Home-based Catering

The first thing you need to do is to set up an office. Setting up at home will help you to keep overhead costs low. You still need to keep a workable environment. Select a corner of a quiet room, maybe a basement, or corner in your garage as a starter.

Now, you will need a set of office equipment such as desk, phone with answering machine. Once you have created a good client base, you can set up a computer, fax, and copier. The key is not to buy anything until you can't do without it anymore.

If you client list is three or four parties a month, use a file cabinet to file your parties. File them under the date and dross-reference them with the client's name. Create an index of your party files. Keep it up to date with the owner's names and numbers.

Before you start your business make sure you learn what the local government regulations are for running a business out of a house. You need to have a sales permit as well as collect sales tax from clients.

Advertising your business is an important step. Talk to people you know. Maybe your children play sports or have an afterschool activity that needs to have a party or awards ceremony. Let them know that you are a caterer and can be of assistance. Family can be a big help in this area. This is your chance to maybe pass out some business cards. Someone at your church may be planning a wedding, they will need a caterer with reasonable rates.

Some people tend to hire their family members, but make sure you have rules. They must take you seriously and be willing to follow your rules and guidelines. The best way to go about this is to put it in writing . they will know exactly what is expected of them. It will save a lot of misunderstandings and headaches later.

Cooking inside a private kitchen and selling to the public is not allowed by some state or local health agencies. Do you homework and find out regulations in your state. One solution may be to cook in your client's kitchen. The local health department can educate you on food safety. Their staff inspects kitchens on a ongoing basis. Ask them for guidelines to bring your kitchen up to code. They can give you tips on handling and transporting foods to a party environment. They also teach you how to prevent bacteria in cooked food and how to prevent spoilage.

You can also consider renting a commercial kitchen on a per day basis. If you will only need a kitchen for two to three days per month you may be able to rent from a private club or church. Others have co-leased a commercial kitchen as to share costs and equipment. There are many options to be considered when running a home-based catering service.

Source: www.ehow.com