small catering business plan pdf south africa

Catering Business Plan – Download

Impress investors, secure funding, and dominate the South African catering market with SmatBiz’s expertly crafted, ready-made Catering Business Plan. Downloadable files included. Start serving success today!

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Catering Business Plan

Do you dream of tantalizing taste buds and captivating events with exceptional catering? Turn your culinary vision into reality with SmatBiz’s comprehensive Catering Business Plan. Designed specifically for the South African market, this pre-written plan provides all the tools you need to:

• Impress investors & secure funding: Our SEDA -compliant plan and professional language inspire confidence and open doors to financial support.
• Craft a delicious roadmap to success: From menu development to marketing strategies, every facet of your catering business is expertly covered.
• Showcase your growth potential: 5-year financial forecasts demonstrate your ability to scale and become a culinary force.
• Instant access & customizable ingredients: Downloadable PDFs, Word documents, and Excel spreadsheets let you tailor the plan to your unique vision.
• Navigate the local palate: Gain insights into South African food trends, dietary preferences, and event regulations.

Leave the planning recipe behind and focus on what truly matters:

Save time & resources: Launch your catering business faster, without the planning fatigue. Increase your funding chances: Present a polished, professional plan that builds trust and ignites excitement. Gain market knowledge: Make informed decisions with data-driven insights and local expertise. Pour your passion into culinary creations: Craft mouthwatering menus, deliver exceptional service, and exceed client expectations.

Don’t wait for the next event invitation – your catering dream deserves to be served now! Download SmatBiz’s Catering Business Plan today and start cooking up your success story.

Contact us if you require assistance.

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How to Start a Catering Business in South Africa

So, you want to start a catering business?

That’s great, man! Cooking is a passion for many, and turning it into a business can be super rewarding.

Let's break down the steps to get you started.

Is There Money to make in Catering?

Oh, definitely! South Africa has a thriving events industry, from weddings and corporate functions to conferences and festivals. People LOVE good food, and catering businesses play a crucial role in making these events memorable.

Plus, with increasing health consciousness, there's a growing demand for caterers offering healthy, specialised, or dietary-friendly options.

Your First Steps

Find your perfect catering niche, what do you love to cook.

This is the BIGGEST question.

Your food should be something you're passionate about. If you love spicy Indian food, maybe that's your thing. Or maybe you're all about fancy French dishes. Maybe you have a lot of hits when it comes to vegan food, or you’ve been kosher your whole life and have mastered kosher friendly meals.

Whatever it is, let your love for cooking shine through.

WHO are you cooking for?

Think about the kind of people you want to feed.

Are you into making fancy meals for weddings? Or do you prefer the buzz of corporate events? Maybe you want to cook for families and kids.

Knowing who you want to cook for will help you figure out what kind of food to make.

WHAT makes you special?

What sets you apart from other caterers?

Do you have a secret family recipe? Are you really good at making food look amazing? Maybe you only use super fresh, local ingredients.

Find your unique selling point and SHARE IT WITH PEOPLE.

Your perfect niche is a mix of what you love to cook, who you love to cook for, and what makes you different.

Advice from the pros

We spoke to a lot of other caterers when writing this guide and one piece of advice that popped up time and time again was: don't be afraid to try new things and change your mind as you go along and grow and improve – the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy what you do. THAT’S where great food happens.

What to specialise in?

• Food trucks are a good idea because they offer flexibility and lower overhead costs, so they’re perfect for serving a diverse customer base.
• You could become a personal chef and provide customised meals for individuals or families, offering a personalised dining experience.
• You could create pre-packaged, ready-to-eat options for busy people – these are sure to be a hit with office workers and those on the go.
• You could specialise in baked goods – from cakes to pastries, there's a HUGE market for delicious treats, especially for special occasions.
• You could make baby food and tap into the growing demand for healthy baby food options .
• You could also do office catering and provide lunch and snack options for busy professionals / businesses .
• You could cater to health-conscious consumers or people with specific dietary needs with organic and plant-based options.
• You could make and sell meal kits to offer convenient cooking solutions with pre-measured ingredients and recipes.

It all depends on your passion, skills, and target market.

Create a Solid Business Plan

Your business plan should include things like:

• What kind of catering service will you offer?
• Who are you trying to sell to?
• How much money do you need to start and run your business?
• How will you attract customers?
• How will you manage your business day-to-day?

To make it a bit easier for you, here’s a free One Page Business Plan Template .

Where Are You Gonna Cook?

Catering from home.

Cooking from your own kitchen might seem like the easiest option, but let's break it down, because there’s a lot to consider behind-the-scenes…

What are the rules?

Contact your local municipality to find out if you CAN run a food business from home.

Is there space?

Do you have enough room for all your cooking gear, storing ingredients, and cleaning up?

Can you keep it clean and sanitised?

Your kitchen needs to be super clean to meet food safety standards. This means regular cleaning and sanitising, which can become tedious when people are living there and using the kitchen a lot.

What about equipment?

Home ovens and stoves might not be powerful enough for large batches of food.

Will you get distracted?

Family, pets, and other household activities can interfere with your work if you’re not careful.

Renting a Commercial Kitchen

Renting a commercial kitchen gives you a dedicated space designed for cooking. Here's what to consider if you’re thinking of renting:

• Location : A kitchen close to your target market can save you time and money.
• Kitchen features : Look for kitchens with the equipment you need, like big ovens, stoves, and plenty of prep space.
• Cost : Factor in rent, utilities, and any additional fees.
• Shared spaces : Some kitchens are shared with other food businesses. This can be a good way to save money, but you'll need to coordinate schedules so that it isn’t inconvenient.
• Equipment : You might need to bring your own small equipment, like blenders or mixers.

Food Trucks and Pop-up Shops

Cooking on the go can be exciting, but there are challenges…

• Buying or renting a food truck is a BIG investment.
• You'll need special equipment that's designed for a small space.
• Different rules apply to food trucks, so check with your local authorities about permits and regulations.
• Rain or extreme heat can disrupt your business.
• Finding parking spots to set up can be tricky, especially in busy areas.

Must-Have Equipment

Now that you've chosen your culinary headquarters, it’s time for you to equip it for the job. Here's a breakdown of the essentials, recommended by other pro caterer entrepreneurs:

The Big Things

You’ll need to invest in a sturdy stove with enough burners to handle your cooking needs. Your options include gas or electric, depending on your preference.

Whether you need a convection oven for baking or a large standard oven for roasting, choose one that fits your menu.

Refrigerators and Freezers

Keep ingredients fresh with reliable refrigeration. If you offer frozen meals or desserts, a freezer is crucial.

For Food Prep

A good set of sharp knives are essential for chopping, slicing, and dicing. Invest in chef's knives, paring knives, and serrated knives.

Cutting Boards

Opt for durable, non-porous cutting boards to prevent bacteria growth. Consider colour-coding them for different purposes (e.g., meat, vegetables).

Mixing Bowls

From stainless steel to lightweight plastic, choose bowls in various sizes for mixing, whisking, and tossing ingredients.

Stuff you’ll need to Serve:

Plates and cutlery.

Invest in dinner plates, salad plates, and sturdy cutlery for buffets or plated events. Consider reusable options for a sustainable approach.

Chafing Dishes

These keep food warm and ready to serve at events. Look for different sizes to accommodate various serving needs.

Serving Utensils

Spatulas, serving spoons, tongs, and ladles are essential for presenting and serving food efficiently.

On the Go Necessities (if applicable):

Transportation.

A reliable vehicle, like a van or truck, is essential for transporting food and equipment to event locations.

Consider things like fuel efficiency and cargo space.

Insulated Containers

Keep hot food hot and cold food cold during transport with insulated containers.

Licences and Permits

Running a catering business legally requires you to have the proper registrations and permits.

Here's what you need to do:

Business Registration:

Choose a structure.

Decide if you'll operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or company. Each has its own legal implications, but there are a lot of benefits to starting a Pty Ltd Company .

• A Sole Proprietorship is the simplest and most common structure for small businesses. You're the only owner, and your personal assets are at risk if the business gets into debt. It's suitable for businesses with low startup costs and a single owner.
• A Partnership is a good idea if you want to share ownership and responsibilities with someone else. However, both partners are personally liable for business debts.
• Private Companies (Pty Ltd) offer limited liability, protecting your personal assets from business debts. It's more complex to set up and manage, but it's a popular choice for businesses looking to grow.

Register with the CIPC

You’ve got to make your business official (and legally allowed to operate) by picking a unique business name and then you need to register your company with the CIPC.

Once your registration is complete, you'll receive a certificate confirming your business's legal status.

Pro Registration Tip

There are online services that make registration a lot easier for you, and it can all be done online. You can register your company online with Govchain .

You can also use this nifty company name search tool to make sure your business name is actually available for you to use.

Essential Licenses and Permits

To operate a catering business, you'll need specific licences and permits to ensure you comply with health, safety, and legal regulations.

Health Permit (Certificate of Acceptability)

This is crucial for food businesses. It demonstrates that your kitchen and food handling practices meet health and safety standards.

Zoning Permit

Ensures your business location complies with zoning regulations.

Fire Safety Certificate

Demonstrates that your premises meet fire safety requirements.

Additional Considerations:

• Food Safety Training: Many municipalities require food handlers to undergo training and certification.
• Liquor Licence: If you plan to serve alcohol, you'll need a separate liquor licence.

Here is a detailed breakdown of what licences you’ll need if you want to sell food .

Building Your Brand

Make a logo.

A logo is like your business's face. It should look professional and represent your brand. Think about colours, shapes, and fonts that match your style.

You can use online tools like Canva or Looka to make a logo online for free.

Create a website

Your website is your online shop window. Make it look good and easy to navigate. People should be able to find your menu, contact details, and booking information quickly.

It doesn’t have to be complicated, or even expensive – you can use platforms like Wix , Squarespace , or WordPress to build a beautiful website without breaking the bank .

Market your business on Social media

Share mouthwatering photos of your food, engage with customers, and run contests or giveaways. Instagram and Facebook are great places to start marketing on social media .

Pricing Your Menu

So… how much should you charge?

The first step is to know how much it costs you to make each dish. Here's what to include:

• Ingredients : The price of all the food items in the recipe.
• Labour : How much you pay your staff to prepare and serve the dish.
• Other costs : This includes things like electricity, water, and any other expenses related to making the dish.

Calculating Your Price

Once you know your costs, you need to add a profit. This is the money you make on each dish.

Here's a simple way to think about it:

Double your costs

This means charging twice as much as it costs you to make the dish. For example, if a dish costs R20 to make, you'd charge R40.

Add a percentage

Instead of doubling, you can add a specific percentage to your costs. For example, if your costs are R20 and you want a 50% profit, you'd charge R30.

Looking at the Competition

Check out what other caterers in your area charge.

This can give you an idea of what people are willing to pay. But remember, you're unique, so don't just copy their prices.

Extra Income Ideas

• Add-ons : You could offer extra items like fancy table decorations or extra side dishes for an additional fee.
• Packaging : You can charge extra for special packaging if you're providing it.
• Delivery : If you offer delivery, charge a delivery fee.

Pro Tip: It's a good idea to review your prices regularly to make sure you're still making a profit. The cost of ingredients and other expenses can change over time.

Spread the Word

Networking is going to take you far.

Go to industry events, talk to wedding planners, and connect with other businesses. You never know who you might meet.

Maybe you could offer to cater a special event for a local charity – free publicity is always good!

Collaborate with other businesses, like florists or event venues, to offer complete packages to clients.

Remember: Building a strong brand takes time and effort. Be patient, consistent, and always focus on providing exceptional food and service.

