month by the end of the third year

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

Marlon Redford will be the owner of Marlon Caterers. Marlon has acquired a degree in Business Administration from McDonough School of Business. Marlon has been serving on a managerial post in New York’s top luxury wedding planner company, Colin Cowie for four years. But a few months back, he decided to quit the job and start his own business.

3.2 Why the Business is being started

Marlon always wanted to have a career in which he could utilize his creative ideas to serve his community. He loved food and had an interest in cooking as well. So he decided to make a small team and start a business plans for catering companies .

3.3 How the Business will be started

The first step before starting a catering business is creating a description of catering business plan. Your catering company business plan should cover all aspects such as startup expenses, market analysis, sales strategy, personnel plan, and an extensive financial plan for your business.

In this catering company business plan example, we have listed the business strategy created by Marlon Caterers. Marlon devised his start a catering company business plan himself as he had adequate knowledge to do so. If you don’t know how to write a business plans for catering companies , you should either take help from this sample business plan for catering service. Or you should hire a professional person.

Marlon will rent a facility in Atlanta to set up his office there and keep the inventory. He will purchase luxurious crockery, flatware, tableware, chairs, tables, and sofas to host high-end events. To serve the other categories of target customers, inventory that comes in reasonable rates will also be acquired.

Besides, Marlon will hire the general staff, chefs, waiters, and some supervisors to help him run the business.

The start-up requirements, start-up expenses, total assets, funding, liabilities, planned investment, and other parameters for the successful launch of the business are given below.

Before you start a business plans for catering companies , you must identify the services you can provide under the catering domain. Including your services in your business plan about catering, can help you in acquiring the right licenses, required inventory, and relevant staff.

In this template of a catering business plan we are enlisting the services provided by Marlon Caterers.

We’ll offer on-premise and off-premise catering in the following categories.

• Plated Sit-down catering

In this catering, our waiters will lay out the food on individual tables. So, the guests will have to eat whatever is laid out on the plates for them.

• Buffet Catering

In this type of serving we will serve the dishes and food in one place. The guests will have to prepare their plates themselves according to their needs and wants.

• Cocktail Reception

Our wedding or party dinner will be preceded by a cocktail hour. Our cocktail servings will include Manhattan cocktail, Daiquiri, Margarita, Bloody Mary, Mojito, and Hurricane.

• Snacks & Drinks For Production Sets

We will supply food, snacks, and drinks to film studios, production sets, and shooting sites located near us. As the film crew works on a particular site on a weekly or monthly basis, so we’ll offer them various weekly and monthly packages.

• Hospital Catering

We’ll offer fresh, healthy, and nutritious foods to hospitals for patients. Our nutrient-rich meals will help them recover fast.

Marketing Analysis of Catering Business

If you are starting a business plan for catering companies , you should focus on doing accurate marketing analysis. Through market research, you can identify local trends and expectations. Besides, you can also select the most suitable location to launch your startup.

Marketing analysis should be completed before you create a business plans for catering companies. Because it will help you in recognizing your customers and setting your prices accordingly while also making sure that you are not running at a loss.

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5.1 Market Trends

The demand for the catering business has been high in the last few years. Due to a boost in average household income, more people had started utilizing private catering services to hold events. However, there is a slight problem these days. Due to the coronavirus pandemic mass gatherings aren’t allowed. So, your business might suffer a loss in the initial phases if you only provide catering for wedding ceremonies and parties. Marlon found the solution to this problem as he decided to offer hospital and film catering too.

Overall, business is surely profitable. According to First Research, catering industries in the U.S. make up above $11 billion in revenue on annual basis. More than 12000 catering industries are running in the U.S. Moreover, Statista also reports that the market size of this business has reached $12 billion in 2020.

5.2 Marketing Segmentation

Before you think how to write a business plan for a catering business, you should consider who will be your customers. Knowing your customers will enable you to devise customer-oriented pricing and sales strategy.

In this sample of business plans for catering companies , we have listed the market segmentation done by Marlon Caterers.

The detailed marketing segmentation of our target audience is as follows:

Business plan for investors

5.1.1 residential community.

The biggest consumer of our services will be the residents of Atlanta. They are expected to avail of our catering services whenever they host birthday or anniversary parties, gatherings, wedding ceremonies, etc.

5.1.2 Corporates & Film Producers

The second category includes business organizations that will need our catering for their business meetups, events, and parties. They are also expected to contact us for arranging just a cocktail party as that contains light refreshments and drinks to boost the energy level of workers.

Moreover, film studios that happen to shoot in Atlanta will also be needing our services. This group usually spent weeks and months on a particular site and thus need catering service continuously for days. So to compel them to hire us, we’ll offer them various weekly and monthly packages.

5.1.3 Hospitals

The last category of our target customers include hospitals based in Atlanta. They are expected to contact us for making nutritious and healthy plated foods for patients.

5.3 Business Target

Our business plans for catering companies targets to be achieved within a specified time are listed below

• To maintain an average rating above 4.75 on our website

5.4 Product Pricing

Our prices are almost within the same range as that of our competitors. However, we’ll be offering several discounts on our initial stage to attract as many customers as possible.

Marketing Strategy

Sales strategy is also an important component of a catering business plan proposal. Through this, you can reach your qualified customers and make them comprehend that you are better than all your competitors. To give you an idea of what to include in sales strategy, we are providing the sales strategy of Marlon Caterers in this example of marketing plan for a catering business.

6.1 Competitive Analysis

Our biggest competitive advantage lies in our customer service. We are highly customer-oriented and are always willing to go the extra mile to satisfy our customers. Secondly, we have developed a user-friendly mobile app that will allow our customers to

• Make online bookings
• Choose venue
• Select dishes from our menu

Third, we provide on-premise catering in which we prepare the food on site. This will be a competitive edge for us as just two to three competitors are offering it.

6.2 Sales Strategy

• We will offer a 35% discount on our services for the first month of the launch
• We will develop an SEO website to show our business in the top results on searches
• We will establish a strong social media presence
• We will advertise ourselves through Google Local ads service, local magazines, and newspapers

6.3 Sales Monthly

6.4 Sales Yearly

6.5 Sales Forecast

Personnel plan

While writing business plans for catering companies you should also create a list of your required employees along with their job responsibilities.

7.1 Company Staff

Marlon will manage the business himself. However, he will hire the following people

• 1 Quality Manager to ensure the quality of service by active supervision
• 1 Inventory Manager to manage and maintain the merchandise
• 1 Accountant to maintain financial records
• 2 Sales Executives to market and to discover new ventures
• 5 Catering Assistants/ Catering Chefs to prepare the food
• 4 Waiters to serve the guests
• 2 General Assistants to bring ingredients daily
• 1 Web Developer
• 2 Drivers to provide transport
• 1 Front Desk Officer to act as a receptionist

7.2 Average Salary of Employees

Financial plan.

As you make a catering business plan, you should also start analyzing your finances. Crafting a financial plan is an absolute need for a business as it maps the ways to minimize or even avoid loss. A good financial plan comprises a strategy to cover startup expenses with earned profits. Moreover, it also proposes a systematic approach to managing employees’ salaries, cost of business operations, and costs to cater for unexpected events.

To give you an idea of how a financial plan should look like, we are giving here the financial plan of Marlon Caterers.

8.1 Important Assumptions

8.2 brake-even analysis.

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

8.3.1 profit monthly.

8.3.2 Profit Yearly

8.3.3 Gross Margin Monthly

8.3.4 Gross Margin Yearly

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

8.6 business ratios.

Download Catering Company Business Plan Sample in pdf

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Catering Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Catering Business Plan Outline

• Catering Business Plan Home
• 1. Executive Summary
• 2. Company Overview
• 3. Industry Analysis
• 4. Customer Analysis
• 5. Competitive Analysis
• 6. Marketing Plan
• 7. Operations Plan
• 8. Management Team
• 9. Financial Plan

Start Your Catering Plan Here

Catering Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your catering business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start a new catering business or grow their catering company.

Below are links to each section of a catering business plan template example:

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Catering Business Plan FAQs

What is a catering business plan.

A catering business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your catering business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your catering business plan using our Catering Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Types of Catering Businesses?

Catering services are available for a variety of different occasions including parties, weddings and corporate events. 

What Are the Main Sources of Revenues and Expenses for a Catering Business?

The primary source of revenue for catering companies is individual, private events and corporate events. 

The key expenses for catering companies are rent, wages and salaries, equipment and food costs.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Catering Company Business Plan?

Catering companies are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Catering Business?

Starting a catering business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Catering Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed business plan for a catering business that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, market resarch on the catering industry, the services or products you will offer, business operations details, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  You can quickly complete your catering business plan using our Catering Business Plan Template here .

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your catering business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your catering business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Catering Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your catering business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your catering business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Catering Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your catering business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your catering business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful catering business and catering business planning:

• How to Start a Catering Business
• How to Start a Catering Company

Where Can I Get a Catering Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free catering business plan template PDF here . This is a sample catering business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Other Helpful Business Plan Templates

Photography Business Plan Template Event Venue Business Plan Template

• Business plans

Catering Business Plan

Used 4,872 times

Chart your path to success with our catering business plan template designed to help entrepreneurs organize their catering business.

e-Sign with PandaDoc

Created by:

​ [Sender.FirstName] [Sender.LastName] ​

​ [Sender.Company] ​

Prepared for:

​ [Recipient.FirstName] [Recipient.LastName]

​ [Recipient.Company] ​

Executive Summary

​ [Sender.Company] is a distinguished catering business in [Sender.StreetAddress] [Sender.City] [Sender.State] [Sender.PostalCode] , specializing in catering services. To provide the utmost convenience to its clients, [Sender.Company] has innovatively developed an online platform.

Combining culinary expertise with technological innovation, [Sender.Company] is dedicated to simplifying the catering process.

​ [Sender.Company] 's unwavering commitment to enhancing the catering experience underscores its mission to provide clients with a seamless and tailored culinary journey, establishing it as a leader in the catering industry.

Company Overview

Who is [sender.company] .

​ [Sender.Company] , nestled in the heart of (insert location here).

The driving force behind the inception of [Sender.Company] is none other than (Owner Name), a seasoned luminary within the catering domain. Despite (Owner Name)'s substantial background in the industry, it was a pivotal moment in (month, date) that marked the genesis of [Sender.Company] .

It became abundantly clear that [Sender.Company] was poised to make its indelible mark in the culinary landscape of (insert location here), promising a catering experience that was unique, exceptional, and ideally attuned to the tastes and preferences of its clientele.

Service Offering

​ [Sender.Company] specializes in delivering a diverse range of catering services, catering to various culinary desires and event requirements.

(Company Product/Option): (Insert short description)

This diverse array of catering services ensures that individuals and event hosts can find the perfect culinary experience that aligns seamlessly with their tastes and event requirements.

