Case Studies...
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A Log Cabin for Your Business
Many caterers work from home, just like other business owners. Space can be a problem and renting premises or moving home can be expensive. What is the option? Rather than extend the property why not ...
Accused of Food Poisoning Wedding Guests: A Case Study
Jenny Jones ran a successful celebration cake company and had gradually built up her business over five years. Everything was going to plan until the day she took a telephone call advising her that fi...
Are You Business Minded or a Caterer?
Many people who work in the catering industry dream of setting up their own business. If this is your own dream you must decide whether you have a business mind or are more suited to working as a cate...
Budget Party Boxes
When money is tight caterers are an expense that can sometimes be dropped so by offering a budget service clients may be retained and new ones found....
Buying a Catering Franchise
Another option when thinking of buying a business is to purchase a franchise. A franchise package can vary from seller to seller but basically consists of the authority to sell a particular item or se...
Buying an Established Catering Business
Purchasing an existing catering business could be the ideal venture for someone who wants to hit the ground running with a business that has a turnover from one day....
Buying an Existing Business
When thinking of starting your own catering business you may have the opportunity to purchase a business that is already established. This could be very appealing but careful thought should be made be...
Cake Making and Baked Products
When starting a catering business it may pay to specialise. If you have a particular cooking skill or indeed a favourite catering past time perhaps this is what you should specialise in when starting ...
Catering for Meals on Wheels
So many people rely on relatives or local council services to supply a hot meal when they are bedridden or unable to shop on a regular basis. With cut backs in services and sometimes not having family...
Catering Equipment Needed
When setting up your catering business there will be catering equipment that you require in order to ensure your business runs as smoothly as possible....
Catering for a Tea Room or Cafe
Many people have the dream of owning a tea room or cafe where they can supply tea and cakes or other delightful meals in pleasant surroundings. You may not yet own your dream catering establishment bu...
Catering for a Transport Cafe
When deciding to purchase a transport cafe one should never think of the image of dusty car parks and greasy spoons establishments. In the days when people are becoming tired of motorway service stati...
Catering for Bars & Pubs
When you have started your catering business remember to always be on the lookout for ways to increase your turnover. One way to do this is to cater for pubs and bars. When supplying catering services...
Catering for Bistros and Wine Bars
When running a catering business consider approaching wine bars and bistros to see if they would be interested in hiring your catering services to supply quality food to their customers....
Catering for Corporate Functions
Catering for corporate functions covers a multitude of different occasions. You could be catering for ten people one moment at a small intimate dinner party and supplying bacon butties to thousands in...
Catering for Dinner Parties
These days’ people have such busy it not always possible for them to be able to cook in their homes. This has created a market for the supply of dinner party and other celebration foods ready to eat. ...
Catering for Parties in the Home
With more people cutting back on entertainment and staying home to celebrate family events the caterer must try to find a way of taking their business to the customer....
Catering for Restaurants
Your catering plans may include running a restaurant or just supplying food to restaurants but whatever your catering plans are ensure that you have done your research before spending any of your hard...
Catering for Themed Events
When planning your catering business consider covering themed events as part of your catering services. Offering a themed event service will give you a wider customer base to your event catering busin...
Catering for Unusual Events
There are many events that require food for the members of public that are attending it’s just a matter of finding them....
Catering in a Guest House
With more people than ever holidaying in the UK the old fashioned guest house is facing a resurgence of interest with holidaymakers....
Catering Trade Fairs: a Good Thing or a Bad Thing?
Trade fairs and exhibitions can be good business for a catering company but are they cost effective?...
Catering Uniforms and Laundry
The uniforms that you catering staff wear will reflect the professionalism of your business and should therefore be kept in pristine order and look clean at all times. Dirty scruffy clothes will give ...
Catering Work Wear
When running a catering business you should consider what your staff are going to wear while carrying out their duties. Catering staff need clothing and aprons that will protect their own clothes and ...
Cheese Making and Dairy Products
A slightly unusual way to run a catering business would be to make and supply cheese and other dairy products. By supplying these products either to the public direct or to restaurants and caterers yo...
Christmas: A Lucrative Time for Caterers
When many people are looking forward to a holiday, caterers can find they are working harder than ever. With a little planning in the summer months Christmas can be a very lucrative time for those in ...
Cleanliness in the Catering Industry
When running a catering business it is essential that cleanliness is observed at all times. You and your staff should be trained in all health and hygiene matters as not to do so would put your future...
