how to start my own home based catering business?

Answer 1

First, make a menu. Be prepared to tell people what you have to offer. Handout menus and business cards. Get your name out there. Tell everybody. Start offering to cater for people and ask them to be sure and refer you to others. Good Luck1

Answer 2

Hi Amy, It's very difficult in most areas to get a home certified by health dept - perhaps you can do the cooking at the clients home or rent cooking space in off hours from a restaurant Suggest you work for a catering business and learn everything they do What are their systems - what kind of paperwork/contracts do they use, etc. There are also books you can buy on this subject - I popped a link to How to Start a Home-Based Catering Business, 5th ed. by Denise Vivaldo which is rated 4 1/2 stars in the source area below - she also ahs another book - How to Start a Home-Based Personal Chef Business at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0762741546/ref=nosim/coxpcservice-20?dev-t=D1TDKJKQK6QX5V - and the personal chef business may be easier to get started from home.

Answer 3

Check with your health department before you invest any money in the project. I don't think it's likely that you can get your home kitchen licensed. The health department (here, at least) requires a LOT of special equipment and work. It's good, of course, but boy, it is a LOT of stuff to do...takes a team of people to clean to the standards we keep. I just doubt that your home stove hood, for example, is up to health code for bulk prep. It has to have a special channel in it...something about splatter and oil.

Answer 4

You need to get in touch with your local health department for local codes and cost of the required permits and licenses . Most home kitchens will not meet food health codes, so be prepared to find another location such as a local church which will let you rent their kitchen or possibly consider buying a concession trailer.

Answer 5

First research your laws on food handling. You will need an inspection, licenses, health test, food handling test then you can advertise your services. Develop some recipes for things like wedding receptions, reunions, company parties, picnics, dinner cruises, children's parties, family holiday meals, that will serve crowds with good food you will be serving in different places with different conditions so you need to be sure of your recipes and food handling safety.