Management Team

(Name) – Founder & CEO

Background: (Brief background and qualifications of the CEO)

Responsibilities: (CEO's primary responsibilities and areas of focus)

(Name) – Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Background: (Brief background and qualifications of the COO)

Responsibilities: (COO's primary responsibilities and areas of focus)

(Name) – Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Background: (Brief background and qualifications of the CFO)

Responsibilities: (CFO's primary responsibilities and areas of focus)

(Name) – Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)

Background: (Brief background and qualifications of the CMO)

Responsibilities: (CMO's primary responsibilities and areas of focus)

Customer Analysis

Profile of target market.

​ [Sender.Company] will target businesses of all sizes in [Sender.StreetAddress] [Sender.City] [Sender.State] [Sender.PostalCode] . Businesses demand catering services for all of their events. Thus, they could be the primary client for any catering business. [Sender.Company] will also target local non-profits and individuals searching for catering services for social occasions.

Customer Segmentation

​ [Sender.Company] intends to target the following client groups:

Corporations: Hosting conferences, product launches, meetings, and celebrations.

Local Governments: For their meetings and social gatherings

Parents: For birthdays and social gatherings

Brides: Providing catering for bridal showers, engagement parties, and wedding celebrations

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Some businesses with similar profiles can be found in [Sender.Company] locations. As a result, [Sender.Company] will face direct or indirect client rivalry. The competitors of the company are briefly described here.

Competitive Advantage

​ [Sender.Company] will provide its client with the following competitive advantages:

(Competitive Advantage 1)

(Competitive Advantage 2)

Marketing Plan

​ [sender.company] ’s branding and positioning.

The [Sender.Company] brand is renowned for its unique value proposition within the catering industry:

Diverse Menu Options

​ [Sender.Company] is known for its extensive menu offerings, providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner customization.

Culinary Excellence

The company is committed to serving top-tier cuisine prepared by skilled chefs and presented by a team of sophisticated servers.

Exceptional Customer Service

At [Sender.Company] , excellent customer service is a hallmark.

Innovative Themes and Concepts

​ [Sender.Company] stands out with its creative approach, offering innovative event themes and concepts.

Sustainability and Dietary Accommodations

The company prioritizes and accommodates various dietary needs, demonstrating a commitment to eco-friendly practices and guest preferences.

Event Planning Expertise

​ [Sender.Company] provides comprehensive event planning services, including venue selection, décor, and entertainment.

These unique values define [Sender.Company] and highlight its dedication to delivering exceptional catering and event experiences.

Promotions Strategy

​ [Sender.Company] anticipates its primary customer base to encompass individuals residing or working within the area of the establishment. The company's comprehensive promotional strategy to engage this demographic comprises various components.

The catering business will proactively encourage delighted clients to refer other companies or individuals by providing financial incentives for each successful referral.

Advertising

​ [Sender.Company] will initially invest in advertising placements within local newspapers and event publications to enhance brand awareness.

Direct Mail

​ [Sender.Company] will utilize local business mailing lists and business association databases to distribute informative materials to nearby businesses. These materials will offer insights into the company's offerings, feature discounts, and incentivize individuals to consider [Sender.Company] for their catering needs.

Public Relations

Outreach efforts will extend to local and regional newspapers and television stations, where press releases detailing the company's launch and its unique value proposition will be disseminated.

Ongoing Customer Communications

To maintain an active online presence, [Sender.Company] will maintain an informative website and circulate a monthly email newsletter.

Social Media Marketing

Proactive interaction with prospective clients and strategic collaborators on diverse social media platforms, including (List relevant social media platforms), will enable the business to remain responsive to evolving customer requirements and preferences.

Pricing Strategy

​ [Sender.Company] prioritizes catering to a wide range of client budgets while consistently delivering exceptional catering services. Recognizing the catering industry's susceptibility to price fluctuations, often driven by external factors, [Sender.Company] is firmly committed to offering competitive pricing that appeals to a broad clientele and reduces accessibility barriers. Additionally, a robust cost management strategy will be implemented to maximize profitability.

(Payment Option 1)

(Payment Option 2)

(Payment Option 3)

(Payment Option 4)

By offering these versatile payment alternatives, [Sender.Company] aims to ensure that its valued clients have a range of choices to align with their financial needs and preferences, ultimately enhancing their overall satisfaction. These options can be adjusted to remain responsive to market dynamics and evolving customer demands.

These milestones underscore [Sender.Company] 's unwavering commitment to making consistent and measurable strides in its pursuit of success within the (Industry Name).

Financial Plan

Source and use of funds.

​ [Sender.Company] will be receiving (Amount) from (Source of Fund) to launch its catering business. The funds will be used for capital expenditures, labor costs, and acquiring supplies and equipment. The following table shows the proposed startup costs:

Financial Projections

These are [Sender.Company] 's pro forma financial statements for the next five (5) years. It contains the business's income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.

​ [Recipient.FirstName] [Recipient.LastName] ​

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Catering Business Plan Template – 11+ For Word & PDF

One of the most important elements of starting a new catering business is to have a plan that lays out your plans, objectives, and activities that will be needed to get your business off the ground. Even if it is on the back of a napkin , a plan that outlines how you will get started and answers many questions for you and your investors is better than nothing at all. A catering business plan can save a great deal of wasted time and money. Using a catering business plan template guides the new business owner through the areas they need to address as they launch their new endeavor . Nothing is missed, and the template saves even more time for the busy entrepreneur.

This blog reviews what a catering business plan template is, what the important elements are that should be in every business plan and address several frequently asked questions many readers have.

What Is a Catering Business Plan Template?

A catering business plan provides an overview of a catering business that is already in operation or one that you plan to initiate. The plan looks to the future regarding expansion plans, goals and strategies, and operation plans. These goals and strategies are turned into actions that the business owner will need to execute to meet their objectives. For example, growing the business by 20% could mean adding ten employees, finding a larger building, obtaining financing to purchase more equipment, and developing a marketing plan to expand markets into other regions.

Using a catering business plan template saves you time and forces the business owner to think about and answer many detailed questions about their business plans, goals, and objectives. Using a template also means that you have a professional-looking document that will impress financiers you may need to secure funding for your expansion plans. Lenders look for specific details to be included in the business plan. Without this information, the likely hood of receiving approval for funding is low.

While using a catering business plan template saves time, developing a business plan takes a great deal of time and effort to gather all of the information and apply it to the business you want to create. Many people just want to get started with the business, which can lead to costly mistakes to be made and jeopardize the business’s success. A catering business plan properly developed using a template will save the business owner from making expensive mistakes and improve the opportunities for the business to be successful.

Catering Business Plan Sample

Creating a catering business plan in Word allows for easy formatting and editing. Loading your template in word gives you a quick base for adding the details of your business plan. Word lets you make quick changes, and save them easily. It is compatible with most text formats, and is a good choice for professional documents.

Mobile Catering Business Plan Template

Catering Business Plan Template for Wedding

Wedding Catering Business Plan Template

A food catering business plan should include all your start-up costs, and your plan for operating at a profit. Getting a business loan will require submitting a quality business plan. A template will show you everything to include. A clear, readable format will ensure that your business gives a professional impression.

Catering Business Plan Format

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Catering Business Plan

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Catering Business Statement of Work Sample

Catering Business Plan Outline Template

Catering from home still requires a business plan to ensure you will operate properly. Using your homes resources for a business takes proper financial planning. Your appliances will wear out faster, and utilities will be higher. Including how to factor that into your costs and taxes will make running your business much easier.

Catering Business Plan Essential Factors

Catering Business Plan (FAQ)

Essential Elements of a Catering Business Plan Template

The following are the essential elements of a catering business plan template. We will expand on each of these to provide more details.

• Executive Summary
• Company Overview
• Catering Industry Analysis
• Target Market Profile
• Competitive Profile
• Marketing Plan
• Company Operations
• Management Team
• Financial Plan
• Executive Summary –  typically one page in length, the executive summary shares with readers the objectives of the business and the vision or mission of the business. The executive summary is the last page to be finalized and should reflect in a broad overview your plans for your company over the next five years.
• Company Overview  – describe your company, including the principles of the company, who owns the company, the number of employees, and the organization structure if you have one. If this is a start-up, include start-up costs in this section.
• Catering Industry Analysis  – include in summary form information you have concerning the industry for the market you will operate in as well as general industry trends that demonstrate the growth of the industry. 
• Target Market Profile  – clearly describe your market for the area you will operate in. What demographics is your catering business aimed at? Will you focus on catering to weddings, business events, and large parties, or are you focusing on the consumer market, for example? Back it up with data that supports your decision to focus on the market you have decided to target.
• Competitive Profile  – analysis of your competitors is an excellent task to complete. This data will help you understand who they are, what their target markets are, and their strengths and weaknesses. Finish off this section by describing your competitive advantage compared to your competitors, along with a risk assessment. Your competitors are not going to remain in their current lane. They will adapt to a new competitor coming into the market. How will they react to your entrance?
• Marketing Plan  – once you open for business, letting people know that your company is in the catering business and getting your name out there is paramount to becoming successful. Outline your advertising plan – print, TV, Social media, etc. and how much advertising is going to cost. Your marketing budget needs to be factored into your budget.
• Company Operations  –the catering business operations plan must factor in the catering services that will be offered, the functions of each employee, and the milestones or objectives that the operations team needs to hit to be successful and meet your financial targets. Equipment and supplies should be included, as well as space to operate and vehicles to transport all catering activities.
• Management Team  – your catering business may start with one or two employees and quickly expand as orders arrive. Many catering companies have a combination of full-time employees and temporary staff. Describe the management team, the full-time employees, and where the temporary folks will come from. Hiring skilled, dependable employees is one of the most significant challenges many businesses encounter.
• Financial Plan  – the financial plan is one of the most important sections of the catering business plan. It brings together all of the revenue, expenses, and capital purchases you need to make and how those funds will be used over time. Key assumptions should also be included covering all major issues affecting cash flow and capital expenditures. The catering business financial plan also should include an annual income statement, an annual balance sheet, and an annual cash flow statement. Lenders will examine these numbers in detail to assess how aggressive your plan is and the probability of your business achieving these numbers.Once the catering business plan is finalized, arrange for a 3rd party to review and critique the plan. Someone with experience in the catering business and someone with lending experience is a good choice for reviewing the plan before submitting it to potential lenders.

The following are some of the frequently asked questions many of our readers have about catering business plan templates.

Business plans are extremely useful for several reasons: ᐅ Support applications for support from lenders ᐅ Planning operations, resource needs, and managing cash flow ᐅ Assessing the company’s profit margin ᐅ Setting objectives and milestones ᐅ Planning the growth of the company ᐅ Annual updates help keep your company on track

One of the reasons a catering business plan is useful to both operators and lenders is the prediction of the profit margin. The profit margin is the revenue minus expenses. Accountants can assist with the development of the predicted profit margin taking into account your predictions for sales, operating expenses, and depreciation on capital equipment. Lenders expect a positive profit margin in the first year of approximately seven to ten percent.