Let’s Get Cooking!

Starting a catering business can be a fulfilling venture that allows you to share your love of food with others.

Now that you know how to get up-and-running, are you ready to turn your culinary dreams into reality?

Take the first step by registering your business .

With dedication, hard work, and a passion for food, you can build a thriving catering business in South Africa.

If you need any help along the way, our Support Team is always happy to help!

• Company Registration
• Company Annual Returns
• Company Directors Change
• Company Address Change
• Company Name Change
• B-BBEE Affidavit
• Terms of Use
• Commercial Terms
• Privacy Policy

• Sample Business Plans
• Food, Beverage & Restaurant

Catering Business Plan

Every event or occasion calls for good food. And although the majority of people like good food, not everyone has the talent to cook the same.

And if you are someone who receives constant compliments for your cooking then you must have thought of having your catering business.

But having a catering business is much more than that. It all boils down to the quality of your service in the end, but before that, you need to have a strategy to attract your customers’ attention, build trust, manage your finances, and many more.

All of the above might sound a little overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be. All you need is a catering business plan.

Catering Industry Highlights 2023

Here is an overview of the current state of the catering industry in 2023:

Market size and growth potential:

Employment scenario:, number of operational businesses:, major market drivers:, key market trends:, financial plan:.

Say goodbye to boring templates

Build your business plan faster and easier with AI

Plans starting from $7/month

How Can a Catering Business Plan Help You?

The catering business is one of the most rewarding careers as it not only lets you pursue your passion, it has the potential to grow into a huge business by size and volume if planned properly.

A business plan is helpful for a catering business because along with great cooking skills, great management skills are an integral part of a successful catering business.

A business plan can help you conduct your daily business activities without chaos, have good finances, help you find your desired customers, and make your unique business idea a marketable one.

Things to Consider Before Writing Your Catering Business Plan

Make a list of items you can serve.

Having a list of items you will serve, helps you organize your services better. It also helps your customers understand what you can offer and decide if your service is the right one for them or not.

It also becomes important that you design your menu as per your target audience’s tastes and preferences.

Figure out your location and staffing coasts

Figure out from where you’ll provide services, what would be the amount of rent you’ll have to pay, which location would be good for your business , etc.

Apart from that, you also need to figure out staffing costs, the size of your team, the skills required, and so on.

Figure out where you’ll get your supplies from

Getting good supplies is essential for a catering business. Because you need to pay attention to quality as well as the taste of the food you’ll offer. Having a fixed supplier helps you maintain consistency in the quality of your food.

Make a list of important equipment

Although many catering services work on the go and prefer to rent equipment, it is a good practice to have the basic equipment in case of contingency. It would also decrease your reliance on other people, and pose fewer challenges while gathering supplies for new orders.

Having your equipment also makes it easier for you and your team to prepare orders as you get familiar with how to use those tools.

Now that you have done the research, let’s learn how you can write a business plan for yourself.

How to Write a Catering Business Plan?

A good catering business plan consists of a clear description of your business’s functioning, your target market, the services you offer, the size of your company, a pricing strategy, and a well-designed employee management system.

Now you might wonder, where to start from, how to go about writing a plan from scratch, and most importantly how to know if you have written a good one.

Well, you need not worry.

You can easily write a well-rounded business plan either through a pre-designed template or through online business plan software.

Moreover, online business plan software can help you write a flexible business plan that grows alongside your business.

Catering Business Plan Outline

This is the standard catering business plan outline which will cover all important sections that you should include in your business plan.

• Keys to Success
• Financial Summary
• Legal Entity
• Locations and Facilities
• Facility Design
• Boxed lunches
• Buffet style lunches
• Alternative Providers
• Future Products
• Internal Bright Future Customers
• Nonprofit External Customers
• For-profit External Customers
• Market Analysis
• Market Trends
• Market Growth
• Value Proposition
• Competitive Edge
• Distribution Strategy
• Marketing Programs
• Pricing Strategy
• Promotion Strategy
• Of Grape & Grain
• Cravings Fine Foods
• Ariana’s Deli
• Fettuccini and Co
• Napoli Restaurant
• Brindiamo Catering
• Wild Duck Brewery
• Oregon Electric Station
• Local and national grocery stores chains
• Local and national sandwich fast-food chains
• Strategic Alliances
• Organizational Structure
• Management Team Gaps
• Personnel Plan
• Other General Assumptions
• Fundraising Strategy
• Fundraising Programs
• Funding Forecast
• Start-up Summary
• Income Statement (5-Year Projections)
• Balance Sheet (5-Year Projections)
• Cash Flow (5-Year Projections)

Although your plan will keep changing as your business grows, here are a few key sections that would form the foundation of your business plan:

1. Executive summary

This executive summary section would be the first one on your plan. It provides a summary of all that your business stands for. It can be divided into the following subsections:

• Objectives : This segment would consist of the chief objectives of your company. What it aims to achieve, who it wants to serve, and where it wants to reach.
• Mission : This segment includes the mission statement of your business, it consists of what market gap you plan on filling with your business.
• Financial Summary : This segment will give a summary of the past and present condition of your finances as well as projected gains of your business.

A clear executive summary can come in handy if you need funding.

2. Operational Strategy

The operational strategy section helps you plan how to work toward achieving your business goals. It can be divided into the following subsections:

• Day-to-day activities : In this segment, you’ll write an overview of the best way of carrying out your business from onboarding clients to fulfilling the services.
• Long-term goals : This section would consist of long-term goals like serving a certain number of clients, growing your business to a certain size, and expanding to a certain number of branches, etc.

A good operational strategy would make your business activities less chaotic and prevent them from being all over the place.

3. Market Analysis

In this segment, you’ll write down every single detail you can find out about the market. It would include the following segments:

• Market trends : Knowing about all the prevailing market trends can help you design a plan that would change as per the evolving market, and also help you maintain the foundation your company stands on. It would also give you an overview of what your competitors are doing.
• Target Market : This segment would describe everything about your target market. The locations they prefer, the kind of cuisines they are into, how and when they procure catering services, etc.

This segment helps you understand what you are getting yourself into.

4. Services

This section consists of a detailed description of the services you offer. For example, the events you cater to, the volume of people you can serve, the food options your services have, what additional services you offer, etc.

This segment helps your target audience understand your services better, it helps them in deciding whether you are the right fit for them or not. So, make sure you describe your services in a clear and precise manner.

5. Financial Plan

The financial plan segment includes everything starting from the funds you need to start your business, the funds you need for procuring supplies and employing people, the projected cash flow of your business, expected profit, and loss of your business, pricing strategy, etc.

Download a sample catering business plan

Need help writing your business plan from scratch? Here you go; download our free catering business plan pdf to start.

It’s a modern business plan template specifically designed for your catering business. Use the example business plan as a guide for writing your own.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

Write your business plan with Upmetrics

A business plan software like Upmetrics is the best way to draft your business plan. This incredible tool comes with step-by-step instructions, customizable templates, and 400+ sample business plans to help you get started.

So, whether starting a catering business or planning to grow an existing one, Upmetrics is the tool you need to create a business plan.

So what are you waiting for? Start planning today!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do i write a business plan for catering.

Writing a catering business plan from scratch requires a lot of research, but you can report it most effectively with the help of a catering business plan example. Using our business plan software, you can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less.

What should be included in a catering business plan?

These are the key components of a business plan your catering plan must include to stand out to investors:

• Executive summary
• Business Overview
• Products and services
• Sales and marketing strategies
• Operations plan
• Management team
• Financial plan

Where to find business plan writers for your catering business?

While many business plan writers are available to help you, believe it or not, no one knows your business better than you. So we recommend you write your catering business plan and outline your vision as you have in your mind. You can use AI business plan generators like Upmetrics to speed up the writing process.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a catering business plan?

Following are some of the common mistakes to avoid when writing a catering business plan:

• Poor market research and ignoring industry trends.
• Inadequate and inaccurate financial projections.
• Undefined goals and lack of details.
• Including outdated and irrelevant information.
• Not proofreading the document for typos and grammatical errors.
• Not regularly updating your business plan.

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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PRE-WRITTEN BUSINESS PLANS FOR SOUTH AFRICA (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL): COMPREHENSIVE VERSION, SHORT FUNDING/BANK LOAN VERSION AND AUTOMATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Posted by BizBolts | All Articles , Business Plans

We have several payment methods which you can use to buy the business plans.

Payment Method 1 (Visa card, Mastercard, Credit card, Debit Card) – R500

To purchase the business plans using Visa Card/Master Card click here: Business Plans Store . After you have purchased, you will instantly see the download link for the business plan package on the screen. We will also email you the download link. Click the button below to purchase business plans using Visa Card/ Mastercard.

The business plan package is a zipped compressed file containing the PDF, Word and Excel documents. To open the package after downloading it, just right click, and select Extract All. If you have any problems in downloading and opening the files, email us on [email protected] and we will assist you.

Payment Method  2 – (Instant EFT – FNB, Absa, Standard Bank, Nedbank, CapitecBank, Investec, TymeBank and African Bank. )

Other Payment Methods

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Call/Whatsapp us on +27606334830 for the other payment methods. (Whatsapp us by clicking the link https://wa.me/27606334830 ). Email: [email protected] .

Testimonial 6

It is with excitement and pleasure to inform you that I have been successful in securing a loan from my bank. This would not have been possible if not for the BizBolts Business Plan. Thank you for your help, my dreams are now coming true.

Testimonial 5

The BizBolts poultry business plan led us down the path from start to finish. Contact details of suppliers of key requirements were included in the business plan. It helped us crystallize our strategy, and the business plan was well received by the bank.

Testimonial 2

I am extremely pleased with the business plan and financial statements. The business plan is very detailed & it meets my requirements. I feel better equipped with tools that can help me secure funding.  I would have no hesitation of recommending your business plans to other people.

Testimonial 4

The business plan was very helpful, you did a great job of taking ideas and putting them into words as well as pointing out other aspects of the business plan I wouldn’t have thought of. I got funding using your business plan and it’s now 4 months since I started my poultry business, and everything is going well.

Testimonial 1

Many thanks to the BizBolts team for putting together a fantastic business plan, I could not have done this business plan on my own. I managed to get funding from investors to start my butchery business using your business plan.

Testimonial 3

The business plan has a highly professional look and feel. The research really helps me look deep into the market that I am targeting, it’s well suited for the South African market. The business plan clearly outlined everything I need to start the business and the costs. It’s now easier to budget and plan. Thank you very much.

Testimonial 7

Thank you BizBolts for the business plan. I received the business plan immediately after payment, it was money well spent ! I was able to easily edit the business plan. After using the BizBolts business plan, I can wholeheartedly recommend their products and skills.

About the Business Plans

We decided to introduce the South African business plans after noting that many South Africans were venturing into businesses without a full understanding of the industry, market, how to run the businesses, the risks involved, profitability of the businesses and the costs involved, leading to a high failure rate of the start-ups.

Our business plans will make it easier for you to launch and run a business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. It will be easier to plan and budget as the business plans will lay out all the costs involved in setting up and running the business. They are designed uniquely for the South African market.

