Starting Up and Running a Catering Business

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So you're thinking of becoming a caterer!

Catering is a very challenging and demanding job, one that requires you to be good in both many and varied ways.
You need to aim to be, a good cook, a good communicator, a good sales person, but most of all a good business person and never forget that is what you are first and foremost – a business person.

If you can’t see yourself in these roles then maybe you should think again about catering as your next career move.
However, if you like the idea of being your own boss, living in a world where every day is different, and where you really can be in charge of your own destiny, then I can truly recommend catering to you in it's many and varied forms.

We have written a series of introductory guides, follow the links below and see which best suits your life style and ambition.

Mobile Catering Trailer

One of the most versatile of all the options. Its relatively low cost and if it doesn't work in one place you can simply move to another or alternatively you can try your hand at some of the thousands of outdoor events across the country...

Fish & Chips
The fish & chip shop trade has evolved over the last 20 yrs in the UK and we have all heard that chicken Tikka Masalla has now overtaken fish and chips as Britain’s most popular dish, nevertheless we rarely see fish and chip shops closing permanently...

Motorised Catering Unit
A more expensive option than a trailer based business but a great option if manourverability is an important factor, not always the best option for shows, but there are exceptions as the picture to the left shows ..

Sandwich Bar / Cafe
Walk down any street in almost any town, and you will see one of them, from the humble hole in the wall operation you might find right through to the multinational chains such as Subway, O’Brian’s or several others

Marquee / Market Stall

One of the lowest cost startup options available to a would be caterer, but very resticted when it comes to where you can trade. Many caterers that start this way move on to more rigid trading types for pure conveniance

Restaraunt

The harsh reality of staring and running a restaurant is that over 80% of them fail to reach their 5th birthday, meaning that one in five restaurant owners loose their investment, but if that doesnt put you off there are ways of making it work

Hog Roast / BBQ

Everyone loves a BBQ! Is that true? well maybe not everyone, but most do. It entices people to eat due to the spectacle and the smell and the hog roast business is an extension of that principle.
The big advantage of a hog roast is that BBQ business is essentially a portable business

Home Working - Buffets / Sandwich Delivery

Home based catering business’s have become very popular in the last few years due to the low set up costs. They have also become more readily accepted by environmental heath officers. This type of catering is generally referred to as ‘Outside catering’, There a few things you might like to think about

Baked Potatoes
Baked potatoes are one of fast food's recent success stories, despite wide-spread belief a few years ago that they may not be popular enough and might even damage the sale of other fast food products, primarily fish and chips, burgers and other mobile catering favourites

Takeaway

Takeaway food busines's are many and varied. Your first decision may be the types of food you are going to sell, it could be sandwiches, pizza, fried chicken, kebabs, Chinese, Indian or any other type of food you can dream up

Coffee Round
If you were thinking of opening a coffee shop but either don’t want or can’t afford the set up costs then a good alternative could be a mobile coffee business.

The essence of this business model is a vehicle fitted with a coffee machine

Cheffing Service
A personal chef is one who, instead of working in a professional kitchen for a restaurant, works for individuals, usually in their homes. They shop for the food, prepare and then cook using the clients power and facilities

Mobile bar

Not for those without alcohol license experience but it can be a very good extension for those with existing licensed premises and can be done on many levels from a plank resting on beer kegs to bars capable of serving thousands of persons an hour

Public House / Wine Bar
Probably the least of all my options would be a landlord of licensed premises, you only have to look at the number of pubs closing to realise that this is not a growth sector at the moment

Ice Cream Van

In the 1950’s there were about 20,000 ice cream van operators in Britain – Now there are less than a quarter of that number. The problem isn't just the reliance on seasonal and sunny trade, but the swamping of the ice-cream market by the supermarkets

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Marquee / Market Store

Hog Roast / BBQ

Ice Cream Van

Baked Potato Oven

Home Working / Buffets

Static Site Caterer Area

Supplier Area

Event Organiser Area

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