The food cost formula is the ratio of the cost of food ingredients vs. the revenue generated by these ingredients. Food costs must consider many factors, including the cost of the ingredients, storage, waste, inventory costs, and support costs such as napkins and garnishes. Food costs are sometimes focused on the cost of the ingredients only to determine the basic cost of a serving. Overhead costs such as storage, waste, employee, and building costs are added to this number to determine profit per meal.

A strategic plan for catering front ends the catering business plan. The strategic business plan for catering helps establish and answer questions about: ᐅ The size of the business at launch and the ability to grow ᐅ The type of catering – weddings, corporate, etc. ᐅ The location of operations and the area served ᐅ How the business will be managed?   Strategic planning may include:   ᐅ Market competition analysis,  ᐅ Feasibility analysis ᐅ Operations analysis

The importance of a catering business plan cannot be understated. There are many advantages for the owner to develop a business plan and use it to guide his business development and growth. Is the business viable with the current plans, or do you need to make changes to elements of the business to give it a better chance of success? Will lenders loan you funds to help get the business started? When should the business expand? Which markets and what is the competitive environment in the area the business will operate in? These questions and more should be addressed in the catering business plan to help make the business successful. Using a catering business plan template saves time and guides new business owners through the topics they need to focus on as they launch their new catering business. Nothing is missed, and the template saves even more time for the busy entrepreneur. There is an advantage to reviewing the business plan at least once a year or sometimes more often to determine if changes need to be made, verify assumptions, and incorporate new facts learned during the year. These mid-course corrections can help ensure that your business reacts to a dynamic market environment. Update the catering business plan at a minimum annually and review the plan with key management personnel. Lenders may demand to see an updated plan. They want to have confidence that their money is being used wisely and that they will see a return on the investment they have made in your business. An updated catering business plan may be a condition of continuing support from lenders. Use the catering business plan as a tool to help your business adjust to changing markets, supply conditions, staffing, and competition. With a business plan, making adjustments to sales projections can tell you quickly what the impact will be on the bottom line. Similarly, with adjustments to the price of goods, staffing, salaries, rent, etc.

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Here is a free business plan sample for a catering company.

Have you been toying with the idea of launching a catering business but feel overwhelmed about where to start?

Look no further, as we're about to guide you through a comprehensive business plan tailored for the catering industry.

Creating a solid business plan is a crucial step for any aspiring entrepreneur. It serves as a roadmap, outlining your vision, objectives, and the strategies you'll employ to turn your catering dreams into a thriving reality.

To streamline your planning process and get you started on the right foot, feel free to utilize our catering business plan template. Our team of professionals is also on standby to provide a free review and fine-tuning of your plan.

How to draft a great business plan for your catering company?

A good business plan for a catering business must be tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of the catering industry.

Initially, it's important to provide a comprehensive overview of the catering market. This should include current statistics and an analysis of emerging trends, similar to what we've outlined in our catering business plan template .

Your business plan should articulate your vision clearly, define your target market (such as weddings, corporate events, private parties), and establish your catering company's distinctive approach (gourmet, budget-friendly, ethnic cuisines, etc.).

Market analysis is a critical component. You'll need to thoroughly research local competitors, understand industry trends, and identify the preferences of potential clients.

For a catering business, it's imperative to detail your menu offerings. Describe your range of cuisines, menu flexibility for dietary restrictions, and how your selections cater to the tastes and needs of your intended clientele.

The operational plan is vital and should cover the logistics of your catering operations. This includes the location of your kitchen, the layout for food preparation and storage, supplier relationships for ingredients, and the logistics of transporting food to event venues.

Quality control is paramount in catering. Your plan should highlight your commitment to food quality, preparation standards, and adherence to health and safety regulations.

Marketing and sales strategies must be addressed. How will you build a client base and foster repeat business? Discuss promotional tactics, networking strategies, and customer service excellence.

Incorporating digital marketing efforts, such as a professional website and active social media engagement, is crucial for modern businesses.

The financial section is a cornerstone of your business plan. It should outline your startup costs, projected revenue, operating expenses, and the point at which you expect to turn a profit.

Catering businesses often deal with fluctuating costs and varying client demands, making financial planning especially important. To assist with this, consider using our financial forecast for a catering business .

Compared to other business plans, a catering business plan must address specific factors such as menu diversity, event-specific logistics, staffing for different types of events, and the scalability of services.

A comprehensive business plan is a tool for clarifying your strategy and attracting investment or loans.

Investors and lenders will look for a thorough market analysis, sound financial projections, and a clear plan for managing the complexities of catering operations.

By presenting a detailed and substantiated business plan, you showcase your professionalism and dedication to the success of your catering enterprise.

To streamline the planning process and ensure you cover all necessary elements, you can start with our catering business plan template .

A free example of business plan for a catering company

Here, we will provide a concise and illustrative example of a business plan for a specific project.

This example aims to provide an overview of the essential components of a business plan. It is important to note that this version is only a summary. As it stands, this business plan is not sufficiently developed to support a profitability strategy or convince a bank to provide financing.

To be effective, the business plan should be significantly more detailed, including up-to-date market data, more persuasive arguments, a thorough market study, a three-year action plan, as well as detailed financial tables such as a projected income statement, projected balance sheet, cash flow budget, and break-even analysis.

All these elements have been thoroughly included by our experts in the business plan template they have designed for a catering .

Here, we will follow the same structure as in our business plan template.

Market Opportunity

Market overview and potential.

The catering industry is an essential segment of the food services market, offering vast opportunities for growth and innovation.

As of recent estimates, the global catering market size is valued at several billion dollars, with expectations for continued expansion. This growth is driven by an increase in corporate events, social gatherings, and a general preference for professionally prepared meals for various occasions.

In the United States, the catering industry contributes significantly to the economy, with thousands of catering companies operating across the country, generating substantial revenue annually.

This data underscores the pivotal role that catering services play in the food industry and highlights the potential for new entrants to make their mark.

Industry Trends

The catering industry is experiencing a shift towards more personalized and health-conscious dining experiences.

There is a rising demand for organic, non-GMO, and locally sourced ingredients, as clients are more aware of the health and environmental impacts of their food choices.

Customization is becoming increasingly important, with clients seeking unique and tailored menus to suit dietary restrictions and personal preferences, such as gluten-free, keto, or vegan diets.

Technology is also playing a role in transforming the catering business, with online ordering systems and event management software streamlining operations and enhancing customer engagement.

Sustainability practices are being integrated into catering operations, from reducing food waste to using eco-friendly packaging and utensils.

These trends are shaping the future of catering, as providers adapt to the evolving demands of modern consumers and event planners.

Key Success Factors

Several factors contribute to the success of a catering business.

High-quality food that is both delicious and presented elegantly is fundamental to a caterer's reputation and client satisfaction.

Versatility in menu offerings allows a catering service to accommodate a wide range of events and dietary needs, enhancing its marketability.

Strategic partnerships with event planners, venues, and suppliers can lead to a steady stream of business and opportunities for growth.

Exceptional customer service, including clear communication and the ability to execute events flawlessly, is critical for building trust and repeat business.

Efficient operations, including cost control, inventory management, and staff training, ensure that the business runs smoothly and profitably.

Adapting to industry trends, such as incorporating sustainable practices and leveraging technology, will position a catering company as a forward-thinking and competitive player in the market.

The Project

Project presentation.

Our gluten-free catering service is designed to cater to the increasing number of individuals with gluten sensitivities, celiac disease, or those who prefer a gluten-free lifestyle. Strategically positioned to serve both private events and corporate functions, our catering service will provide a diverse menu of gluten-free options, including appetizers, main courses, sides, and desserts, all crafted with premium, certified gluten-free ingredients.

We emphasize the flavor, presentation, and nutritional value of our dishes to ensure a delightful and satisfying dining experience for all our clients.

Our catering business is poised to set the standard for gluten-free dining experiences, enhancing the lives of our clients by accommodating their dietary needs without compromising on taste or quality.

Value Proposition

The value proposition of our gluten-free catering service lies in our dedication to delivering a gourmet dining experience tailored to the gluten-free community. We understand the challenges faced by those with dietary restrictions and are committed to providing a diverse menu that is both safe and delectable.

Our pledge to culinary excellence and dietary safety offers peace of mind and enjoyment to our clients, contributing to their health and satisfaction.

We strive to create a welcoming atmosphere for all guests, regardless of their dietary preferences, and are dedicated to educating our clientele about the advantages of gluten-free dining.

As a leader in gluten-free catering, we aim to be a cornerstone in the community, presenting a viable and appetizing alternative to traditional catering options and enhancing the well-being of our clients.

Project Owner

The project owner is a seasoned professional with a passion for catering and a comprehensive understanding of gluten-free dietary requirements.

Armed with experience in event planning and a background in nutrition, the owner is driven to establish a gluten-free catering service that excels in quality, creativity, and customer service.

With a commitment to education and dietary awareness, the owner is dedicated to offering exquisite gluten-free meals that contribute to the health of clients and the success of their events.

Their dedication to culinary artistry and their zeal for exceptional service are the cornerstones of this venture, aiming to enrich the dining experiences of those in need of reliable and delicious gluten-free options.

The Market Study

Market segments.

The market segments for this gluten-free catering service are diverse and multifaceted.

Primary clients include individuals with gluten intolerance or celiac disease who require strict gluten-free diets for their health and well-being.

Additionally, there is a growing demographic of health-conscious individuals who opt for gluten-free meals as part of a lifestyle choice or dietary preference.

Corporate clients seeking to accommodate the dietary needs of their employees or guests during events also represent a significant market segment.

Lastly, event planners and hosts who aim to provide inclusive menu options for weddings, parties, and other social gatherings are potential customers for our services.

SWOT Analysis

Conducting a SWOT analysis for the gluten-free catering business highlights several factors.

Strengths include specialized knowledge in gluten-free meal preparation, a commitment to high-quality ingredients, and the ability to offer a diverse menu catering to various dietary needs.

Weaknesses may involve the higher costs associated with sourcing premium gluten-free ingredients and the complexity of ensuring cross-contamination is avoided.

Opportunities can be found in the increasing awareness and demand for gluten-free options, as well as the potential to partner with health professionals who can refer clients with dietary restrictions.

Threats include the growing number of competitors in the gluten-free catering space and the volatility of prices for gluten-free ingredients.

Competitor Analysis

An analysis of competitors within the gluten-free catering industry shows a competitive landscape.

Direct competitors include other catering services that offer gluten-free menus and restaurants with gluten-free takeout options.

These businesses compete on the basis of menu diversity, ingredient quality, price points, and service excellence.

Identifying competitive advantages such as unique menu offerings, exceptional customer service, and strong partnerships with suppliers can help in carving out a niche in the market.

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of these competitors is crucial for developing strategies to differentiate and build customer loyalty.