USES OF THE BUSINESS PLANS (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL)

These business plans can be used for many purposes including:

• Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives
• Applying for a bank loan
• Start-up guide to launch your business
• As a project proposal
• Assessing profitability of the business
• Finding a business partner
• Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save
• Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation

CONTENTS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS PLANS (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL)

All our pre-written plans include, but not limited to:

• Market Analysis
• Industry Analysis
• 5 Year Automated Financial Statements [ Income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, monthly cash flow projections (3 years monthly cash flow projections, the remaining two years annually),break even analysis, payback period analysis, start-up costs, financial graphs, revenue and expenses, Bank Loan Amortisation]
• Marketing Strategy
• Risk Analysis
• SWOT & PEST Analysis
• Operational Requirements
• Operational Strategy
• Why some South Africans in that type of business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
• Ways to raise capital to start your business in South Africa

All our agriculture pre-written business plans include technical aspects of how to keep and rear the animals / farm the crops. They also include a mini-directory with contacts which will prove to be helpful in launching and running the business. E.g. for broiler poultry we will provide the contact details for South African suppliers of feeds, equipment, day old chicks, abattoirs, training companies etc)

The Business plan package consist of 4 files

• Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive – Between 70-105 pages)
• Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive – Between 70-105 pages)
• Business Plan Funding Version – Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan – between 35-50 pages)
• Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel file)

The financial statements are automated. This implies that you can change an item eg unit price, and all the other financial statements will automatically adjust to reflect the change.

About The Author

BizBolts (Pty) Ltd is a business research company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. We sell prewritten business plans for various industries including livestock production, crop farming and retail businesses. BizBolts also publishes articles on business ideas, business news, business tips, personal finance, and entrepreneur profiles.

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Catering Business Plan

Need a Catering   Business Plan for  your  Catering Business ? We write Professional  Catering  Business Plans.

Our  Catering  Business Plan is for Start-Ups looking to apply for basic Funding , Tenders and Industry Regulators .

Our Catering  Business Plan is focused on the Catering  Industry in South Africa. Included in this option is a Professional Business Plan layout and a 5-Year Financial Projection.

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Business Plan Pro® is a Subsidiary Brand of My SME™, and an IMCSA Accredited Business Coaching institute (My SME™ Accreditation Number: 073PIMC ).

We focus on Business Plan and Feasibility Study services to assist Businesses to grow through Funding . Business Plan Pro® is the first South African Business to create Custom Business Plan Software for South Africans.

Our Catering Business Plan is focused on the Catering Industry in South Africa. Included in this option is a Professional Business Plan layout and a 5-Year Financial Projection.

(7 Working Days)

Our  Catering Business Plan  is focused on the  Catering  Industry in South Africa. Included in this option is a Professional Business Plan layout and a 5-Year Financial Projection.

Service Includes: 

• 40 – 60 Pages.
• Professional Business Plan Layout.
• 5-Year Financial Projection.
• Basic Catering Market Research.
• Basic Catering Industry Research.

NOTE that  with the Catering Business Plan the market and industry research is very basic . If you need in-depth market & industry research from the Business Plan Pro® team, please select either the  Comprehensive Business Plan  or  Specialised Business Plan .

Start-Up Business Package

(21 Working Days)

Our Start-Up Business Package is for Start-Up’s looking to start their Business on the right foot with a  Catering Business Plan and a Professional Brand .

Package Includes: 

• Catering Business Plan (Valued at R4,490).
• Entry Level Brand Package (Valued at R3,490).
• Entry Level 1-Pager Website (Valued at R3,990).

NOTE  that with this package you complete a  brand questionnaire  that tells us all we need to know about your business to create a professional logo. The logo concepts presented are  standard options  that you are required to choose from. No custom amendments are allowed, but  one basic amendment  is allowed.

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What an awesome company and experience. Prompt, on time, flexible, yet sooooo professional…..  Even my wife does not know how my mind works. Yet Business Plan Pro® could put my vision into paper in an amazing way….. Looking good. Thanks Kayleen and Nicole. Looking forward to the rest of our journey together.

Louis Lubbe Managing Director of Lubbe Projects & Company (Pty) Ltd.

Business Plan Pro® will give you the best Business Plan, with that said I can stand on the edge of a cliff on a windy day for you to prove me wrong, I had a very close deadline when I gave them my information, in fact with my little knowledge on business planning I thought they would fumble so I panicked and gave them every single bit of information I had and I couldn’t sleep worrying about whether I won’t find them the next day 😂😭🤣, well they are legit & you can sleep peacefully, they truly exceeded my expectations. BEST BUSINESS PLAN IN SA so far. Braaaaaah The level of research I saw in that business plan I realized I didn’t know my business 😩🤣

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How to Start a Catering Business 

Updated on 27 July 2022

Many people dream of turning their love of cooking into a profitable business. One of the best ways to do this is to start a catering business.   

Catering is an excellent business idea for townships , city centres, office parks, and anywhere else where there are hungry people. If you start small, it can also be a relatively easy business to get off the ground.  

In this guide, we’ll cover the essentials you need to know for getting your catering business started.   

Industry Overview   

There are plenty of great opportunities available for a catering business in South Africa. Starting a catering business allows you to target the growing tourism industry, schools, universities, private businesses, events, and any other organisations that require catering services.  

One of the great things about a catering business is that you have some flexibility to work with different clients in different areas. These days, people have become more conscious of what they eat, with a greater focus on healthy food. This means there is more demand for catering businesses that can supply this.   

As long as people need to eat, there will be a need for catering businesses. This means the industry is big and has many opportunities.  

Getting Started  

If you want to start a catering business, the first thing to do is to conduct thorough market research. Establish where there is a need for catering, and what kind of catering services are in demand. You need to identify a gap in the market that you can fill.  

The next step is to determine your location and premises. Some catering businesses are fully mobile, while others operate from a single kitchen. Either way, you will need a permanent base to keep all of your equipment and stock, receive orders, and do some prep work. It’s possible to do this in your home kitchen when starting.  

One of the biggest challenges of starting a catering business is getting it fully equipped. Catering requires a lot of kitchen equipment. You will need large pots and pans, a stove, a big enough oven, prep spaces, food storage containers, and more. Your equipment and kitchen space will also determine how large your output will be. It’s important that you know the maximum number of people you can cater for before marketing your business.   

An important step in starting a catering business is coming up with your products and menus. This should match your target audience and their interests. Your menus also need to be practical, based on your available equipment and ingredients. Some catering companies specialise in niche areas (like health foods, cakes, or packed lunches), while others offer a broad variety of menus.    

When your business is ready to operate, you will need a marketing plan to attract customers. This needs to align with your business model. Some catering companies take on a contract with one or two large clients that they serve every day. Others focus on events and need to attract new clients all the time.   

All of this should be included in your business plan. The business plan also needs to include your costings, prices, and profit margins on menu items. 

Industry Challenges  

The catering industry in South Africa is highly competitive. Your business will have to compete with other catering companies, as well as supermarkets that offer catering services and restaurants.   

Catering also comes with high operating costs. These costs include your staff, ingredients, gas, rent, equipment, cleaning supplies, your vehicle, and more. A successful catering business needs to have tight control over its finances, as profit margins can often be quite thin.  

Laws and Regulations   

You will need to have a business license to start a catering operation. You will also need to have a certificate of acceptability . These are essential requirements for any business that prepares and serves food in South Africa.   

Must-Have Tech Tools   

Technology can play a big role in supporting your catering business. To make things easier to manage, consider getting inventory management software and bookkeeping software. Specific catering software solutions are also available to help you manage your business, invoice clients, plan your menus, manage staff, and control finances more efficiently.  

If you’re looking for small business ideas for rural areas or busy urban neighbourhoods, then catering is always a good option. There is always a need for food, which means there is always a demand for catering. With a well-planned business, great food items, and the right market, starting a catering business can be a profitable and rewarding venture. 

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Starting Catering Services Business Plan (PDF)

Catering simply refers to availing food at wide-ranging events. A catering business is a very lucrative business to start, with huge profit margins. No matter the prevailing conditions people will always need catering services. The customer base is large, as you can offer catering services at corporates events, weddings, birthday parties, social gatherings, sporting events, political events and even religious events. It is usually the norm that the majority of these events outsource catering services. That makes a catering business very viable. There is no end to the types of events where catering is usually needed. Since it is such a huge market it is strategic to start a catering business. Understand that the nature of catering business is so broad, diverse, and dynamic. That is why niching is a common element in the catering business. The choice of niche is often informed by a number of factors. It could be how the food is prepared and served. It could be how the food is priced. It could also be type of event to be served. At the end of the day you need to come up with well-defined catering services and the menus on offer. This article will outline how to start the catering services business, and the catering business plan – PDF, Word and Excel.

Business Model

There are several approaches to the catering business. You can offer catering services for corporate events. One of the most common ones is providing catering services for weddings or engagements. You could do catering for social events. This is quite broad; it includes events such as parties, official launches, bridal showers, and the like. The other common one is providing catering services for big events. This can include live shows or sporting events. How you will make money is based on which niche(s) you will be serving. Other than the catering services, there are always several other ways to incorporate to make more money.

Market Research

Due to the colossal size of the catering industry it becomes even more important to conduct research first. You need a good understanding of how the catering industry works, its trends and financial viability. Find out and closely study how existing catering business players are doing it. We are talking about things like services provided, food packages, markets served, pricing  and marketing strategies amongst other things. In this age of the internet and social media this can be done by looking them up online. Alternatively you visit such service providers to learn about their business structures and models. Even when you attend events or are being served as a customer by a catering business service provider you can always find a way to draw insights on how they operate. If you do this diligently you are rest assured to build your own catering business with a strong value proposition. Most importantly you require a detailed catering services business plan before you venture into this business.

Location And Premises

There are basically 2 ways in which you can prepare the food that you will serve to your clients. You will either prepare it onsite or offsite. Preparing it offsite implies you will need a working space and that branches off into basically 3 possible options. You can set up a working area at home, you can have dedicated office & kitchen premises or your pay to use an already established working space. Operating from home might somehow be cheap but it is not recommended unless you build a professional working area. Bear in mind that catering businesses can be inspected by local and health authorities so it is important to have a standard working area. Generally, preparing offsite requires excellent logistical management to avoid inconveniences for the clients. Preparing the food onsite might be the best considering the elimination of other costs plus providing the food whilst still fresh. At the end of the day you will have to assess and see which approach works best for you. The approaches might not be cast in stone since you might have to alternate amongst them according to the dictates of each new client or scenario you encounter. If you are to establish a fixed working area it must be visible, accessible, clean and distanced from any possible contaminant factors. Your catering business plan should take into account the costs of renting or buying the premises.

Competitive Analysis

The catering business is marked by stiff competition. It is often the case that there are several competitors in your target location or market. You need to closely examine all those competitors. What type of foods do they serve? What are their prices? What is their niche(s)? It is essential to not forget that you have indirect competitors too. People can sort out their catering needs themselves; that is a competition element you cannot ignore. There is a wide range of other businesses that can provide catering services.

Examples of such are supermarkets, hotels, or fast food joints. You have to study all of those to figure how to find your place in the market. Also take time to analyse their digital footprint. This will help you know how they reach out to people and generate leads. Your aim is to identify areas you can improve to become a superior catering business.

There are different kind of equipment that you will need for the catering services business. Examples are working areas (fitted with necessary items such as tables, sinks, taps and so on), freezer units, stoves, ovens, fryers, grills and the like. It is better to acquire or use industrial-grade equipment rather than makeshift with domestic equipment. Especially when the business grows to medium or large scale you will see how important this is. You will also need utensils some of which are knives, spoons, graters, scales, chopping boards, bowls, pots and so on – the list is endless. Transportation vehicles might also be vital for delivery purposes. When starting with a limited budget, you can consider buying preowned equipment, as this will lower your startup costs. Your catering business plan should include the costs of purchasing the equipment.

