| If you are a good cook and like cooking, | | | | dedicated vehicle to use for your |
| why not build on your skills and | | | | business. A business loan might be the |
| knowledge and start your own business | | | | best way to cover any large expenses. |
| doing something you already know you | | | | After brainstorming the possibilities, |
| enjoy. The first thing to do is decide | | | | it is time to sit down and draw up a |
| what sort of cookery you want to | | | | formal business plan. This will be |
| undertake on a business basis. | | | | necessary if you intend to apply for a |
| Can you envisage yourself having a | | | | business development loan or seek a |
| career running a full catering business? | | | | grant for start-up capital. Putting |
| If so, you could choose to offer a | | | | your plans down on paper will also help |
| general catering service or one | | | | you to clarify all the details and turn |
| specialising in organising buffet meals | | | | a bunch of ideas into a real project. |
| or wedding breakfasts only. You might | | | | Before you cook anything in a |
| want to create a niche business offering | | | | professional capacity, it is essential |
| multi-course gourmet meals, vegetarian | | | | to find out what is required in your |
| extravaganzas or ethnic feasts. | | | | area in the way of insurances, and |
| Perhaps your interest is in baking. If | | | | certification to enable you to prepare |
| you can reliably produce delicious cakes | | | | food on a commercial basis. You need to |
| and pastries, a bakery business might be | | | | make enquiries of your local Health |
| more to your liking. You can make a | | | | Authority who will provide you with the |
| career out of baking and decorating | | | | regulations and inform you what |
| cakes to your own designs, you could | | | | inspections are required. You don't |
| even specialise in one type of cake eg | | | | want your business to get closed down on |
| cheesecakes or wedding cakes. | | | | a technicality, so make sure you do your |
| Maybe your passion is jam-making or | | | | homework on rules and regulations in |
| pickling or bottling fruit. These types | | | | advance. |
| of homemade goods produced with fresh | | | | Whatever size or type of catering |
| natural ingredients are far superior to | | | | business you are planning, you will need |
| the preservative packed factory | | | | to set aside a budget for advertising. |
| manufactured varieties and are enjoyed | | | | As in most lines of business, the best |
| by everyone who appreciates food that | | | | way to grow a catering business is |
| actually tastes like food. | | | | through personal recommendation but this |
| Don't overlook the possibility of | | | | takes time and you have to have some |
| running a lunch delivery service. If | | | | customers to start spreading the word in |
| you live reasonably near to offices or | | | | the first place. You must advertise to |
| factories, you could start a sandwich | | | | get started and to keep your business |
| snack delivery round. Fresh homemade | | | | growing. Advertising can consist of |
| sandwiches are in a different league to | | | | many different things, eg having fliers |
| the bland offerings available in many | | | | delivered, press releases and classified |
| commercial outlets. Workers usually | | | | advertisements in local newspapers, |
| only get an hour or less for lunch so | | | | classified advertisements in targeted |
| they will appreciate the chance to save | | | | magazines. Have stationery and business |
| time and effort by having lunch | | | | cards printed with your business |
| delivered. As well as sandwiches, you | | | | details, post advertisements free on |
| could offer home baked pies and cakes. | | | | notice boards in shops. |
| The sandwich round could easily be run | | | | Make sure you tell everyone about your |
| part-time in addition to other catering | | | | new business. This includes friends and |
| jobs. | | | | acquaintances who can spread the word |
| If you are already involved in cooking | | | | but you should also make contact with |
| for your family and friends, you | | | | people in related businesses to see if |
| probably have most, if not all, the | | | | you can make a mutual recommendation |
| basic equipment needed to start up a | | | | agreement. For example, if your |
| catering related home business. If you | | | | speciality is baking wedding cakes, it |
| intend to specialise in baking and | | | | would be useful to form an alliance with |
| decorating cakes or selling homemade | | | | the local florist, local dressmaker and |
| sandwiches, your initial outlay will be | | | | (obviously) any local wedding planner. |
| comparatively small. You will obviously | | | | Take a short business course on the |
| need to budget for ingredients. Also, | | | | Internet or at your local college. Even |
| you will need to buy suitable packaging | | | | if you intend to employ an accountant or |
| materials and have funds to pay for any | | | | have a qualified advisor, you should |
| fuel you will use to make deliveries. | | | | know at least the basics of business |
| It is worth the extra expense to have | | | | management and your tax liabilities. |
| items such as sandwich bags and cake | | | | Finally, make sure you give yourself a |
| boxes printed with your details so that | | | | continuing education on all food-related |
| customers will be reminded of your name | | | | subjects. Subscribe to professional |
| (or your company name) and can recommend | | | | magazines and take evening classes to |
| you to friends or phone you to place | | | | learn new techniques and recipes. |
| repeat orders. If your ambition is to | | | | Trends in food change and you need to |
| offer a full catering service, you might | | | | keep up to date with those trends as |
| find that you need an additional | | | | well as learning about new discoveries |
| freezer, fridge or microwave oven. You | | | | relating to nutrition. |
| might even find that you need a | | | | |