Competitive Advantages

Our gluten-free catering service's competitive advantages lie in our unwavering dedication to quality and customer satisfaction.

We offer a wide array of appetizing and nutritious gluten-free dishes, crafted to meet the needs of our diverse clientele without compromising on flavor or presentation.

Our commitment to educating our clients and their guests about the benefits of gluten-free dining, along with our transparent ingredient sourcing, helps to establish trust and loyalty within our customer base.

Moreover, our adaptability to cater to various event sizes and settings gives us the flexibility to provide personalized and memorable experiences for every occasion.

You can also read our articles about: - how to start a catering company: a complete guide - the customer segments of a catering company - the competition study for a catering company

The Strategy

Development plan.

Our three-year development plan for the gluten-free catering service is designed to establish us as a leader in the industry.

In the first year, we aim to build a strong reputation for our unique gluten-free menus and exceptional service, focusing on corporate events, weddings, and private parties.

The second year will be about expanding our reach by partnering with event planners and venues, and offering our services to a wider array of events and clients.

In the third year, we plan to diversify our offerings with seasonal and culturally diverse gluten-free menus, and to start offering cooking classes and workshops to engage with our community.

We will consistently prioritize the quality of our ingredients, customer service excellence, and innovative menu design to cater to the evolving tastes and dietary needs of our clients.

Business Model Canvas

The Business Model Canvas for our gluten-free catering service targets individuals and organizations looking for high-quality, gluten-free food options for their events.

Our value proposition is delivering a memorable dining experience with a diverse range of gluten-free dishes that do not compromise on taste or presentation.

We offer our catering services through direct engagement with clients, as well as through our website and social media platforms, utilizing our skilled chefs and event coordinators as key resources.

Key activities include menu development, event planning, and client consultations.

Our revenue streams are generated from catering events, while our costs are associated with high-quality ingredient procurement, labor, and marketing efforts.

Access a detailed and customizable Business Model Canvas in our business plan template .

Marketing Strategy

Our marketing strategy is centered on showcasing the quality and creativity of our gluten-free catering menus.

We plan to engage with our target market through food tasting events, partnerships with gluten-free influencers, and by providing educational content on the benefits of gluten-free diets.

Collaborations with nutritionists and dietitians will help validate our offerings and build trust with potential clients.

We will leverage social media platforms and targeted advertising to increase visibility and attract a diverse clientele interested in healthy, gluten-free options for their events.

Risk Policy

Our risk policy for the gluten-free catering service focuses on mitigating risks associated with food preparation, ingredient sourcing, and event execution.

We will adhere to strict gluten-free protocols and cross-contamination prevention measures to ensure the safety of our clients with gluten sensitivities.

Regular staff training and quality control checks will be implemented to maintain high standards. We will also manage costs effectively to ensure financial stability.

Comprehensive liability insurance will be in place to protect against any unforeseen incidents related to our catering services.

Why Our Project is Viable

We are committed to filling a gap in the market with our gluten-free catering service, addressing the needs of a growing demographic that values health and dietary inclusivity.

With our dedication to culinary excellence and customer satisfaction, we believe our business is well-positioned for success in the competitive catering landscape.

We are enthusiastic about the positive impact our service can have on the well-being of our clients and are ready to adapt to the industry's demands to achieve our vision.

We look forward to the exciting opportunities ahead and the chance to become a trusted name in gluten-free catering.

You can also read our articles about: - the Business Model Canvas of a catering company - the marketing strategy for a catering company

The Financial Plan

Of course, the text presented below is far from sufficient to serve as a solid and credible financial analysis for a bank or potential investor. They expect specific numbers, financial statements, and charts demonstrating the profitability of your project.

All these elements are available in our business plan template for a catering and our financial plan for a catering .

Initial expenses for our gluten-free catering business include acquiring commercial kitchen equipment designed for gluten-free meal preparation, adapting the kitchen space to comply with food safety regulations, sourcing certified gluten-free ingredients, specialized staff training for proper handling of gluten-free products, as well as costs associated with branding and initiating targeted marketing campaigns to reach our niche market.

Our revenue projections are based on a thorough market analysis of the demand for gluten-free catering services, taking into account the increasing awareness of dietary restrictions and the preference for high-quality, specialized catering options.

We expect a gradual increase in sales, beginning with conservative estimates and expanding as recognition of our gluten-free catering services grows within the community and beyond.

The projected income statement outlines anticipated revenues from our gluten-free catering events, production costs (ingredients, labor, utilities), and operating expenses (facility lease, marketing, staff wages, etc.).

This leads to a forecasted net profit that is essential for assessing the long-term viability of our catering venture.

The projected balance sheet presents assets unique to our business, such as kitchen equipment, ingredient inventories, and liabilities including loans and projected operational costs.

It provides a snapshot of the financial standing of our gluten-free catering service at the conclusion of each fiscal period.

Our projected cash flow statement details the inflows and outflows of cash, enabling us to predict our financial requirements at any point in time. This will be crucial for maintaining financial stability and preventing cash flow issues.

The projected financing strategy identifies the specific sources of funding we intend to utilize to cover our initial costs.

The working capital requirement for our gluten-free catering business will be diligently tracked to ensure we have sufficient liquidity to support our day-to-day operations, which includes ingredient purchases, inventory control, and payroll.

The break-even analysis for our venture will determine the volume of catering events needed to offset all our costs, including the initial investments, and to begin generating profits.

It will signal the point at which our business becomes financially sustainable.

Key performance indicators we will monitor include the profit margin on our gluten-free catering services, the current ratio to evaluate our ability to meet short-term liabilities, and the return on investment to gauge the efficiency of the capital we have deployed into the business.

These metrics will assist us in assessing the financial health and overall success of our gluten-free catering enterprise.

If you want to know more about the financial analysis of this type of activity, please read our article about the financial plan for a catering company .

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Catering Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

Catering Business Plan Template

If you want to start a new catering business or expand your current catering business, you need a business plan.

You can download the Catering business plan template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

The following catering business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a winning plan for your own catering company. In addition to this template, conducting market research for your local customer base will help you identify potential market trends and customer segments to better understand the viability of your catering business.

Sample Catering Business Plan

Below are links to each of the key sections of a sample business plan for a successful catering business.

• Executive Summary – The Executive Summary should be a concise yet compelling overview of your catering business. Highlight your unique selling proposition, the target market you’re serving, and the financial projections that demonstrate the potential for significant growth and profitability.
• Company Overview – The Company Overview should provide a clear and concise description of your business concept and mission statement. Define your catering services, such as whether you specialize in corporate events, weddings, or a specific cuisine. Outline your business structure (e.g., sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation) and any relevant licenses or permits required to operate.
• Industry Analysis – The Industry Analysis should delve deeper into the catering industry trends and competitive landscape. Identify potential challenges and opportunities and discuss how your business is positioned to capitalize on them. Consider conducting market research to gather data on market size, growth rate, and consumer spending habits.
• Customer Analysis – The Customer Analysis should create a detailed profile of your ideal customer. Identify their demographics, psychographics, and needs. Understand their preferences, budget constraints, and expectations for catering services. This information will help you tailor your marketing efforts and offerings to meet their specific requirements.
• Competitive Analysis – The Competitive Analysis should go beyond identifying direct competitors (other catering businesses) and delve into the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors. Analyze their market share, pricing strategies, service offerings, and customer reviews. Identify your unique selling points and competitive advantages that differentiate your business from others.
• Marketing Plan – The Marketing Plan should outline your comprehensive strategy for reaching and acquiring customers. Develop a mix of marketing channels, such as social media, public relations, online advertising, and networking events. Don’t forget to include your pricing strategy, which should be aligned with your value proposition and competitive landscape.
• Operations Plan – The Operations Plan should detail the day-to-day operations of your catering business. This includes your sourcing and procurement processes for food preparation, inventory management, food safety and sanitation procedures, staffing requirements, and logistics (e.g., transportation, delivery, setup).
• Management Team – The Management Team section should highlight the expertise and experience of your team members. Include profiles of key personnel, such as the owner, executive chef, general manager, and sales manager. Emphasize their relevant catering industry experience, qualifications, and contributions to the business.
• Financial Plan – The Financial Plan should provide a comprehensive overview of your business’s financial health. Include financial projections for the next 3-5 years, including the profit and loss statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.

Download a Free Catering Business Plan PDF

Use this catering business plan PDF to get started on your own catering business plan.

Download the Catering business plan template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

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Catering Business Plan Outline

How to Start a Catering Business

Tony Sekulich

20 min. read

Updated July 3, 2024

Free Download:  Sample Catering Business Plan Template

Do you find the process of shopping and chopping, sautéing and flambéing for large groups of people rewarding and fulfilling? Would you rather die than serve a salad that is topped with anything other your homemade vinaigrette dressing? Are people constantly asking you to cook for their next gathering?

If any of this sounds familiar, you’ve probably at least toyed with the idea of starting a catering business. It’s a thriving industry which can be scaled and tailored to whatever best suits your skills and situation. This article is intended to serve as a step-by-step guide to show you how to get started.

To supplement this guide, I interviewed two seasoned veterans of the catering business:

Jean-Marc Fontaine is a French-trained chef, event planner, and sommelier who now serves as the Catering Sales and Events Consultant for Urban Source Creative Catering in the heart of downtown Toronto, Canada. Warren Dietel is the Owner and President of Puff ‘N Stuff , a full-service wedding, corporate, and holiday event caterer and planner serving the greater Orlando area and all of central Florida.

• 1. Understand the state of the catering industry in the U.S.

In the United States alone, the catering industry is an $11 billion juggernaut and growing every year—more than 4.5 percent between 2014 and 2019. 

An industry report shows that in 2012, the average costs for the foodservice at a wedding reception in the United States was to $3,579 U.S.; wedding planning website The Knot surveyed  their users and found that in 2017, the average cost was $6,528, or $70 per guest. Wedding Wire says the average cost is about $4,000, but most couples spend between $1,800 and $7,000. Not surprisingly, the largest market segment that supports the catering business is households earning at least six figures.  In 2015, of households with a combined income of 100,000 U.S. dollars or more, 5.4 percent spent $500 to $999 U.S. on catered events outside the home.

Though there are major players in the catering industry, there are a lot of reasons why it’s appealing to entrepreneurs: Unlike most other sectors, the industry is highly fragmented, meaning there is no single corporate entity dominating the market share. 

This means there’s room for everyone who has some skill and hustle. Large companies can leverage their ability to scale to any size event and cover multiple events at the same time; smaller outfits can push their personal touch for a competitive edge.

2. Figure out if you’re ready to start a catering company

There’s no shortcut to determining if you are just a “weekend warrior” dazzling your friends and colleagues in your own home or someone who is a great candidate to branch out and start their own catering business. Jean-Marc Fontaine says to find success, people need to spark that burning desire from within.