Products and Services

There are several ways of doing the catering services business. You can  partner with event planners and provide food and beverages at a wedding parties. Most wedding clients prefer full service and real display catering services. You  will provide all the equipment required to prepare and serve the food including silverware, plates, napkins. Also you prepare and serve the food. Catering services can also be offered to corporates & organizations, whereby you prepare and serve the food daily to company employees, or at corporate seminars & training events, business conference catering etc. Social event catering also has a big market, you can offer your catering services at music events & concerts, social parties like birthdays etc. Sporting events, religious events and political events also require catering services. Your products/menu will depend on the need of your clients. Practically you will end up preparing different kinds of meals as clients have different requirements. The catering services business plan should outline the services you will be offering. 

Permits/Licenses, Insurance & Business Bank Account

Permits or licenses.

Avoid the temptation to operate as an informal catering business. Build your catering business into a brand and get is registered as a business or company. It is even wiser to set up a proper office for your catering business. Catering entails food services so you need to be licensed. Apply for an operating license from your municipal or local authorities. It is also strategic to hire or work with properly certified catering staff. This will cement your brand image. Plus it will make your catering business more preferable; clients love getting served by professionals.

Insurance & Business Bank Account

Due to the nature of processes involved in catering, getting insured is paramount. That is why you need proper premises from which to operate from. This will make it easier to get your catering business insured. When looking for an insurer, do not just consider one insurance provider. Explore several of them so that you can compare. Handle the finances of your catering business via a business bank account. Every banking services provider has a facility specially tailored for businesses to open such accounts. This will help you manage your catering business finances separately from your personal finances.

Staff And Management

The required staff depends on the size of your business and the nature of the services that you will be offering. At the minimum you need chefs, waiters and logistics personnel. Some of these employees may be part time workers which you can call in whenever you get a contract to do. This maybe necessitated by the fact that offering catering services may not be a daily thing. Other required staff include accountants, supervisors, security team, stock controllers and managers, though this depends on the size of your catering services business. Your catering business should have sufficient number of well trained staff. This is because repeat purchases and ever-growing customer inflows are a product of swift, good and quality service from the staff. Having a small or skeletal staff makes it very difficult to provide swift service. Remember we are living in a fast-paced world where people don’t want to be kept waiting for too long. The salaries of all your employees must be catered for in your catering services business plan.

Marketing And Sales Strategies

Be known online.

Get a website set up for your catering business. Include e-commerce functionality on the website. In fact, make it a web app so that it is also optimized for mobile access. There should be functionality for clients to order online. Have high definition visuals showing your catering business offerings. These will also be instrumental in your digital marketing efforts. This includes social media marketing, email marketing, content marketing, and social media influencer marketing, amongst others. Getting known online is enhanced by propagating positive reviews and testimonials for your business. Any client you serve must be a source of social proof to buttress your catering business brand image. Get included on local online business listing platforms.

Community Involvement

As a catering business you have the advantage of being able to make a difference in the community. There are lots of charitable activities you can do to put your catering business name out there. You can be involved by providing your services at community events. For instance, there can be sporting or entertainment events. There can be a wide range of conferences that can be held e.g. church conferences. You can always find a way to prepare and sell food to anyone participating in such events. You can even consider sponsoring community-based causes or events. This solidifies your catering business’ brand image.

The demand for catering services is huge. Catering services can be offered to weddings, business seminars, corporate canteens, training events, business conferences, funerals, sports events, political events, birthday parties, social gatherings, picnics, universities, religious events etc. A good reputation for reliability, consistency and good products & service are the key ingredients for developing the customer base for your catering business. You must also invest in proper branding and extensive marketing drives (especially on the internet and social media). Figure out competitive pricing regimes that can tip your competition over. One way to attract customers is by coming up with regular specials. Hygiene and presentation of your service offering and products are paramount to a favourable brand image. Take your time to conduct customer surveys in order to fully acquaint yourself with what exactly your customers like or dislike. Your catering services business plan should have a proper marketing plan.

Keys To Profitability

No substitute for quality and efficiency.

When it comes to preparing food, clients always expect efficient services and quality food. When you are expected to deliver lunch at 1pm, it has to be so. The food must exceed expectations in terms of quality. Quality should also be in the form of general cleanliness and presentability of catering staff. These are the most important considerations clients make when choosing catering businesses. They of course also consider the pricing but efficiency and quality can overshadow pricing.

Explore Cost Control Strategies

In order to offer competitive prices you need to control costs. In order to widen profit margins you need to control costs. Find areas you can tweak to reduce your operating costs. One area to explore can be your raw materials, ingredients, and the like. A catering business involves several inputs so factor in everything and seek to keep costs low. You should not compromise on quality though.

A catering business thrives on having a good reputation. Providing the best customer experiences is the core aspect your catering business must strive for. You should also look to perpetually expand your clientele.

Pre-Written Catering Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel): Comprehensive Version, Short Funding/Bank Loan Version and Automated Financial Statements

For an in-depth analysis of the catering business, we encourage you to purchase our well-researched and comprehensive catering services business plan. We introduced the business plans after discovering that many were venturing into the catering services business without enough knowledge and understanding of how to run the business, lack of understanding of the financial side of the business, lack of understanding of : the industry, the risks involved , costs and profitability of the business; which often leads to disastrous losses.

The StartupBiz Global catering business plan will make it easier for you to launch and run your catering business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. This is a complete business plan for catering services. It will be easier to plan and budget as you will be aware of all the costs involved in setting up and running the catering business.

Uses of the Catering Services Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

The catering business plan can be used for many purposes including:

• Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives
• Applying for a bank loan
• Start-up guide to launch your catering services business
• As a catering business proposal
• Assessing profitability of the catering services business
• Finding a business partner
• Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save
• Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation

Contents of the Catering Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

The business plan for catering services includes, but not limited to:

• Marketing Strategy
• Financial Statements (monthly cash flow projections, income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, break even analysis, payback period analysis, start-up costs, financial graphs, revenue and expenses, Bank Loan Amortization)
• Industry Analysis
• Market Analysis
• Risk Analysis
• SWOT & PEST Analysis
• Operational Requirements
• Operational Strategy
• Why some people in the catering business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
• Ways to raise capital to start your catering business

The catering services business plan package consists of 4 files

• Catering Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive Version – 84 Pages)
• Catering Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive Version – 84 Pages)
• Catering Business Plan Funding/Bank Loan Version- Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan/funding – 43 pages)
• Catering Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel File)

The business plan can be used in any country and can be easily edited. The financial statements are automated. This implies that you can change eg the markup, salaries etc, and all the other financial statements will automatically adjust to reflect the change. 

Click below to download the Contents Page of the Catering Business Plan (PDF)

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Get the Catering Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

Click Buy Now  below to purchase using Paypal, Credit Card, or Debit Card. After you have purchased, you will immediately see the download link for the business plan package on the screen. You will also immediately get an email with the business plan download link. The Pre-written business plan package (PDF, Word, and Excel) costs $30 only!

If you want to purchase multiple business plans at once then click here: Business Plans Store.

The business plan package is a zipped compressed file containing the PDF, Word and Excel documents. To open the package after downloading it, just right click, and select Extract All. If you have any problems in downloading and opening the files, email us on [email protected] and we will assist you.

We wish you the best in your catering business! Check out our collection of business plans  , and more business ideas .

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How to Start a Catering Business in South Africa

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Maybe people you have cooked for before might have suggested to you to start a catering company, some may have even predicted how fast you will become a household name. Well, whether you are a very good cook or you just like the feel of the culinary world, starting a catering business in south africa is a very lucrative venture to get into.

People love to eat good food, and even if some can prepare it themselves, there is this excitement in eating out. In South Africa, the food servicing industry is currently seeing a major growth sprout and this could be attributed slightly to an increase in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Although cooking for a large number of people might be a thing of joy for you, you must understand that there are certain threats and challenges to expect when going into such a venture. One of them is finding the right kind of people to work for you. Good help is hard to find because this work is a skill based business.

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Another major challenge to expect is getting accepted by the public as other brands have most likely already established their own presence in the market space. You will have to fight, push and pull your way into your preferred niche.

17 Steps to Starting a Catering Business in South Africa

1. understand the industry.

The industry of food service in South Africa has a mixture of commercial and institutional sectors. Hotels, Restaurants, fast food independents, clubs, fast food chains and the likes make up the commercial sector and due to a rapid growth of people choosing to eat out, the franchise aspect of this commercial sector continues to grow.

The Institutional sector includes public and private hospitals, educational institutions, prisons, transport services and the likes. It is quite common to put together the food servicing trade with the hospitality and tourism sector of the South African economy as food services goes hand in hand with this sector.

It will be safe to say that although hospitality and tourism accounts for 8.3 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Tourism in South Africa has increased since the end of the apartheid in 1994. According to recent tourism figures, the number of international tourists to South Africa has increased.

There were 1.24 million foreign visitors to South Africa in April 2016 and the numbers continue to increase. Food and beverage as a result saw an increase by 1.4 percent in January 2016. Certain contributors in various sectors also saw an increase of up to 4.4 percent in restaurants and coffee shops. Catering services saw a 2.4 percent growth.

Despite the impact of the global recession on the South African economy, the country still remains the largest food service market in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is strongly assisted by the hospitality industry. With food and hospitality going hand in hand, it is no wonder that hospitality and tourism have added greatly to the South African economy.

So with all these positive patterns in the industry of foodservice, it would not be a bad idea to go into the catering business in a bubbling place like South Africa. Statistics constantly show an increase of the market, which is positive for any aspiring business person in this sector, so it is a wise decision if you have a flare for the culinary arts, to venture into such.

South Africa boasts of a large stream of commercial and institutional fast food chains, KFC, Deboniors Steer, McDonalds, Nando’s, just to mention a few, these and lots more pose a great competition to those who are intending to get into the food servicing business.

Except of course your approach to the business is not that of establishing your own restaurant, but even at that, there are a great number of vendors offering similar services as yours, so competition is a strong factor when it comes to the food servicing or catering business in a great country like South Africa.

Government has not developed any strange policies to govern or manage those who are key players in this industry; however there are certain basic laws to consider when setting up a catering business like licenses and certificates. Certain other things to consider like noise pollution, building control, environmental health and the likes would come to play as you start your business.\

Because you would be handling food and meals that people will eat, you have to make sure that your environment is clean. The government and law do not take cleanliness lightly to ensure the safety of the public.

In the midst of all these competitors, creating a unique niche for yourself will go a long way in attracting and retaining customers. So it may be the unique way you prepare a popular public favorite or something on your menu that no other person in the business is doing.

Whichever way you choose to create your own unique selling point, it will be one of the things that make you a success in this trade. Of course proper feasibility study is needed and for this kind of business, the risks are low and your guarantee for success begins with the quality of food you can provide.

2. Conduct Market Research and Feasibility Studies

• Demographics and Psychographics

Almost everyone on this earth needs food, we can’t go a day without it, so when we talk about demographics it is safe to say every living human being in South Africa. However, people are different in their various sects and groups. It is important even when venturing into something as natural as food service to focus on targeted sets of people from where you begin to spread if that is the plan.

Of course targeting a certain group of people could also be a determining factor in choosing the exact kind of catering you want to do. If you want to simply cater for weddings and events, then there would be no real need to set up a restaurant.

All you will have to do is operate from a work station whenever you have these kinds of activities to cater for. People who are organizing weddings and events definitely require the services of caterers meaning that event planners and organizers are also part of your demographic.

There are folks, especially in a booming society like South Africa, that do not have time to cook at home because of their very busy schedule. Ordering food from your business can be a very good option, if they trust the quality of your cooking.

Setting up a restaurant by a location with a lot of businesses and companies is also a very good idea. These workers make up another set of people who would need this service as most do not carry cooked meals from the house to work every morning.

