Catering events successfully requires more than just good food and rental equipment; instead, it calls for an understanding of business management, careful preparation, and an attitude that welcomes the unexpected.
With these nine tips, you can impress customers and grow your catering business.
1. Master the Art of Clear Discourse
You understand the fundamentals of how things function as they should. You’ve already imagined a perfect ending to this scenario.
You should trust no one on the job to read your mind or anticipate your every move. You’ll need some program to keep track of everything and keep everyone on the same page.
2. Always Be Courteous and Professional
If you want to satisfy your clientele, your service needs to be on par with a Michelin-starred eatery. A week before the event, call the venue and go over the finer details. A final thank-you note from the person is always appreciated, even if it isn’t required.
3. Come Up with Delicious Dishes
A new approach may be necessary if your clientele is searching for novelty. Consideration must also be given to the food’s aesthetic appeal.
Sometimes it’s just as crucial to have an excellent visual taste as a good tactile taste. Think about ways to adapt a current menu item to their preferences.
4. Keep Everything Nice and Tidy
You don’t want the food at your party to be the reason anyone gets sick or files a lawsuit against you. It’s best to prepare early for off-site events with limited or no kitchen access.
If necessary, you should also pack meat coolers and cleaning supplies.
5. Make the Conscious Decision to Be Affordable
It would be good if you recognized your civic and monetary obligations. Reducing prices artificially when a business starts losing money is counterproductive.
Take advantage of this tool to calculate the cost of hosting your event, then set prices that are both competitive with the market and profitable for you.
6. Consistently Dress in a Businesslike Manner
Wearing pressed black and whites, oxfords, and aprons projects an image of competence. Make sure everyone looks presentable, even if their clothes don’t fit the “staff uniform” mould.
No one would want to place an order with a server whose apron is covered in dried meat, oil, grime, and spaghetti sauce.
7. Boost Your Management Skills
The business will test your adaptability, social skills, and financial understanding in various situations.
With a computer and access to the internet or a library card, anyone can find a wealth of knowledge to help them learn new skills and expand their knowledge. Devote your time and effort to improving your abilities, as mentioned above.
8. Hone Your Abilities as a Master Event Organizer
You must consider the venue, menu, guest list, supplies, and schedule. Your ability to keep things under control will have repercussions well beyond the dinner itself.
You will make a wrong impression on your guests and make them uncomfortable if your service is rushed or disorganized.
9. Maintain Low Overhead Costs
In a word, yes! Keep an eye out for wasteful spending that could be cut or eliminated. Do you know where to find the best deals from food suppliers (some companies can help you with this)?
Checking if your portion sizes are accurate can help you avoid wasting food and money. Is there anything that you can do with the leftovers from one party? Is it feasible to replace pricey forms of advertising with word-of-comparatively mouth’s low cost?
Conclusion
If you’re looking to start or grow a catering business, these nine methods are a great place to start. Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for success, so tailor these methods to fit your unique business. Once you start listening to your own style, you’ll be on your way to catering success in no time.
While the aforementioned strategies are worthwhile, they will only go so far if you can’t integrate them into a digital, time-efficient process. That’s why KitchenFuel built an all-in-one solution to help food service providers like you coordinate orders, connect with customers, and expand your business. Contact us today if you need catering companies software. Join us now by subscribing and scheduling a presentation.