“I really have a passion for food and entertaining and the reason I’m still doing this job today is because I am passionate about the food industry,” he says. “It’s a very special area, it’s not like an office job, it’s more like art—you have to really love it.”

Jean-Marc believes this passion is necessary because almost everyone who enters the foodservice industry greatly underestimates the amount of time, effort, and expense it requires to be successful. This is a lesson he has learned personally.

“Many years ago when I was in France, my brother (also a chef) and I opened a small restaurant together—30 seats so not a big operation. It was just his wife serving and we had someone helping in the kitchen. We knew it would be a lot of work; we didn’t know we’d be working literally 18 hours a day, seven days a week. So many things to think about, not just food prep but cleaning and overhead, you need equipment, you need a vehicle which means expenses for gas and parking. If you don’t anticipate all the expenses and overhead charges, it can be overwhelming,” he says.

Warren Dietel also cautions anyone thinking of entering the business against getting swept up in the glamorous portrayal they may have seen on television, as the reality of the industry is altogether different.

“Catering is not for the faint of heart, this is a hard business,” he explains. “You can’t get into this thinking this is what you see on the Food Network. I think the cooking networks have done a fabulous job of showcasing the glamorous side of what the foodservice and special event industry is, but at the end of the day, it takes hard work, grit, and determination to be successful.”

If you are driven by that burning desire to start a catering business and are prepared for the work and accompanying expenses, the catering industry will offer some distinct advantages over starting a traditional sit-down restaurant. Before you get started, take this quiz to help you think about what it takes to start your own business. 

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Advantages of starting a catering business

Food production costs.

Caterers know exactly how many people they are expected to serve. That means you can buy only what is absolutely necessary and reduce the expense of food waste. A traditional restaurant may be prepared to serve 150 people on any given night, even if only 30 walk through the door.

Equipment costs

Since most small catering operations only need their equipment for a few days each week, it makes more sense to rent it for only the times they will be in use. This expense is factored into the overall job quote. That means, unlike the new restaurateur, the caterer does not have to deal with a staggering amount of overhead right out of the gate.

Serving staff

Most catered events are buffet style, which means the catering company can get by with two or three servers for a party of over one hundred guests, whereas that same guest list in a restaurant would require at least eight to ten paid serving staff.

• 3. Test the waters by working in the industry

You’ve seen the advantages, you know what’s in store, and you’ve decided you will forge ahead and start a catering business.

Before you lease space and start advertising, there are some “test drives” you should do first. These are things that can give you a better sense of the professional landscape and either confirm or challenge your commitment to moving ahead.

Work for a local caterer

As obvious as it may seem, there is no better way to prepare yourself for the realities of making it on your own. You will get a master class in everything that goes into running a successful (or not so successful) catering business. 

It will also show if you have the one trait Jean-Marc believes any caterer must have to make it in the business:

“I know it sounds a little cliché, but you always have to keep a positive approach because there are so many factors that can be stressful,” he says. “A lot of things can go wrong from the get-go. It could be accidental food poisoning or the delivery van could have an accident on the way to an event. No matter what happens, you always have to have a positive approach.”

Volunteer as an event planner

For any prospective caterer, the ability to multi-task is just as important as the ability to prepare mouth-watering dishes. The most delicious food in the world will not save an event that is an organizational train wreck. 

The experience you gain from helping to plan fundraising events for your favorite charities or church functions could reap huge benefits further down the line.

Work as a personal chef

This is a very common training ground for many eventual caterers.

By working as a personal chef, you not only hone your skills in the kitchen, but you can also develop a client base and begin networking, which will be very beneficial when you transition to catering.

• 4. Do your research and write your business plan

When you’re finally ready to make a go of it and launch your catering business, the first thing you have to do is determine what makes your business unique. One way to describe this is your unique value proposition , or UVP. In a nutshell, your UVP covers: how your catering service works, what makes it valuable and unique, and why it’s better than the rest.

When you’re first starting out, you will likely be a very small operation and that makes it especially important to establish your niche in the marketplace. Large corporate events like Jean-Marc’s Urban Source Creative Catering can scale up or down depending on the order. They can be a large one size fits all operation that can be, in many ways, everything to everyone.

“A couple of weeks ago I was planning a corporate lunch for executives for one day and the next day, it was a birthday party for a five-year-old girl,” he says. “We’re flexible enough to adapt the menu to the needs and preferences of the client.”

Identify your target market

With that in mind, it’s very unlikely you will have the same capability. Most businesses benefit from identifying their target market —and it probably won’t be everyone who needs to eat, from five-year-olds to corporate executives. 

So here are some things you can do to narrow the focus of what your catering business is all about.

Identify your concept—who and what you serve

This is essentially determining what the DNA of your catering business will be.

What’s your most identifiable and unique business trait? Are you a target-based caterer, meaning you specialize in certain events like weddings, corporate lunches, or social fundraising events? Or are you a cuisine-based company that specializes in vegan and vegetarian dishes, Southeast Asian food, or catering for some of the more common food allergies and restrictions?

Find out who your competitors are

Maybe you decided that you are going to be the premier vegan and vegetarian caterer in your city. You’re going to want to find out how many other businesses out there are trying to service that same market. You need to know who else is serving your same target customers in your area. Putting together a simple competitive matrix can help you see where you and your competitors overlap, and where you stand out. 

Practically every business has competition . If there aren’t any other caterers serving your style of food in your area, don’t make the mistake of thinking that you don’t have competition. Find out how your target customers are getting their needs met already. What do they do when they want to serve 30 of their friends a huge meal? How do they make it happen? Make it your business to find out. 

You may be in trouble before you begin if your chosen niche is already oversaturated in the market. So, find out who has been successful locally and why. What are people saying about them? Why do they get repeat business? The answers to these questions will help you guide and shape you’re growing catering business.

Write your business plan

If you’ve done some market research and thought about competition, it’s time to start thinking about putting together your business plan . You’ll need a formal business plan if you plan to seek a bank loan or investor funding. Check out a  free sample catering business plan in the Bplans sample business plan library to give you some insight on what to include.

If you’re not planning on seeking funding, consider putting together a Lean Business Plan instead. It’s shorter by design, and it will help you make sure you’ve thought through all the critical aspects of your business. 

• 5. Build your catering menu

A caterer does many things and must wear many hats, all at the same time. But, nothing is more central to the core identity of the business than the menu .

Your service and presentation must be impeccable, but it is the food that will keep customers coming back and offering referrals to their friends and associates. For many, it is the single defining aspect of a catering business.

Here are some things to consider when putting together your catering menu.

Have an area of expertise

The larger corporate catering firms which often target large and expensive executive lunches can scale their operation up or down to meet any food request presented to them. Starting out, your focus will have to be more narrow, partly because for budgetary reasons and partly because that will help you create an identity.

By targeting your menu to what you do best, you put yourself in a better position to deliver a top-quality product to your client. This is something Warren Dietel believes is crucially important for new caterers.

“Know your limitations and always try to undersell and over-deliver,” he advises. “You don’t want to promise something that you can’t deliver upon.”

Stay on top of current food trends

Food is no different from fashion, architecture, or technology in that it is nearly impossible to stay on top of all the current trends.

The advent of food and cooking television networks over the past 10 years has given rise to self-proclaimed “foodies” who are very specific about what they consume, and this is the biggest change Jean-Marc has seen in the industry in the last five years.

“We are seeing a big demand for gluten-free items these days, but it’s always changing,” he says. “Up to a couple of years ago, it was all about cupcakes, everybody had to have cupcakes. You would see cupcake shops spring up all over the place, but now that’s fading away and now we’re in the macaron phase. Everyone now wants macarons for their parties.”

It would seem keeping current has never been more important in the foodservice industry. Consider joining a food service organization or other professional group with a mission of helping food businesses succeed to help you keep your ear to the ground. 

Determine your price point

Like most other goods or services, catering businesses range from the very affordable to quite expensive. You’ll need to determine where in that spectrum your business is situated.

If you are going for high-end clients like corporate lunches or expensive wedding parties, you will need to price your meals and services accordingly. Or perhaps you’ve decided to make catering affordable to those who would normally not consider it, and so you’re going to offer delicious catered meals at a lower price.

In either case, how successful you are in your targeted market is going to depend in large part on determining the right price point.

The other side of this is putting together a sales forecast. Once you have a sense of what your price point will be, and what your materials and other overhead costs will be, put together a simple sales forecast to help you model different scenarios. 

Make sure your menu is cost-efficient

This may seem self-explanatory, but there is no faster way to put yourself out of business than by delivering amazing dishes that cost more to produce than what you are receiving from the client. Be sure to factor in all food preparation costs when deciding what you will put on your menu.

• 6. Choose your location and handle logistics

Before you can place that first order and take that first piping hot tray out of the oven, you will have to clear some logistical hurdles to get your business operational. To work through this next step, you will have to wear the hat of a shrewd CEO and CFO.

Choose a business location

Perhaps the biggest difference between the catering and restaurant industries is that the restaurant mantra “location, location, location” does not really apply as much when it comes to starting a catering business.

Jean-Marc believes what is most important in choosing a location is what amenities are available rather than what part of the city you are situated in.

“I don’t think it really matters where you are located,” he says. “What is important is to have plenty of preparation and storage space. We have office space plus a basement for storage with walk-in fridges and walk-in freezers.”

Decide on transportation

Setting up shop anywhere you’d like is a positive, but having reliable and sizable transportation is an absolute necessity. You will have to determine if it makes sense to buy a company van or simply rent one on an as-needed basis.

Of course, there’s more to transporting food than simply loading it into the back of a van. You will need special units to keep the food properly preserved from your location to the function.

This might include: 

• Food carriers
• Beverage carriers
• Insulated food carts
• Banquet carts
• Thermal insulators

Make sure you have insurance

Anyone entering the foodservice industry absolutely must protect themselves with adequate business insurance coverage .

Even with the most careful attention to detail, accidental food poisoning or other mishaps can happen and you must be prepared for all eventualities. Your serving staff will also require workers’ compensation insurance.

Reduce risk wherever possible

Pay attention to workplace safety . Catering disasters aren’t unheard of. Plan for the unexpected . Think about what can go wrong and come up with a few ideas for how you might deal with it. You can reduce your risk if you plan ahead. You’ll encounter challenges that it never occurred to you to think through. Do yourself a favor and check a few of those off the list, well before go-time. 

• 7. Develop your marketing strategy

You’re already the culinary master, you’ve taken on the role of CEO and CFO, and now it’s time to put on yet another hat: marketing specialist.

No matter how great your food is, your business won’t survive without the clientele. Here are some things to consider when it comes time to start marketing your catering business.

Think twice about brochures and flyers

Not long ago, this was one of the go-to methods for getting exposure for a catering business. Handing them out a wedding or trade shows was considered a no-brainer for any enterprising caterer.