So it would be a very convenient thing to simply walk to your restaurant for a very satisfying meal. Another way workers can be targeted could be by setting up a restaurant in the building of the company where workers can easily come to have their meals. Another alternative would be to establish a food delivery service in various companies around or even beyond your location.

3. Decide Which Niche to Concentrate On

With the wide spectrum of catering services to choose from in South Africa, it is very important that one seeking to go into such a business learns to carve out a niche for himself. One cannot just start doing what every other person is doing; this will make their efforts ineffective.

The good thing is that there are many ways one can create that specific niche for himself in this industry. One could focus on Food Delivery Catering, Barbecue Catering, Catering School and Training, Sales of Cakes, Canteen Management, Gourmet Catering, Industrial Catering, Breakfast Catering, Holiday Catering, Wedding Catering, Corporate Catering, Special Events Catering, Hotel/Restaurant Catering, Transport Catering, Welfare Catering, Mobile Catering, Box Lunch Catering, Picnic Catering, Airline Catering, Cocktail Party Catering, Canteen Management, to mention a few.

The Level of Competition in the Industry

Profitability in this sector depends highly on cost effectiveness and marketing. While larger companies seem to be more on the advantageous side as they offer services such as facilities management and entertainment, the smaller companies focus on serving small groups and specialized services.

Depending on the specific niche you want to create for yourself, one would say that there is a lot of competition out there, but in this type of industry it should be quite easier to make your name known, because this industry is about consumer experience. First thing one must do is to make sure the taste and quality of their food is up to standard and the rest is all about marketing.

Like they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, it will be easier to scale over competitors if the foundational product is irresistible, word of mouth is your best advertising tool in this trade.

4. Know Your Major Competitors in the Industry

Usually every industry has brands that have made a positive mark on consumers either by their unique approach to service delivery, customer retention or even by simply being in the industry the longest. Some of these attributes resonate positively with consumers and further facilitates committed patronage.

Below are therefore some of the leading catering service businesses or brands in South Africa;

• Nando’s
• Food for thought
• South Cape Caterers
• Caterers Johanesbourgh
• Country Fresh Catering
• Exquisite Tastes
• Urban Spoon

Economic Analysis

Making profit is one of the major reasons why people go into business and for a business like catering, the odds of losing profits because of lack of cost control is very possible. Anyone who is into this kind of business will tell you that no two jobs are ever the same, being organized is key in making sure expenses are not over stretched. Therefore it will be smart to focus on only things that are directly relevant for every service you want to provide.

It is said to be fairly cheaper to operate from one’s own facility, but the cost of maintenance should also be considered in such a decision.

It is no use especially if you are an events caterer to have permanent staff on your payroll as events may not come on a daily basis. One of the ways to maintain a balanced economic ecosystem is to hire temporary staff. But as the business continues to grow, it will become more expedient to buy equipment of your own and keep your staff close to home.

5. Decide Whether to Buy a Franchise or Start from Scratch

Whichever one you choose, either starting your catering business from the scratch or buying a franchise, success in any of these will depend on the elements that are specific to the choice. For example when you choose to buy a franchise, it may seem that this is a better option because the brand is already accepted by consumers.

The consumers already have their favorite meals, deals and delicacies. Most legal documents and operational policies have already been checked off and have passed, and now it’s just for you to sit back and enjoy the ride to more success, seeing that there is no real need to build again.

But if you are a culinary professional, with recipes and menus of your own, this may not be the best option because a franchise may not accept the vast expression of your culinary prowess. You will not be able to implement your own menus hence clamping back on your true dreams of affecting consumers positively by your food servicing skills

The major challenge with starting your catering business from scratch is acceptance. It may be difficult to have consumers accept you as a viable brand; this acceptance is good because it breeds loyal customers.

Another major thing to take into account when starting from scratch is workers. An already established franchise comes with all these, the positive side of this is that some of these workers may have been working there before you bought the business and they already know how everything works. So the issue of not having the right kind of people can be scaled over. However starting your catering business from scratch will mean you training your workers to meet your standard.

All and all, whichever you choose will depend on your person and your vision. If you like the process of growing, and being able to present your menus as you see fit, trying out new approaches to already known meals, then starting from scratch is your ticket. If on the other hand you simply want to ride on the success of another person’s labor, then buying a franchise is your go to option.

6. Know the Possible Threats and Challenges You Will Face

Going into catering business brings its own challenges and threats some of which centers around other established brands. You will be forced to face brands that already have a large client base and already established presence. These brands have already been accepted by consumers and they do not mind spending millions in advertising and promotional campaigns.

Again getting hard working and competent employees is a threatening factor in setting up your own catering service. Cooking is a skill based activity and requires excellence in its preparation; the truth is not everyone comes on the scene with these skills. You will have to train them to cook your meals exactly the way you do it. This will take time, plus other staff members that may not be placed in the kitchen may equally be difficult to manage.

This is a very tasking job as you will always, either be out there looking for more catering jobs or in the kitchen making sure your cooks are doing things right, especially if you do not have an experienced hand to assist you. Once again you are dealing with a skill based work so execution is very sensitive.

You would have to be a perfectionist because clients are very petty with how they like their meals. Some are very particular about how their meals are prepared, so if there is any trade were perfectionism comes as a top priority it’s this one. You do not want the word to go out that you did not prepare a meal to the standard that is generally accepted.

Quality control and maintenance is also a key threat to this kind of business. Can you imagine ordering food from a catering service and on one occasion it tastes okay, and the other it tastes different. Now I am not saying it tastes bad, just different.

The moment this happens, clients begin to wonder at the state of consistency in quality they would find with that brand. You will have the challenge of making sure that all your meals in their various categories taste the same all the time, else it could be thought that the changing taste is as a result of negative conditions and many will stop patronizing your service.

Other challenges and threats that may affect this kind of business are;

• Constant change in the price of food ingredients
• Event logistics
• Clients complaints and possible lawsuits
• Ensuring safety of food
• Clients ever changing demands
• Clients indecisiveness
• Getting Licenses and permits
• Taxes and Levies

7. Choose the Most Suitable Legal Entity

There are some factors to consider before choosing a legal entity for your catering business and they are, limitation of personal liability, ease of transferability, investor’s expectations etc. Starting this business as a sole proprietorship is one of the best options to begin with, because it will most likely be a business that comes out of your personal passion or skills.

However if you have the vision of becoming much bigger, you can transition into being a Limited Liability Company. Whether or not you choose to go public depends on the scope of your vision. General Partnership is also a great option for this type of business because it gives room for personal creative direction for the business. Entering into this with people of mutual respect is always a welcomed idea.

Limited Liability Companies are more flexible to work with plus you will need managerial formalities like board of directors and shareholders meetings.

8. Choose a Catchy Business Name

There should be a world of catchy phrases that can be used as interesting names to your catering business because it’s about food. Choosing a catchy name should not be difficult because food has to do with part of our existence as human beings. A catchy business name for your catering business may make the difference between patronage and decline.

When thinking of a catchy business name, you can begin to think from the reason why you want to establish the business. You could also play around the idea of the unique niche you want to create for yourself, or even the exact demographic you desire to focus on.

Either way, the name of your business can go a long way to ensure people patronize you. My usual suggestion when it comes to names is to look for names that can easily be pronounced and remembered. If you are therefore considering what names to use when starting your own catering business, here are some names you should try;

• Merry Meals Catering
• Amazing Grace Events Catering
• I Do Catering
• South African Catering
• Exquisite Catering
• Elegant Cuisine Catering
• Taste Buddies Catering
• Wings and Drinks Barbecue

9. Discuss with an Agent to Know the Best Insurance Policies for You

Insurance policies help us stay secure in whatever venture we choose to go into and security is a game changer in any kind of business. When thinking of entering into the catering world, you may need to get insurance policies that protect you from some of the various threats that may be available out there.

For example, you may need to get insurance for your equipment should they be damaged or lost, insurance for the vehicles that do your deliveries or marketing, so on and so forth. Some of the basic insurance policies that you should therefore consider purchasing if you intend starting your own catering business in South Africa are;

• General Insurance
• Overhead expense  Insurance
• Credit  Insurance
• Equipment Insurance
•  Liability Insurance
• Health Insurance
• Workers Compensation
• Business owner’s policy group insurance

10. Protect your Intellectual Property With Trademark, Copyrights, Patents

The major areas where you may want to get Intellectual Property protection and trademark may be in the specific recipes of your menus. When it comes to this kind of business, the taste is the major thing you are selling apart from nutrition value. These meals have to taste a certain way and in this we find that your “secret ingredient” could be a matter of professional trademark.

Your unique recipe is you own discovery of how to prepare the meal and could be considered you intellectual property. Such elements should be protected by you and it is possible for you to file with the corporate affairs commission as your own culinary intellectual property.

11. Get the Necessary Professional Certification

In as much as one can enter into this business without any professional certification, it should be noted that a professional certification would be an upgrade to the perceived credibility of the person or persons in question. There are culinary schools all across South Africa that an aspiring cook can enroll in to receive formal training in the art.

Chef schools are numerous in the area and would be obliged to develop your skills in the art of food servicing. One may need to register with the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa and/or the South African Chef’s Association; of course one may need to be a Certified Chef to qualify for entry.

12. Get the Necessary Legal Documents You Need to Operate

Some of the basic legal documents that you should have in place if you intend running your own catering business in South Africa include;

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Operating Agreements
• Business License
• Business Plan
• Insurance Policy
• Employment Agreement
• Health and Safety License
• Liqour License
• The South African Music Rights Organization (SAMRO) License
• The South African Music Performance Rights Association (SAMPRA) License

13. Raise the Needed Startup Capital

Before one can enter into such a business, they must have cooked for certain people who may have recommended that they go into the business fully. These enthusiasts may make up the initial set of people to receive funds from in order to kick off your catering business.

Depending on how you want to go about it, starting a catering business is not financially intensive. Since you can basically start at home, hire equipment and help, it’s pretty easy to start. However if you want to go at it big time, then more money will need to be pumped into the venture. This means that you must have prepared your business plan.

Some of the financing options you can explore when seeking for start-up capital for your catering business include;

• Raising money from your personal savings and sale of stock
• Market your ideas for business grants and seed funding from angel investors and donor organizations
• Getting soft loan from your family members and friends
• Sale of personal properties if one has them
• Applying for loan from the bank
• Getting the required capital from private investors and business partners

14. Choose a Suitable Location for your Business

Finding a good location for your catering business depends on your type of catering business. For example, if all you do is provide catering services for weddings and events, then you can operate from home as your work station, seeing that you would not be entertaining customers like a restaurant or canteen. Home can be the place where you prepare the meals before transporting them to the event in question. People could contact you through your website or social media accounts.

If you want to run an office catering service, then it will be more advantageous to secure a space in the office complex where you can run you catering business from, workers can come to your restaurant to eat breakfast, lunch and even dinner.

You can even use that as a leverage point to offer catering services for the various luncheons, seminars and events the company may have from time to time. But if you want to have a restaurant standing alone from any corporate complex, then the tides will definitely change drastically.

The rules are now different, and more market research and feasibility studies would have to be taken into account. These are some of the key factors that you should consider before choosing a location for your Catering business;

• The local laws and regulations in the community/state
• Hall that serves as the Restaurant
• Office for your team
• The demography of the location
• The number of catering businesses in the location
• The demand for the services of catering businesses
• The purchasing power and business activities in the location
• Accessibility and road network of the location
• Traffic, Parking and Security

15. Hire Employees for your Technical and Manpower Needs

Although there are no hard and fast rules as to the type of equipment to acquire, below are a few you may need to consider;

• Baking Sheets
• Industrial Gas Cooker
• Standard commercial Oven
• Work Tables
• Kitchen Utensils
• Ingredient Bins
• Cake Decorating Tools

It is good to know that most of these items can be hired. Over the course of time, and as demand continues to increase for your services, you may choose to purchase them. Even if demand isn’t too high, simply having some of the necessary items on the list will prove to make your service delivery more efficient.