“We used to do brochures and flyers but that doesn’t really work these days,” Jean-Marc says. Instead, they now use a targeted cold-call method when they have on-site office jobs. “Let’s say we have a job in the building at 110 King Street. What we do is take business cards to the neighboring businesses and let them know who we are and what we have to offer. That has worked well for us in the past.”

Establish a website and social media presence

Your website is the first place most people will go to see what your business has to offer and determine if it’s a good fit for them. This is by far the most effective marketing tool you will use.

Having a strong web presence is an absolute must. Make it easy for clients to reach you and understand what you’re about. Should you  run your entire catering business on a Facebook page? Probably not. There are some risks associated with running your business from a platform that you don’t own and don’t have much say over. Think of social media as one arm of your marketing strategy, but not the entire thing. Especially as Facebook and other platforms have evolved to deprioritize business-related content, remember that you get what you pay for. Instagram might be a great way to generate some buzz around your food, but don’t put all your eggs in one basket. 

Volunteer your services at a charitable event

This is a tactic that Jean-Marc has found to be very effective during his years in the business. Find a great cause you want to support, and offer to cater the event as your contribution in exchange for the organizers using your company name and logo on all promotional materials and at the event itself. 

You will be incurring a significant expense at the outset, but it is a great way to penetrate a target-rich environment.

Partner with event planners and venue owners

Look to develop long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with other organizations that frequently use caterers. Establishing a great working relationship with the top two or three event planners in your area is a great way to keep your business going strong.

Below you’ll find a list of different resources that can help you find out more about what goes into getting your catering business off the ground.

• The Catering Institute : An excellent online resources which offers downloads, essays, videos, and webinars on topics such as leadership, operations, sales and marketing, and delivery. Past webinars include “Catering Menu Optimization,” “How to Market Your Holiday Catering Program,” and “Building Loyalty and Order Frequency with Rewards and Incentives.”
• NACE : The National Association of Catering and Events offers online learning opportunities through what they call NACE University. Their courses fall under two umbrella headings: The Business Academy, and Food Safety. They also offer Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE) Designation.
• Vegetarian Society : An excellent resource to help caterers navigate the often choppy waters of providing excellent meals to a strict vegetarian clientele.
• TES : An online educational resource hub that is home to the world’s largest online community of teachers, with 7.3 million registered users. It has numerous resources for caterers including information on cooking skills, health and safety, managing an event, customer service, world foods, and preparing food—just to name a few.

Books and magazines:

One visit to Amazon will give you numerous options for published guides on starting a catering business.

Some of the titles you’ll find include:

• How to Start a Catering Business: The Catering Business Plan—An Essential Guide for Starting a Catering Business by Sierra Young
• Good Food Good Business: Starting and Running a Successful Catering Business by Culina Salus
• The Everything Guide to Starting and Running a Catering Business: Insider’s Advice on Turning Your Talent into a Career by Joyce Weinberg
• Starting and Running a Catering Business by Carol Godsmark
• Taking those first steps

Both Jean-Marc and Warren stress the importance of patience and determination in those early days. It will be harder and more labor-intensive than you can possibly imagine, but it will also be unbelievably rewarding.

Warren said anyone new to the field must anticipate seasonal ups and downs—there will be natural ebbs and flows and it is important to be both psychologically and financially prepared.

“This is a very seasonal business . It seems we work really, really hard for eight months out of the year and for four months out of the year we get to regroup, recalibrate, reorganize,” he says. “That’s a good thing, but you just have to be sure you prepare for that from a cash flow perspective.”

So, the next time you amaze your social circle with your culinary mastery and someone says “you should really start your own catering company,” ask yourself one question—are you ready to flip the switch?

Tony has returned to his early love of journalistic writing by freelancing long form articles and blog posts. He is currently turning his TV series pilot for The New Twenty into his first novel. Tony lives in Toronto where he continues to be tormented by his beloved Maple Leafs.

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How To Write A Winning Catering Business Plan + Template

Creating a business plan is essential for any business, but it can be especially helpful for catering businesses that want to improve their strategy and/or raise funding. This begs a question: what elements appropriately belong in your catering business plan.

A well-crafted business plan not only outlines the vision for your company, but also documents a step-by-step roadmap of how you are going to accomplish it. In order to create an effective business plan, you must first understand the components that are essential to its success.

This article provides an overview of the key elements that every catering business owner should include in his or her business plan.

Download the Ultimate Catering Business Plan Template

What is a Catering Business Plan?

A catering business plan is a formal written document that describes your company’s business strategy and its feasibility. It documents the reasons you will be successful, your areas of competitive advantage, and it includes information about your team members. Your business plan is a key document that will convince investors and lenders (if needed) that you are positioned to become a successful venture.

Why Write a Catering Business Plan?

A catering business plan is required for banks and investors. The document is a clear and concise guide of your business idea and the steps you will take to make it profitable.

Entrepreneurs can also use this as a roadmap when starting their new company or venture, especially if they are inexperienced in starting a business.

Writing an Effective Catering Business Plan

The following are the key components of a successful catering business plan:

Executive Summary

The executive summary of a catering business plan is a one to two page overview of your entire business plan. It should summarize the main points, which will be presented in full in the rest of your business plan. Follow these tips:

• Start with a one-line description of your catering company
• Provide a short summary of the key points in each section of your business plan, which includes information about your company’s management team, industry analysis, competitive analysis, and financial forecast among others.
• Form a line-up of evaluators to whom you will give your catering business plan and have them be heartless in their criticism.

Company Description

This section should include a brief history of your company. Include a short description of how your company started, and provide a timeline of milestones your company has achieved.

If you are just starting your catering business, you may not have a long company history. Instead, you can include information about your professional experience in this industry and how and why you conceived your new venture. If you have worked for a similar company before or have been involved in an entrepreneurial venture before starting your catering firm, mention this.

You will also include information about your chosen catering business model and how, if applicable, it is different from other companies in your industry.

Industry Analysis

The industry or market analysis is an important component of a catering business plan. Conduct thorough market research to determine industry trends and document the size of your market. 

Questions to answer in the catering business plan  include:

• What part of the catering industry are you targeting?
• How big is the market?
• What trends are happening in the industry right now (and if applicable, how do these trends support the success of your company)?

You should also include sources for the information you provide, such as published research reports and expert opinions.

Customer Analysis

This section should include a list of your target audience(s) with demographic and psychographic profiles (e.g., age, gender, income level, profession, job titles, interests). You will need to provide a profile of each customer segment separately, including their needs and wants.

For example, a catering business’ customers may include:

• Wedding receptions
• Corporate luncheons and events
• Private parties
• Cocktail parties

This information will help you determine your marketing strategy later on. It is important to remember that your target market may not always be the same as your actual customer base. In other words, you may have to market to a different audience in your catering business plan than the one you eventually want to sell your services to.

You can include information about how your customers make the decision to buy from you as well as what keeps them buying from you.

Develop a strategy for targeting those customers who are most likely to buy from you, as well as those that might be influenced to buy your products or catering services with the right marketing.

Competitive Analysis

The competitive analysis helps you determine how your product or service will be different from competitors, and what your unique selling proposition (USP) might be that will set you apart in this industry.

For each competitor, list their strengths and weaknesses. Next, determine your areas of competitive differentiation and/or advantage; that is, in what ways are you different from and ideally better than your competitors.

Marketing Plan

This part of the business plan is where you determine and document your marketing strategy. Your plan should be clearly laid out, including the following 4 Ps.

• Product/Service : Detail your product/service offerings here. Document their features and benefits.
• Price : Document your pricing strategy here. In addition to stating the prices for your products/services, mention how your pricing compares to your competition.
• Place : Where will your customers find you? What channels of distribution (e.g., partnerships) will you use to reach them if applicable?
• Promotion : How will you reach your target customers? For example, you may use social media, write blog posts, create an email marketing campaign, use pay-per-click advertising, launch a direct mail campaign. Or you may promote your catering business via word-of-mouth.

Operations Plan

This part of your catering business plan should include the following information:

• How will you deliver your product/service to customers? For example, will you do it in person or over the phone only?
• What infrastructure, equipment, and resources are needed to operate successfully? How can you meet those requirements within budget constraints?

The operations plan is where you also need to include your company’s business policies. You will want to establish policies related to everything from customer service to pricing, to the overall brand image you are trying to present.

Finally, and most importantly, in your Operations Plan, you will lay out the milestones your company hopes to achieve within the next three-to-five years. Create a chart that shows the key milestone(s) you hope to achieve each quarter for the next four quarters, and then each year for the following four years. Examples of milestones for a catering business include reaching $X in sales. Other examples include:

Hiring a certain number of new employees

Opening a second location

Rolling out a new product or service line

Management Team

List your team members here including their names and titles, as well as their expertise and experience relevant to your specific catering industry. Include brief biography sketches for each team member.

Particularly if you are seeking funding, the goal of this section is to convince investors and lenders that your team has the expertise and experience to execute on your plan. If you are missing key team members, document the roles and responsibilities you plan to hire for in the future.

Financial Plan

Here you will include a summary of your complete and detailed financial plan (your full financial projections go in the Appendix). 

This includes the following three financial statements:

Income Statement

Your income statement should include:

• Revenue : how much revenue you generate.
• Cost of Goods Sold : These are your direct costs associated with generating revenue. This includes labor costs, as well as the cost of any equipment and supplies used to deliver the product/service offering.
• Net Income (or loss) : Once expenses and revenue are totaled and deducted from each other, this is the net income or loss

Sample Income Statement for a Startup Catering Business

Balance sheet.

Include a balance sheet that shows your assets, liabilities, and equity. Your balance sheet should include:

• Assets : All of the things you own (including cash).
• Liabilities : This is what you owe against your company’s assets, such as accounts payable or loans.
• Equity : The worth of your business after all liabilities and assets are totaled and deducted from each other.

Sample Balance Sheet for a Startup Catering Business

Cash flow statement.

Include a cash flow statement showing how much cash comes in, how much cash goes out and a net cash flow for each year. The cash flow statement should include:

• Cash Flow From Operations
• Cash Flow From Investments
• Cash Flow From Financing

Below is a sample of a projected cash flow statement for a startup catering business.

Sample Cash Flow Statement for a Startup Catering Business

You will also want to include an appendix section which will include:

• Your complete financial projections
• A complete list of your company’s business policies and procedures related to the rest of the business plan (marketing, operations, etc.)
• Any other documentation which supports what you included in the body of your business plan.

Writing a good business plan gives you the advantage of being fully prepared to launch and/or grow your catering company. It not only outlines your business vision but also provides a step-by-step process of how you are going to accomplish it.

A well-written business plan is critical for any catering business looking to start or grow. In addition, be sure to include a detailed financial plan and supporting documentation in your appendix. This will give investors and lenders the confidence they need to believe in your company’s long-term success.  

Finish Your Catering Business Plan in 1 Day!

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We all know someone who’s a master chef in their own kitchen. Spending hours upon hours whipping up something good for the rest of the family or their group of friends. It’s more of a hobby, or even a passion, rather than a random chore that their mom forces them to do. You may also see company plan examples .

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If working hard in the kitchen while everyone else is too busy eating, drinking, and socializing in the living room is your idea of a good time, then you might want to consider joining the catering business .

Opening your own catering company is a great way to earn extra income for the family, while also doing something that you actually love. The food and attractive restaurant industry has one of the most profitable markets in the world, making it the perfect business venture for food enthusiasts and entrepreneurs alike.

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Reasons Why You Should Start a Catering Company

You’ve probably hosted numerous gatherings at your place, cooked for large groups of people, and would rather prepare a homemade meal than order takeout from a nearby pizza parlor.

If all these sound familiar, you might have pondered on the idea of starting a catering company at some point. But like any other young, hungry dreamer, those thoughts were likely met with the one question that has made everyone think twice about their choices in life—can I really make it as a professional in a competitive industry, especially where someone in the likes of Gordon Ramsey and Ina Garten exist? You may also see how to make a business plan .

While no one can answer that question other than yourself, there is some motivating news that might convince you to think positively.

The catering business is a thriving industry that is also flexible enough to tailor to your personal interests and specialties. Though it may not be for the faint of heart, as the food business can be a relatively demanding industry to satisfy, your burning desire to start a catering business may outweigh the obstacles you’re likely to face. You may also like business plan outline with examples .

If you’re still on the fence with your decision, here are a few reasons why you should start your own catering company:

1. Your Love for Food

Everyone loves food, but not everyone is willing to go the extra mile to make a home-cooked meal for one on a late Saturday afternoon.

You see, there are different types of food lovers: those who spend a good amount of time preparing their own meals and those who simply enjoy devouring a plate of food that someone else has cooked. You might be one of those people who would rather savor a good meal and experiment with different ingredients, as opposed to just popping a bowl of leftover soup from the other day into the microwave. You may also check out how to create a business plan .

Perhaps you just love to cook for other people and see their faces light up after every bite. You take pride in your work, and it’s fulfilling to see people sample what you’ve made. If you’re thinking about starting a catering business, then your love for food is the first and foremost factor to consider. You might be interested in market analysis business plan examples .

You need to enjoy the amount of time and energy you spend in the kitchen because without the drive to do it, you could be wasting your life away on a job that does not appeal to you.

2. Your Love for People

If anything, catering is not an ideal business for a wallflower. Being a caterer is an all-around job that puts you at the front and center of the entire event. You’ll spend many days meeting up with clients, working with event planners , and making sure your employees are performing as expected. Besides shopping and cooking, you’ll spend a lot of time talking and socializing as well.

The three primary markets for off-premise caterers include the following:

• Corporate clients –  Many companies conduct breakfast and lunch meetings in their own office building. Cocktail parties and sit-down dinners are also a given, but the former is a more common scenario you’re likely to face. This may involve anything from delivering platters of food to a nearby location to arranging an elaborate meal at the actual meeting site. You may also see annual plan examples .
• Social gatherings –  Think about the millions of dollars that are spent on wedding receptions and other formal celebrations, with a good portion of that being spent on food alone. Social events are one of the major reasons why catering is a booming business to begin with.
• Cultural organization events –  Cultural and community events held at opera houses, museums, symphonies, and town centers usually demand caterers to serve masses of people, and we’re not just talking about 50–100 guests, as you can only imagine the amount of work (and money) that goes into feeding several thousands of people. You may also like advertising and marketing business plan examples .

3. Your Love for Freedom

Working a 9-to-5 job isn’t for everyone. Some people find it extremely hard to spend their entire day for a career they’re uncertain about. If you’re somebody who’s passionate about food and would rather have the liberty to do things your way (most of the time), then the catering business might be perfect for you. You may also check out business plan guidelines examples .

In catering, it doesn’t matter how long it takes to prepare each meal, as long as you can get it finished on time. This could mean longer hours or shorter hours, but if you enjoy what you do, the amount of time you spend in the kitchen won’t matter as much. You might be interested in annual plan examples .

In starting a business , you become your own boss. The catering business also allows you to attend lavish events and parties, relax when you need to, and work with clients you’ve always wanted to work with before. Although you do need to sacrifice most of your time and energy to make a breakthrough in the market, the outcomes will definitely be worth the sacrifices.

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How to Start a Catering Company

One key step to opening a catering company is the process of developing a good business plan . This serves as a guide for you to follow as you attempt to overcome the challenges faced in the world of business. So before you can begin pitching with small-time clients to bring your company up the competitive ladder, you need to figure out a plan for your catering business to live by.

1. Identify your niche.

There are many ways to gain a competitive advantage over other businesses, one of which is the ability to set yourself apart from competitors. You can start by determining what makes your business unique. It’s important to establish your niche in the marketplace and grab the attention of potential clients. You may also see evaluation plan examples .

• Pinpoint your concept.  What is your most distinctive trait as a business? Are you target-based, where you specialize in certain gatherings like weddings, birthdays, or social fundraising events? Or are you a cuisine-based caterer that specializes in Southeast Asian cuisine or vegan alternatives? You may also like implementation plan examples .
• Conduct market research.  Once you have identified your niche, you need to find out how existing businesses of the same niche carry out their services in the marketplace. Look into their marketing strategies as well as their successes and mistakes since they first started. Learning from the triumphs and struggles of others will teach you a lot about what to do and what not to do for your business.
• Decide your price range.  Your price point can be quite tricky to determine. Your business can range from the very affordable to the luxurious and expensive. A good way to decide on the final say is to take a good look at your target market. If you’re looking to cater lavish events, then your services may lean toward the pricier side; otherwise, you can be a budget-friendly business for smaller gatherings. You may also check out personal plan examples .

2. Develop your menu.

A good caterer can do many things and can wear any hat, all at the same time. But nothing is more principal to the core identity of a catering business than its food menu . As a vital aspect of a food and restaurant business, there are a few things that you need to consider when designing your menu .

• Identify your area of expertise.  Naturally, you’d want to impress your clients with high-quality dishes. But creating an attractive menu that’s beyond what you’re capable of is not only ambitious, but it’s also a flat-out lie. You need to be conscious of your limitations. Starting out, you have to be more narrow with your simple menu offers. Focus on underselling while simultaneously over-delivering to exceed market expectations.
• Study the latest food trends.  The standards in the food and restaurant industry have gradually risen due to the number of self-proclaimed “foodies” who have taken inspiration from various cooking networks on television. Several years ago, it was all about cupcakes of different flavors and designs, but that eventually became a thing of the past as we slowly entered the macaroon phase. In a fast-changing industry, staying on top of the current trends is the best way for you to survive. You may also like communication plan examples .
• Make sure it’s cost-efficient.  For obvious reasons, you’d want to make sure that your food items (and their respective ingredients) do not cost more to produce than what you are charging the client for. This is why it’s important to factor in all food preparation costs when creating your modern menu .

3. Work on location and logistics.

Unlike an average restaurant, a catering company has to worry about transporting the food that they prepare from their main kitchen to the chosen venue of their clients.

For one, you need to choose an appropriate business location that has plenty of preparation and storage space. Walk-in fridges and walk-in freezers are highly advised, especially if you hope to accommodate larger groups. The more people that need to be served, the more ingredients and orders that need to be prepared. You may also see quality plan examples .

Besides your location, you would also need a reliable and a sizable transportation to transfer goods from one place to another. You can opt to purchase a company van or simply rent one as needed.

Special units such as food and beverage carriers, insulated food carts, cold packs, banquet carts, and thermal insulators are a necessity as well. This will help prevent food spoilage, spillage, and other possible risks that come with transporting delicate items. You may also like farm business plan examples .

4. Design your marketing strategy.

No matter what industry you are in, there will always be another business specializing in the same field. Even if your food is great, your business will never make it without the clientele.

There are many ways to market your catering business. You can go for the traditional method with advertising flyers and business brochures, or you can take the modern approach with websites and  social media marketing . These days, one of the best ways to promote your products and services is through the Internet. Building your online presence allows you to reach out to wider markets. It also makes it easier for prospects keep in touch with you via email and chat messengers.

Simple Catering Company Business Plan Example

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Wedding Catering Company Business Plan Example

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Ultimately, the catering business can be an incredibly successful, enjoyable, and fulfilling industry to be a part of. It gives you the opportunity to share your talents and skills in the craft by preparing indulging feasts for hungry and enthusiastic clients. You may also see simple business plan examples .

If your love for food, people, and freedom to express yourself through mouthwatering dishes is your idea of a successful career, then make sure your catering company business plan is just as promising as your passion, because it takes more than just your sautéing and flambéing skills to make a breakthrough in such a competitive market.

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11 Proven Catering Marketing Ideas to Drive Business Momentum

Oct 22, 2024

The catering industry is highly competitive, making it all the more important to stand out. A study by IBIS World shows there are approximately 102,000 active catering businesses in the US . With so many options out there, it’s crucial to ensure your food and beverage services are the ones everyone is talking about.     From developing a comprehensive marketing plan to utilizing modern digital strategies, with the right ideas, you can attract new catering customers and motivate them to continue ordering from you. However, some caterers use outdated marketing practices and waste both time and money.  

To save you from such costly mistakes, we’ve gathered 11 valuable and results-driven marketing ideas to help caterers like you boost business momentum. Let's take a closer look at these marketing catering ideas and how to implement them.

Knowing the 7Ps of a Successful Marketing Plan 

The foundation of any successful catering marketing strategy is a well-structured plan, and the 7 Ps of marketing offer a comprehensive framework. Before diving right into making a marketing plan, know these 7 Ps:  

• Product : What are your catering business's unique offerings? This includes the type of cuisine, special diet options, and presentation styles.  
• Price : Pricing strategies, including discounts, package deals, and overall perceived value.  
• Place : Where you operate, including online platforms and physical locations.  
• Promotion : Advertising channels you use, including but not limited to social media , local events, partnerships (like coalition loyalty programs ), email marketing , text/SMS marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO).  
• People : The average customer’s experience , from interactions with your staff to client support.  
• Process : The seamlessness of your service, from initial inquiry to complete service delivery.  
• Physical Evidence : Your brand identity must be evident on physical materials, including packaging, service presentation, and promotional material like posters, billboards, and cards.  