When it comes to man power, below are a few offices and people you may want to employ in your catering business;

• Chief Executive Officer
• Admin and Personnel Manager
• Sales and Marketing Officer
• Front Desk Officer
• Cooking Assistant
• Cleaners and Dish Washers

The Service Delivery Process of the Business

Usually the service delivery process of a catering business is payment first, whether the client needs catering services for a wedding or event. Payment must be made first to the company so that they can begin to purchase the items to be prepared for the event.

But if it’s a restaurant or food delivery service, then the food is already made and payment could be made after it has been served. There is no hard and fast rules about service delivery in this business, one can apply the approach that best fits their work.

16. Write a Marketing Plan Packed with ideas & Strategies

Below are some platforms you can use to market your catering business.

• Advertise your business in relevant financial magazines, radio and TV stations
• Introduce your business by sending introductory letters alongside your brochure to all the corporate organizations, households and businesses
• List your business in the local directories
• List your business in the yellow pages.
• Engage the services of marketing executives and business developers to carry out direct marketing
• Utilize the internet to promote your business
• Create different packages for different categories of clients in order to be more specific in meeting their needs.

17. Develop Strategies to Boost Brand Awareness and Create a Corporate Identity

Social media is one of the cheapest ways to bring your catering business to the notice of the public. Online they can see videos of your meals in preparation, see recipes, pictures and the likes. Below are other platforms you can leverage on to boost your brand and advertise your business.

• Ensure that you position your banners and billboards in strategic positions in your city
• Advertise on TV and Radio by Sponsoring programs
• Ensure that all your staff members and management wear your branded items at regular intervals
• Advertise your business on your website; develop strategies that will pull traffic your way.
• Use the direct approach by calling households, start-ups, small and medium scale businesses and the likes of them, informing them of what you do.
• Share Fliers and handbills around the target areas where you have deduced that your business will do well.
• Encourage the use of word of mouth among your loyal consumers.

Catering Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Catering Business Plan Outline

• Catering Business Plan Home
• 1. Executive Summary
• 2. Company Overview
• 3. Industry Analysis
• 4. Customer Analysis
• 5. Competitive Analysis
• 6. Marketing Plan
• 7. Operations Plan
• 8. Management Team
• 9. Financial Plan

Start Your Catering Plan Here

Catering Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your catering business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start a new catering business or grow their catering company.

Below are links to each section of a catering business plan template example:

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Catering Business Plan FAQs

What is a catering business plan.

A catering business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your catering business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your catering business plan using our Catering Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Types of Catering Businesses?

Catering services are available for a variety of different occasions including parties, weddings and corporate events. 

What Are the Main Sources of Revenues and Expenses for a Catering Business?

The primary source of revenue for catering companies is individual, private events and corporate events. 

The key expenses for catering companies are rent, wages and salaries, equipment and food costs.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Catering Company Business Plan?

Catering companies are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Catering Business?

Starting a catering business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Catering Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed business plan for a catering business that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, market resarch on the catering industry, the services or products you will offer, business operations details, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  You can quickly complete your catering business plan using our Catering Business Plan Template here .

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your catering business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your catering business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Catering Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your catering business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your catering business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Catering Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your catering business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your catering business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful catering business and catering business planning:

• How to Start a Catering Business
• How to Start a Catering Company

Where Can I Get a Catering Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free catering business plan template PDF here . This is a sample catering business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Other Helpful Business Plan Templates

Photography Business Plan Template Event Venue Business Plan Template

The How To’s For Running a Successful Catering Business in South Africa

A big part of South African culture is food and hospitality, so entrepreneurs who love their food can really make a go at growing their catering businesses. This is done in a multitude of ways with some choosing to sell food to those who enjoy eating out of establishments and others providing catering to businesses, events and functions. So what does a successful caterer need to know in order to grow their catering business in the current climate? 

Key ways to improve your catering business

To grow your catering business, start with the obvious: Bring new and original dining options to your customer base. Consider reinventing old South African favourites and putting a fresh twist on traditional local cuisine. Choices like koeksister s, bunny chow and bobotie are brimming with possibilities when viewed through a creative lens. Always make sure that whatever you try, you will excite your customer and work in line with their taste preferences. Show your dedication to them with introductory calls, follow-ups and the willingness to take constructive criticism. 

Plan effectively

Ensure that you always plan ahead and are equipped with timelines, schedules and contingency plans. This includes listing all items required to complete a job, ensuring you are good to go in spite of food or staff shortages and that you have correctly calculated all your costs. Also factor in delivery times and equipment requirements for each and every job. 

Reinvention: A big money spinner

Not only can you reinvent what you make, but you can also find ways to extend your business to further meet your customer’s needs. This may take the form of supplying products and services to partners at events. You might add a coffee station, furniture rental or mobile bar unit. Each of these items could bolt onto your existing offering and you can simply upsell to the same customer when catering an event. 

Manage inventory effectively

Ensure that all your menu items have a corresponding inventory list so you can easily multiply accurately for bulk orders. This will require you to correctly measure your ingredients and calculate the costs for each ingredient. Add these together to get an accurate cost per item. If your operation is big enough, consider getting software to manage this process for you. 

Run a competitor analysis

It makes logical sense to make sure that you know exactly what your competition is up to. You can gather this info in various ways like gleaning competitor websites, understanding their pricing, interviewing customers, getting a sense of their look and feel and following them on social media. 

Market your business

Consider innovative ways to market your business like hosting tasting events, marketing to corporates, getting into the engagement and wedding circuit and working with charity organisations. Social media campaigns can help you target these audiences effectively. Always make sure that your campaigns are attention-grabbing and visually appealing with a strong call-to-action that will drive traffic. As people eat with their eyes, food is perfectly positioned for social media so take lots of pics and share them generously with your followers.

The bottom line

South Africans love their food and so there is no reason why you can’t be maximising on this natural affiliation when it comes to your catering business. While these changes may require some investment, Merchant Capital can offer you quick working capital in as little as 48 hours. Contact us t oday to find out how we can fund your foodie ambitions. 

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Catering Company Business Plan

Start your own catering company business plan

Fressen Catering

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">, opportunity.

The Philadelphia kosher catering market is an interesting one.  Recently they have discovered they really like and need kosher food. It’s healthy its organic and its a “clean” way to eat. It helps keep people healthy. People are in need of really good food.

Fressen will occupy a niche in the kosher catering market that offers new, creative menu items, broadening people’s conception of kosher food.  This market consists of two target segments that are differentiated by household income.

The kosher catering business in Philadelphia is fairly unique.  At the low- to mid-price point of the cost spectrum, there are four other kosher caters.  These caterers tend to serve the part of the market that must have kosher food served at an occasion due to religious beliefs, but struggle to able to afford the cost variance between standard and kosher catering.  All four of these caters have fairly standard menu offerings.  There is a fifth caterer that also serves the lower end of the market (defined as middle class) but serves the high end of the market as well.  Although there is a large wealthy population in Philadelphia that follows the laws of kashrut, they have been underserved.

Competition

Fressen Catering’s competitive edge is its attention to servicing customers and inventive approach to kosher cuisine. Fressen’s customer attention differentiates them in the world of kosher catering which is dominated by several companies that have plenty of demand.  The consequence of market demand is a decreased pressure to accommodate customers. Fressen is approaching the market as if there was significant competition between the different service providers.  By making customer satisfaction a priority, over time, local customers will come to appreciate the attention that their needs are given and form a long lasting relationship with Fressen Catering.

Fressen Catering’s mission is to provide the customer with the finest kosher catering.  We exist to attract and maintain customers.  When we adhere to this maxim, everything else will fall into place.  Our services will exceed the expectations of our customers.

Expectations

Fressen Catering is forecasted to make a profit by year 3. It will be up and running and well-staffed and able to sustain employees and Susan. By year 4 Susan will be able to repay the loan of 90,000 back to friends and family

Financial Highlights by Year

Financing needed.

This business needs $130,000. Susan will put in $40,000 and friends and family will kick in $90,000.

Problem & Solution

Problem worth solving.

The Philadelphia kosher catering market is an interesting one.  There are several caters that offer services that are quite similar to each other in terms of price and menu options. In the past consumers would not welcome new kosher menu items, it is just that people have incorrectly made the assumption that kosher meals have to be boring. Recently they have discovered they really like and need kosher food. 

Our Solution

Fressen Catering’s mission is to provide the customer with the finest kosher catering.  We exist to attract and maintain customers.  When we adhere to this maxim, everything else will fall into place.  Our services will exceed the expectations of our customers.

Target Market

Market Size & Segments

Market Segmentation

Fressen Catering has two distinct target populations:

• Middle class kosher clients. This group of people does not have huge amounts of disposable income, recognizes that it is costly to sponsor a kosher dinner party, and is willing to incur the expenses, but will try to minimize them.
• Upper class kosher clients. This group has intertwined kosher values throughout their lives and is willing to spend whatever it takes to throw a high-end kosher dinner function.  Typically, this group is characterized by a wealthy one-income family where the male works and the female does not.  The female of the household typically thoroughly enjoys the planning of these events.

The target market segment strategy will not be significantly different to address the two different groups. Both groups, regardless of income typically belong to the same group of religious congregations. Therefore, to reach the different groups does not require a distinctly different strategy. What differentiation it will require is different menu offerings needed to satisfy the different groups. The upper-end menu items are cost prohibitive for the middle class target segment.

Current Alternatives

As stated in the previous section, there are four other kosher caterers that serve the low to middle end of the market.  These caterers compete to some degree on cost (due to budget constraints of some clients), but more so on service.  The quality and the serving of the food are the main areas of service that the caterers compete on. 

There is one high-end caterer who will compete with Fressen.  This caterer, while serving the upper-end market, does not provide its clients with upper-end service. This company is not a strong competitor because of their overpriced service offerings relative to the service provided, and its business has been declining over the last few years. Lastly, one competitor for the high-end market is kosher caterers from New York City.  When cost is no object, there are many people that are willing to pay the additional cost of bringing in the caterer from NYC.

The buying habits of consumers of kosher catering is to some degree price sensitive at the middle end of the market.  Between two different service providers, the middle class group will choose the service provider with the best services.  However, cost is certainly an issue and some of the caterers are not even options because they are priced out of this consumer groups price range. The buying habits for the high end of the market is price insensitive.  Choices are made by menu offerings, reputation, and attention to service.

Our Advantages

Fressen Catering’s competitive edge is its attention to servicing customers and inventive approach to kosher cuisine. Fressen’s customer attention differentiates them in the world of kosher catering which is dominated by several companies that have plenty of demand.  The consequence of market demand is a decreased pressure to accommodate customers. Fressen is approaching the market as if there was significant competition between the different service providers.  By making customer satisfaction a priority, over time, local customers will come to appreciate the attention that their needs are given and form a long lasting relationship with Fressen Catering.

Fressen’s other competitive edge is their nouveau cuisine approach to kosher food. Traditionally, kosher food has remained stable and unimaginative for a long time.  Most people believe that there are large compromises that must be made when serving kosher. These compromises need not be made however, and Fressen is changing these misperceptions.  Just because there are strict rules regarding the types of foods that may be used and the way it must be prepared does not eliminate creativity.  Fressen is taking their knowledge of nouveau cuisine and creating inventive, colorful, and delicious kosher alternatives.