11 Ideas to Make Your Catering Marketing Effective 

Did you know that 76% of consumers look at a business’s online presence before visiting? That’s why well-thought-out digital positioning is crucial for attracting and retaining customers. Here are 11 actionable ideas to boost your catering marketing efforts and help your business shine:  

1.  Design a Thorough Catering Marketing Plan 

In the same way, a strong foundation is necessary for building a home, creating a well-structured marketing plan for your catering business is essential. It gives you a roadmap of which elements you’ll target and how you are going to reach your end goal. Here are the key steps that go into your catering business marketing plan:  

• Conduct Market Research: Understand your target audience, preferences, and the competitive landscape. Gather insights on current trends, pricing strategies, and customer needs to inform your approach.  
• Integration with Overall Business Strategy: Ensure your marketing plan aligns with your business goals to create a cohesive strategy. Ask yourself if your marketing activities directly contribute to your overall objectives (increased ROI, Organic traffic, etc). Focus on cost-effective strategies like social media and content marketing or consider hiring a specialist for professional results.  
• Define Your Marketing Strategy: Clearly outline your marketing strategy by identifying your unique selling proposition (USP) and how it sets you apart from competitors. This can involve creating a strategy document, using a memorable tagline, developing a brand narrative, and incorporating visual elements across your marketing materials.  
• Outline Essential Components: Break down the critical elements of your catering marketing business strategy. This includes your overall brand strategies plus individual tactic categories, like promotional, sales, campaign, and growth tactics. Consider elements like social media marketing, email campaigns, and community involvement to create a comprehensive approach.  
• Execution and Monitoring: Finally, develop a timeline for implementation and establish metrics to track your progress. Regularly review your marketing efforts to adapt and refine your strategies based on performance data and feedback.  

2. Develop a User-Friendly Catering Website  

With the right approach to SEO and PPC, your website may often be among the first results customers see when they search for your business and others like it. Ensure its visually appealing, easy to navigate, and mobile-friendly. Include essential information such as menus, pricing, and testimonials, and make your contact details easily accessible.

Include a clear call-to-action (CTA) to guide website visitors toward booking your catering services or signing up for your newsletter. Also, take professional photographs of your offerings and showcase them across your website and social media.   

3. Improve Your Overall Online Presence  

A robust online presence is key to attracting clients and growing your business in the digital era. It’s not just about having a website; it’s about strengthening your overall digital presence and first impression with customers. Let’s break down some simple ways you can increase your online visibility:  

• Optimize Your Website for SEO: Research shows websites with position one on page one rankings enjoy a clickthrough rate (CTR) of 27.6% , which is about 10 times greater than position 10. To ensure your website's content has the best chance of ranking, check that your sitemap and robots.txt file are easy for Googlebot to find and understand. Use relevant, low-competition SEO keywords paired with your location and related to your services, like “wedding catering” or “corporate events catering.”  
• Use Social Media: Get active on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Share mouth-watering photos of your dishes, behind-the-scenes peeks, and happy client testimonials. Engaging with your audience through comments and messages can make a huge difference in building relationships.  
• Utilize Your Google Business Profile: Don’t forget to set up your Google Business Profile . This helps you show up in local searches and makes it easier for clients to find your hours, location, and services. Plus, encourage all your customers to leave honest reviews—positive feedback boosts your credibility!  
• Content Marketing: Create and share valuable content, such as blog articles with event planning tips or delicious recipes. This showcases your expertise and helps improve your organic search engine rankings.  
• Online Advertising:  Studies show that targeted online ads can boost your brand awareness by up to 80% . Consider running pay-per-click (PPC) ads on Google or Facebook/Meta to reach a wider yet still relevant audience. Target specific demographics including locations and specific interests like corporate events, weddings, anniversaries, and retirement party planning to attract clients more likely to research catering services.  
• Showcase User-Generated Content: Encourage satisfied clients to share their experiences on social media and tag you. Reposting their content (with their permission) not only builds community but also serves as authentic testimonials.  

4. Use Email Marketing 

Email marketing is a powerful tool for managing past and potential clients. It has a staggering 4,200% ROI, meaning you can earn 42$ for every 1% you spend on email marketing .  Regularly send newsletters featuring updates, special offers, and helpful content related to event planning. Personalize your emails to make them more engaging and include strong CTAs to encourage bookings.  

Designing Your Catering Marketing Email Template 

Create an eye-catching email template that’s consistent with your brand identity. Use high-quality images and clear, concise text. Make sure your contact information and social media links are easily accessible. Test your emails on different devices (desktop, mobile, tablet) to ensure they look great everywhere.  

5. Implement a First Party Online Ordering System 

Having an online ordering system for your catering business makes it easy for customers to browse your menu, customize their orders, and check out quickly without hassle. This type of convenience keeps them happy and encourages them to book your services more often.  

Plus, when customers order online, you collect valuable information like their purchase preferences and contact details. You can use this data to create targeted marketing campaigns and send personalized offers. This way, you can build loyalty and strengthen relationships with your customers, leading to more repeat business and long-term success .  

6. Offer Referral and Loyalty Program Rewards 

Creating a referral and loyalty program is a smart way to keep your customers engaged and encourage them to spread the word about your catering business. When happy clients refer your business to friends or family, reward them with discounts, freebies, or exclusive offers. This motivates them to continue sharing their positive experiences and brings new customers to your digital doorstep.

7. Offer Event-Specific Packages 

Think about different occasions, like weddings, corporate events, anniversaries, family reunions, religious celebrations, and birthday parties. Each event has unique needs, so tailor your packages to fit those specific requirements.  

For example, you could offer a wedding package with a three-course meal, a dessert bar, and special decorations. You might provide a buffet with quick bites and beverages for corporate events for easy networking. By customizing your offerings, you show clients that you understand their needs , making it easier for them to choose your catering services for the occasion that matters to them.   

8. Upgrade Your Equipment to Match Brand Tone 

If your brand is about elegance and sophistication, invest in sleek, modern kitchen tools and high-end serving dishes to reflect this vibe. On the other hand, if your brand has a fun and casual tone, choose more colorful or uniquely designed equipment to add personality to your service.   

If possible, modify your catering van’s color and design to match your catering business’s brand. No matter what your brand's identity consists of, make sure your equipment perfectly matches it. This consistency helps create a memorable experience for your clients and sets your catering services apart from the competition.  

9. Organize or Join Festivals and Local Events

Consider joining an existing local event or hosting your own to showcase what you do best. Set up a booth to offer tasty samples and chat with potential clients face-to-face.  

If you decide to organize an event (whether as small as a one-off gathering or as big as a festival), you can create a unique experience to reflect your brand. This lets you highlight your specialty dishes and connect directly with the community. Participating in or organizing these events can help you build strong relationships, increase visibility, and attract new customers easily.  

10. Collaborate with Influencers and Local Businesses  

Reach out to influencers in your area who align with your brand values and ask them to showcase your dishes to their followers. In exchange, you can offer them gift cards or discounted rates in their best interest.  

Collaborating with local businesses—like event planners, florists, and venues—can create mutually beneficial relationships. Offer joint promotions or referral programs and help each other grow. Working with local businesses expands reach and creates a stronger community presence , making your catering services more appealing to potential clients.  

11. Use Testimonials and Reviews Wisely 

Testimonials and reviews are powerful tools for your catering business. Around 49% of customers trust reviews as much as personal recommendations from family members and friends. When happy clients share their experiences, it builds trust with potential customers.   

Make sure to showcase these testimonials on your website and social media channels after getting written permission from any of your clients. Highlight specific details about what made their experience special and why they prefer to return to your business.  

Send feedback forms via email or ask your clients to leave reviews on your website. Respond to all feedback—whether positive, neutral, or negative. This shows that you care about your customers and are willing to improve.   

5 Methods to Measure the Effectiveness of Your Catering Marketing Campaign 

Now you’re familiar with the top strategies to create a catering marketing plan. But it’s also important to keep track of your progress to ensure your efforts hit the bullseye. Here are five methods to measure the effectiveness of your catering marketing campaign:  

1)  Measure Online Traffic 

Monitor your website traffic to see if your marketing efforts are paying off. Use tools like Google Analytics to track how many visitors come to your site, where they’re coming from, and which pages they visit. Increased traffic usually means more people are interested in your catering services, which allows you to adjust your strategies as needed.  

2) Lead Generation and CTR 

Look at your lead generation results and click-through rates (CTR) to gauge your campaign's effectiveness. If more people fill out your contact forms or sign up for your newsletter each quarter than the previous quarter, your marketing is working well. High CTR on your ads, organic search results, and/or emails indicates your audience finds your content engaging and relevant.  

3) Return on Investment 

Compare the money you spend on marketing campaigns to the revenue generated from new clients. A positive ROI means your campaigns are profitable, while a negative one indicates it's time to rethink your strategies.  

4) Customer Retention  

If clients keep coming back for your services, your marketing is clear and useful enough to retain customers. Schedule quarterly business reviews ahead of time to review and understand your business’s patterns and send follow-up emails or one-time offers to your most profitable customers to encourage ongoing relationships.  

5) Brand Sentiments 

Pay attention to what people are saying about your brand online. Monitor social media mentions, reviews, and comments to gauge overall sentiment. Positive feedback and engagement indicate that your campaigns resonate with your target market. If you notice negative comments, address them promptly with legitimate plans to improve to show you care.  

6 Legal & Ethical Considerations in Catering Marketing  

Adhering to the legal and ethical landscape is also important when promoting your catering company. Here are six key legal and ethical considerations to keep in mind as you develop your catering marketing strategies:  

• Truth in Advertising: Ensure that all claims about your services, ingredients, and prices are accurate, don’t contain libel, and aren’t misleading. Avoid making significant or bold claims that can’t be substantiated, which reduces the risk of legal trouble.  
• Copyright and Trademark Compliance: Only ever u se images, logos, and content you own or have permission to use. Respect the intellectual property rights of others to avoid legal repercussions.  
• Privacy Regulations: Collect and store customer data responsibly. Follow regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) (as applicable), which require transparency about how customer information is used.  
• Health and Safety Standards: All of your marketing materials must adhere to local health regulations and safety standards. Ensure all your business formation paperwork—including but not limited to articles of incorporation and various food service licenses, like a liquor license —are available at any time to support your claims regarding food safety and quality.  
• Respect for Competitors: Avoid disparaging comments about competitors in your marketing efforts, which can land you in a legal battle within mere days. Focus on highlighting your unique strengths without attacking others or misleading the public.  
• Transparency in Pricing: Be clear about pricing structures and any additional fees. Hidden costs can lead to customer dissatisfaction and loss of trust.  

By considering these legal and ethical considerations, you’ll create a marketing strategy that attracts clients while maintaining the integrity of your catering business.  

Create Your First or Next Catering Marketing Plan 

A successful catering marketing plan requires thoughtful strategy and execution. By knowing your target audience, using effective marketing channels, and adhering to legal and ethical considerations, it becomes much easier to craft a plan that resonates with potential clients.  

Don’t forget to regularly assess your marketing efforts to ensure they align with your business goals and adapt as needed. Remember, a well-structured marketing plan not only helps you attract new customers but also fosters loyalty and trust among existing clients.

Start today and make your marketing plan a powerful tool for growth. Explore our all-inclusive guest engagement platform to take your catering business to new heights!

Need catering software to ensure your revenue goals stay on track? Schedule a demo today to see our comprehensive catering solutions in action.

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