Keys to Success

How we will get there will be our business objectives which are: 

• To create a service-based company whose primary goal is to exceed customer’s expectations.
• To increase the number of client’s served by 20% per year through superior service.
• To develop a sustainable start-up business.
• To develop enough cash flow to pay all salaries as well as grow the business.

Marketing & Sales

Marketing plan.

Fressen’s marketing strategy will be based on developing visibility among Philadelphia’s kosher community.  This will be accomplished through three main efforts.

The first is social media. Facebook and Twitter, with useful posts offering information about Philadelphia, information about events, cuisine, and so forth. We need a consistent presence, with useful content, and no clutter. This is of course related to the third effort, below, of word of mouth. Social media is word of mouth on steroids. 

The second is a targeted advertising campaign.  Advertisements will be placed in various Jewish newsletters. There are a couple of Philadelphia-wide newsletters. Additionally, Fressen will advertise in a few Synagogue-specific newsletters. These advertisements should yield a decent amount of service inquiries since they are fairly targeted toward the target population that utilizes kosher catering.

The third is a networking campaign among the Philadelphia Jewish population.  Susan has been an active member of the Philadelphia Jewish community for five years.  While the Jewish population is of decent size, numbering around 200,000, it is a fairly close knit community where people tend to know each other.  Susan will leverage her contacts within the Jewish community to raise awareness for her catering activities.  While the networking might not cast as large of a net as advertisements will, it costs far less and the relationships that it builds will be far stronger because of the trust relationship that has already been established. And it will synch well with social media. 

Fressen’s sales strategy will use a combination of superior customer attention and a comprehensive repertoire of dishes for the menu to turn information seekers into customers.  Susan recognizes when a prospective customer calls to get information about Fressen, it is Susan’s main opportunity to turn them into a customer.  She will do this by spending as much time on the phone as necessary. 

Another benefit that Susan will leverage to develop sales is her comprehensive menu.  In addition to all of the traditional kosher dishes, Susan will offer many innovative nouveau cuisine kosher items that she has developed over her years spent in the culinary industry.  An innovative available menu should be seen as a large benefit.  There is no intuitive or logical reason that people who adhere to kosher are any less adventurous when it comes to food other than the fact that they have been raised that way.

Locations & Facilities

Fressen will rent space for the office and kitchen in an industrial area of Philadelphia.  Renting in the industrial area will significantly lower the cost. Since the space will be used for food production it is not relevant for the store front to be aesthetically pleasing, or in a nice neighborhood.

Milestones & Metrics

Milestones table.

Key Metrics

• Increase the # of customers who appreciate our food 
• Increase the # of tweets and reviews telling people to come into our store 
• # of return customers, they will be the majority of our sales 
• Facebook page views, Facebook shares and google searches which turn up our website. 

Ownership & Structure

Fressen catering is a high end kosher catering to the Philadelphia community owned and run by Susan Chefily. 

Management Team

Susan Cheflly, the founder and owner received her Bachelor of Arts from  the University of Pittsburgh.   After college, Susan went to work in the restaurant industry because it was a good source of money.  While serving at an upscale restaurant in Pittsburgh, Susan befriended one of the chefs there who began to teach her cooking techniques.  Susan began to find this instruction very interesting and enjoyable.  After six months of this tutoring, Susan decided that she wanted to remain in the restaurant industry, but wanted to learn the skills needed to be a chef.  Susan decided to enter the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute, a well-regarded training school for chefs.  Susan completed the one year program and graduated near the top of her class. 

With this education, Susan went to work as a chef at one of the nicer nouveau cuisine restaurants in Philadelphia.  Susan thoroughly enjoyed the five years spent as head chef, but she longed to work for herself, running her own business.  Susan thought she would appreciate the ability to set her own hours, to be her own boss.  One day, while in temple, the thought hit her that she could operate a kosher catering company and do well because the upper-end of the market has been largely ignored by the current competitors.  With this thought in mind, Susan began to do market research.  After speaking with many different people as well as holding three focus groups, she recognized that her idea was viable and started writing this business plan.

Personnel Table

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

Key assumptions.

With experience and after doing research we assume the following is true: 

1- there is a need for high quality kosher food in philadelphia 

2 – we will be serving a higher end income population 

3 – we have the knowledge and equipment to give our customers clean and kosher food. 

Revenue by Month

Expenses by month, net profit (or loss) by year, use of funds.

Fressen Catering will incur the following start-up costs:

• Two commercial stoves with ovens.
• Dishwasher.
• Two sets of cookware.
• Two sets of dishware.
• One van with rolling racks built in (a rolling rack is a wheeled rolling cart system that is insulated for both hot and cold food).
• Assorted serving trays and utensils, knives and cutting boards (two each). 
• Desk and chair.
• Computer with printer, CD-RW, Microsoft Office, and QuickBooks Pro. 
• Copier and fax machine.

Please note that the following items which are considered assets to be used for more than a year will be labeled long-term assets and will be depreciated using G.A.A.P. approved straight-line depreciation method.

Sources of Funds

Susan will be contributing 40000. Susan’s  friends and family will be contributing 90,000 to the business

Projected Profit & Loss

Projected Balance Sheet

Projected Cash Flow Statement

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What is a business plan.

The written plan of goals you want to achieve with your business, and how you want to achieve them, is called a business plan. It is a decision-making tool used when beginning or extending a venture.

Any new business requires a business plan to ensure that the business can make a profit. Fund-seeking entrepreneurs use a formal business plan to convince investors to contribute towards the capital of the business.

Existing businesses – looking to expand or change the business – also use business plans to prospect for new business, attract key employees or deal with suppliers. By revising their business plan regularly, existing companies can devise strategies to manage their companies better.

Most commonly, a business plan is used to apply for a bank loan to fund a business. To learn how to create a business plan for a bank in South Africa, see FNB and Standard Bank’s business plan guidelines. You can also download Standard Bank’s free business plan template in Word or PDF format.

A business plan consists of three primary parts:

• The business concept – details about the industry, the structure of the business, the product or service and the strategy for the success of the business.
• The marketplace section – an analytical description of potential customers and the strategy for achieving success against competitors.
• The financial section – the income and cash flow statement, balance sheet and other financial information.

The length of a business plan varies depending on the nature of the business and the purpose of the business plan. Typically, a business plan is 15 to 20 pages long. It usually details the goals for the business for the next three to five years.

An important part of compiling a business plan is in-depth research into the market and industry. Try to gain as much insight into the market you are targeting by talking to business owners, suppliers, potential customers, existing customers, staff members, business experts, etc. Also, research the industry online.

Business plan format

Although there are several types, the key components of all business plans are essentially the same. The format varies based on who the intended reader of the business plan is. Here is an example of a standard business plan format:

1. Table of Contents (1 page)

The table of contents page should include the correct page numbers of the sections of the business plan. Therefore, it is best to write this page last. In addition to the table of contents page, the plan must also have a cover and a title page.

2.  Executive Summary (2 pages)

The purpose of the executive summary of a business plan is to entice the reader to read the rest of the plan. The executive summary is an overview of the key aspects of the plan. It should be compelling but also concise.

The executive summary should include:

• the business concept (a description of the business, product, market and target market);
• key financial aspects (sales, profits, cash flows, investment returns and capital requirements); and
• a short company overview (type of company, date formed, owners and key personnel and achievements).

3. Company Overview (1 – 2 pages)

This section is a high-level overview of the company and the industry in which it operates. It is a description of the business, the product and the industry.

The following should be included in the company overview:

• The name of the company and the type of ownership and registration;
• Details about the business location (address, zoning, reason for choosing location, monthly rentals, etc.)
• Significant assets and financial contributions to the business;
• The mission statement of the business;
• Company objectives and goals;
• The main features of the industry in which the business will operate;
• The most important company strengths and core competencies;
• An explanation of the product, target market and profitability of the plan.

4. The Opportunity, Industry and Market Description (2 – 3 pages)

The research you conducted will come into play in this section. This section offers a detailed explanation of the market and industry and the business’ position therein.

They key is to determine who your target market is through a market analysis. Then clearly explain how your products/services will fulfil the needs of your target market. A market analysis also helps to determine pricing, distribution strategies and growth potential within the industry.

Describe the following:

• The opportunity – the gap in the market;
• The industry – the forces affecting the industry (i.e. obstacles to entry, customers, suppliers, substitute products and competition); and
• The market – insights into the target market (i.e. size, growth and trends).

5. Strategy (1-2 pages)

Detail your positioning strategy and how the business will compete in the chosen market. In other words, what is unique about your product/service and how will the target market benefit from what you have to offer.

6. Business Model Explanation (1 page)

The business model depicts how the business will make money/profit. A business model covers the following aspects:

• Sources of revenue;
• Costs involved in generating the revenue;
• The profitability of the business (revenue minus costs);
• The investment required to get the business up and running; and
• Success factors and assumptions for making the profit model work.

7. Management and Organisation (2 pages)

The biographies of the members of your management team and their roles in the business. Who will be responsible for running the business and why are they well-suited to the task?

This section should include:

• The founders of the company and their qualifications and experience;
• The day-to-day management team and their individual competencies and responsibilities;
• The type of support staff needed to run the business; and
• An organisational chart to show the management hierarchy.

8. Marketing Plan (2 – 3 pages)

The marketing plan is a comprehensive explanation of your marketing strategy. In other words, how will you sell your service/product to your target market?

Your marketing plan should include:

• The value of your product/service to customers;
• A detailed description of the target market;
• How you want your target market to perceive your product/service;
• The pricing strategy for the product/service;
• Sales and distribution channels that will be used to get the product/service to the customer; and
• The promotion strategy (budget, public relations activities, promotions, advertising, etc.).

9. Operational Plan (2 pages)

The operational plan is a description of how the business will function. Include a description of the following:

• The operating cycle – how the business will deliver the service or create and sell the product;
• How skills and materials will be sourced;
• Which tasks will be outsourced and how business relationships will be managed; and
• The cash payment cycle of the business.

10. Financial Plan (3 – 5 pages)

A very important part of any business plan is the financial plan. It is a reasonable projection of the company’s financial future.

A good financial plan will determine how much capital the business needs to launch and/or grow. This section is especially important to potential investors and banks – who will determine the odds for the continued survival of the company based on this information.

A financial plan should include:

• Start-up expenses and capital: What it would cost to start/grow the company and how the money will be generated.
• Profit and loss projections/income statement : Financial sales and expenses projections (i.e. income, cost of goods, gross profit margin, net profit, total expenses, etc.).
• Cash flow projection: Reflects how much cash will be needed to cover expenses and when it will be needed. The cash flow projection amounts to a profit or loss at the end of each month or year.
• A balance sheet: A summary of the business’ equity, assets and liabilities.
• A break-even calculation

Income statements and cash flow projections must be generated for every month of the first year, every quarter of the second year and annually for every year thereafter. The balance sheet is only generated on an annual basis.

Short summaries of the analyses of the income statement, cash flow projection and balance sheet must also be included. Do not include too much detail in this section. Additional projections, charts and calculations must be added to the Appendix.

11. Appendix

Additional reference documents are included in the appendix. This could include:

• Brochures and advertising materials;
• Industry studies and market research;
• Plans and blueprints;
• Photos and maps of location;
• Magazine or other articles;
• Detailed lists of equipment owned or to be purchased;
• Copies of leases and contracts;
• Letters of support from future customers;
• List of assets available as collateral for a loan; and/or
• Detailed financial calculations and projections.

Find more business plan examples and templates from Entrepreneur Magazine .

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Small Catering Business Plan

Establishing your own small catering business is not easy, but it is certainly not impossible. There are numerous factors involved when setting up your own catering business , but if you are determined enough, then there is no reason for you to fail. But before you even start to purchase raw materials and ingredients for your catering business, you first need to create a business plan .

• 10+ Restaurant and Catering Business Plan Examples
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To help you create a business plan, here are some small catering business plan examples you can use as reference. They are also free to download!

Catering Business Plan Design Example

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Mobile Food Small Catering Business Plan Example

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Tips in Creating a Small Catering Business Plan

Listed below are some important tips in creating a small catering business plan. Make sure to follow these tips so that you can create an effective business plan for your catering business.

1. Start off with a business profile

Similar to other business plan templates , it always begins with a short profile of the company. In this case, begin your catering business plan with a short background of your catering business. List down the name of your business, the dishes you cook, your target market, organizational structure, physical address, and online media profile (website and social media).

The business profile is very helpful when you will be introducing the company to the readers of your business plan , especially to your clients and external stakeholders. It gives the readers a background of your company which eliminates the need on your end to explain in detail the company profile to the readers, unless they request that you sit down with them to discuss the background and operations of the company.

2. Focus on marketing

One subsection of a business plan that carries the most weight in a business plan is the marketing plan . Although there are some companies that create a marketing plan as a separate entity, a marketing plan incorporated in a business plan is the most common form of marketing plan since a business plan analyzes different business aspects and functions such as sales, marketing, accounting, human resource, etc.

Take note that marketing does not only focus on advertising and promotion, but it also discusses how products are made (raw materials used, processes included in creating the product, etc.) and how products impact and provide benefits to customers.

Marketing also delves on strategic planning and what strategic methods to use to improve sales and eventually profit. Some of the popular strategic planning methods that companies use include SWOT analysis , PESTLE analysis, balanced scorecard, growth-share matrix, and Porter’s five forces.

3. Create financial forecasts

Financial forecasts is also important for any business plan, especially since you want to create calculated predictions on how your product will perform in the market. Financial forecasts also serve as a guide or blueprint on the financial goals you want to achieve for your company. There are numerous financial tools you can use, but there are other tools that are complicated and requires an accountant to compute and analyze.

Do not hesitate to hire a licensed third-party accountant to create your financial forecasts, especially if you have struggles creating the forecast for yourself and your company.

Executive Summary Small Catering Business Plan Example

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Easy Business Plan Template for Small Catering Example

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Intro for Catering Small Business Plan Example

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Easy-to-Make Dishes You Can Serve for Your Catering Business

Listed below are some easy-to-make dishes you can serve for your guests in your catering business. You don’t have to make it difficult for yourself and your kitchen staff when making dishes. Remember that taste is still king and guests will enjoy more if they are familiar with the ingredients or flavors. You may also see business plan guidelines examples .

1. Caesar Salad

To start off with your appetizer, go for a crowd favorite. Remember when serving Caesar salad in a party or gathering, separate all the ingredients in different bowls or plates and avoid mixing the ingredients together and serving them directly to guests. A number of guests may not prefer some of the ingredients, so it is highly suggested that you separate all the ingredients beforehand and let the guests mix the ingredients by themselves. You may also like business operational plan examples .

Take note of these essential Caesar salad ingredients before serving them to your guests: lettuce, Parmesan cheese, croutons, cherry tomatoes, bacon bits, and Caesar salad dressing (made of garlic, pepper, mustard, vinegar, mayonnaise, olive oil, and lemon juice).

Caesar salad alternatives:  Cobb salad, Israeli salad, Mediterranean chicken salad

Tacos is another crowd favorite which is easy to make. You have the option to separate the ingredients similar to the Caesar salad or assemble the ingredients ahead of time so that the guests can easily pick them out during the party or gathering. There are only four main ingredients to the classic Mexican Taco: the taco shell, meat filling, grated cheese, and salsa. You may also check out hotel business plan examples .

To create the meat filling, you only need ground pork or beef, minced onions and garlic, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and oregano. Mix all the ingredients together until the meat is cooked. For the taco salsa meanwhile, mix together tomatoes, onions, jalapeno chili, lime, salt and pepper. Tacos are certainly one of the easiest dishes to make, but is also one of the most delicious. You might be interested in market analysis business plan examples .

Taco alternatives: burritos, quesadillas, nachos

3. Gyoza and Sushi

Why not go international with your dishes? Give your guests a taste of Japan with a gyoza and sushi combination. You don’t have to serve the two dishes in the menu, but the more the choices your guests have, the better. Gyoza and sushi are also very easy to make and don’t require expensive ingredients just to have a great tasting flavor. You may also see how to do market analysis of a business plan .

Gyoza is a form of dumpling where ground pork mixed with cabbage and other seasoning is wrapped inside a wrapper, which is then fried (or steamed). Sushi meanwhile has different variations, but the most popular ones are the rice balls wrapped in nori and the rice balls attached to a slice of raw fish. Either way, both variations are delicious and your guests will certainly be munching on them until they look like Japanese themselves! You may also like business plan outline with examples .

Gyoza and sushi alternatives: sashimi, tempura, takoyaki, yakisoba

4. Grilled Food (Pork, Beef, or Seafood)

Grilled food is probably the safest choice of food to serve in a party. But safe doesn’t have to mean the food is bland or overly simple. Grilling prime grade beef or fresh seafood may not require five-star chef skills, but grilled food is definitely the most beloved dish of millions of people around the world. You may also check out implementation plan examples .

Even if you’re a vegetarian, there are certainly times that you just want to eat a whole slab of steak. The secret is definitely in the aroma.

Once you get the smell of meat starting to cook in char coaled flames and being subsequently rubbed by home-made barbecue sauce (which by the way you can serve as a side as long as the sauce was not used to flavor the raw meat in the grill), there is really just no stopping from the gastronomic experience that’s about to come. You might be interested in evaluation plan examples .

Here are some of the best meat cuts and seafood to grill: chicken or turkey, flank steak, top loin, tenderloin (pork or beef), T-bone steak, sirloin, ground beef, veal, pork chop, lobster, shrimp, scallops, oysters

Grilled food alternatives:  kebab, baked chicken, pan seared beef, fried chicken, burger steak, fish fillet

5. Mini Cheesecake Cupcakes

What’s better than a cheesecake? A mini cheesecake cupcake! These are basically bite sized versions of the famous dessert which originated from Greece.

Cheesecakes are considered to be elegant desserts, but you don’t have to break the bank since ingredients for this sinful indulgence won’t cost you much and all of your guests can enjoy a bite due to their small sizes. Additionally, your guests will be looking for something sweet after consuming large chunks of meat, hence the mini cheesecake cupcake is your best option. You may also see advertising and marketing business plan examples .

Mini cheesecake cupcake alternatives: red velvet cupcakes, vanilla and chocolate cupcakes, fresh fruit slices

6. Ice Cream

The last entry in this list is everyone’s favorite dessert —ice cream. Take note that making ice cream is very easy, but you need to invest a significant amount for a quality ice cream maker. Mixing ice cream ingredients together and placing them in a freezer afterward will not result into ice cream that everyone loves to eat on a hot summer day (or during midnight when you want to sneak out for some cold and sweet snacks).

You can start off by serving the most basic flavors such as vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate. You can also serve different flavors together and prepare additional syrup, sprinkles, and peanuts in which guests can make some decadent ice cream sundaes. You may also see food catering business plan examples .

Ice cream alternatives:  yogurt, parfait, cookies

Small Catering Business Write-up Intro Example

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We hope you found this article to be informative and helpful when you will be creating your own small catering business plan.

A catering business is similar to a restaurant, but instead of customers coming to you, you will be going to your customers. Catering businesses also require you to cook by bulk, which contrasts to a restaurant where two servings are divided on a daily basis. You may also see event operational plan examples .

As previously mentioned, setting up a catering business can be tricky at times since there are numerous factors involved. But as long as you do enough research and follow the tips (and use the examples) we stated above, then your catering business will truly be a success. You may also like company plan examples .

Also, if you are determined enough then there is no reason for you to fail. But before you even start to purchase raw materials and ingredients for your catering business, you first need to create a  business plan .

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Launching a catering or small catering businesses plan can be tricky for new business owners. You need to have the right financial resources, marketing strategy, and more to present your investors or bank. We prepared every content you need to launch your food service or catering company with our food catering business sample plan templates. The catering templates also provide a format and sample content suitable for launching other food businesses like a food truck or a mobile kitchen.

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No Food, No Party

Tips in managing a food catering business.

• Go realistic with the budget proposed . Make sure that you discuss the costs well with them so that you can understand why not everything is possible. Negotiate on the simple menu while taking note of your budget sample. There may be some dishes you need to give up for something more practical. That way, you will be able to accommodate everyone on your guest sample list . You would not want to end up at the party running short on food.
• Lay out your payment process . The arrangement about the date is something that should be agreed on, and the security you get out of the payment it entails. You do not want to end up surprising your sheet client with another sizable bill at the last minute. It is important that they are aware of the total cost of the service and everything it includes. Customers should also be firm about knowing this straight up. Encourage your client to be honest about their sample budget because you do not want to be producing a buffet for a king’s court out of nothing.
• Communicate the terms properly with your clients . In doing so, ask them not to risk stretching their finances thin just because they want it to be perfect. Be honest. Let them know that they will still be able to have a wonderful printable menu with a package that is ideal for them and the number of guests they plan to have. You should be able to let them know what your options are or you can offer you something that will suit their needs while being realistic.

Importance of A Catering Business Plan

Top tips for catering business planning.

• Only Sell Dreams If You Can Make Them Real . Couples, especially brides have dream weddings, corporate leaders and guests on inviting company events have expectations, birthday celebrants have perfect birthday dreams and by all means, you can sell them dreams if you can live up to making it a reality on the day of the event. This is why your business plan format would matter. It’s something that will serve as your reference when the situation calls for it, and with weddings, that practically happens all the time. You’re selling dreams but you can still be realistic no matter how much you want to give them what they want. At the end of the day, you can really only give them what their simple budget allows, while you can still profit from it.
• Invest On Training And Experience . Before you start having a food catering business plan Word of your own, it is always better to learn the ropes by working with the area’s most reputable caterers. Firsthand exposure to this kind of business allows you to pay attention to small details, the challenges you’re likely to face, risks involved, bottlenecks, and a lot of grey areas without having to squander your hard-earned money at the first opportunity of opening your own. An experience like this will not only make you learn valuable tricks of the trade but will also be a good chance for you to assess your preparedness in embarking on this type of business venture. How badly do you really want this? Why do you want this? Is it to prove to others you can, or do you really see yourself thriving? Those are the important questions you need to ask yourself before making your investment templates .
• Write A Detailed description Of Your Catering Service . This would include the kind of food you want to prepare, especially the specialty of the house. Obviously, catering businesses are all about food, but it’s still important to define what your business goals are and how you plan to achieve them. In doing so, you’re giving investors a feeling of confidence that you’re serious about your business activity plan, no matter what it takes, and that you’re ready to take on the challenges of competition in such a tough market.
• Make A List of The Services You Provide . Some catering services have staff that serves guests at the table while others prefer to give meals buffet-style where guests are free to choose from a variety of food, depending on what they decided with the event coordinator or host. Usually, the menu planner would include beverages and desserts. Provide a list of specific types of food you can serve on specific occasions, celebrations with their specific themes. Be flexible. Tell them you can serve Asian, Italian, French, or Mexican cuisine and provide a modern menu to literally give them a taste of what you can cook.

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