Cooking From Your Home
Working from home when you are in the catering trade can be a help especially if you have a young family to take care of. But there are considerations to be made being undertaking this venture....
Coping When a Business Partner Leaves
Having a business partner share the workload in business can save a lot of stress and worry. When that partner leaves for whatever reason you will have to decide whether to go it alone or find someone...
Create a Business Website
Whatever type of business you own a website will promote your company and improve communications with your clients....
Creating a Corporate or Brand Identity
When running your catering business you hope that eventually your business name will instantly make give customers a positive image and identity you above others in the same trade and encourage potent...
Do It Yourself PR
PR or Public Relations to the uninitiated, seems to be something that no company can live without these days. Your business like any other will need a person or indeed a company to represent them in t...
Employee Was Stealing from My Cafe: A Case Study
Sarah James talks to us about how her employee was stealing from her and how she went about reporting the crime....
Finding a Regular Supplier
When running a catering business you need to know that when you order an item from your supplier it is going to be in stock. If a supplier lets you down too often it is time to look for a new supplier...
Finding Business Premises
Whether the premises for your catering business are to be open to customers or just a kitchen for outside catering its location is important. Before leasing or purchasing the business premises you mus...
Finding Catering and Waiting Staff
When running a catering business the backbone of the company is its staff. You need to have reliable staff whether they are temporary staff or agency staff....
Finding New and Repeat Customers
When running your catering business it is ideal if you are able to have a base of loyal customers. But first you have to consider how to find potential customers and indeed how to keep customers....
Fire Safety in a Restaurant
The risk of fire in a restaurant is quite high. It is not just the ovens and flames from grills and hobs that are the danger but the amount of electrical equipment and cleaning fluids that could ignit...
Food Storage Options
Food storage is an important part of running your catering business. If you and your staff do not observe hygiene rules when handling food you are likely to cause serious food poisoning amongst your c...
Free Publicity for Your Business
When running a catering business you will need as much publicity as possible. This way you will gain new clients and your turnover will increase. Publicity costs so if you are able to find ways to pro...
Guidelines When Selling Alcohol
For any person intending to open a restaurant the sale of alcohol will play a big part in the turnover of the business. The sale of alcohol means that the restaurant owner will have to follow many gui...
Hiring and Firing Catering Staff
The success of any company rests in the efficiency of its staff. Your staff are the face of the company and if they do not perform in an acceptable manor then business will suffer....
Hiring Family to Help Your Business
When you start a business every penny is needed there is no time for mistakes and start up costs can be high. One way to keep your overheads down is to use family as part of your labour force....
I Started My Own Wedding Catering Business: A Case Study
Sometimes, a chance conversation or helping someone out can lead to something big. This was the case for Irene King. One day she was a part time catering assistant in the village school the next she h...
I Turned My Front Parlour Into a Tea Room: A Case Study
Kate Darling thought that when she bought her thatched cottage in Devon she would spend her time painting the beautiful scenery and learning how to ride but fate had other plans....
Keep Small or Expand?
When running your catering business you will have some sort of idea of where you see yourself and your business in the future. Many people are happy to stay with a small business but for some there is...
Keeping Ahead of Your Business Rivals
When in business it helps to keep ahead of the game if you wish to keep your customers and increase your turnover. Being aware of your rivals and what they are up to is an important part of your busin...
Launching a Business
When launching your business it should be done with as much publicity as possible....
Laws on Catering From Your Home
When starting your catering business there are certain rules that should be followed. Some are for people who have professional kitchens and others are aimed at people working in their homes....
Laws on Running a Business from Home
For many people starting a home business the ideal way to cut costs is to work from home. However there are laws and rules regarding home working and you would do well to understand them before you fa...
Making Food Deliveries
Food deliveries are an important part of a catering business. Whether you are collecting and receiving foodstuffs or delivering them to a customer you must take stringent precautions to ensure the foo...
My Home Cake Baking Business: A Case Study
Jane Scott loved baking cakes and pies and it wasn’t until a few of her friends asked her to make a cake for them that she hit upon the idea of starting her own small business from home....
Networking in the Right Sectors
Business networking seems to be part of the day to day life of a business person. Catering is no different to any other business and business networking should be undertaken to further the business. H...
New Business Support Schemes
When thinking of starting your catering business there are business support schemes available that can guide you through the somewhat frightening pile of paperwork, legalities, finance and health and ...
Office Sandwich and Lunch Deliveries
Many caterers find that their work is sporadic at certain times of the year. Much outside catering is undertaken at the weekends. By having a regular weekday service you can fill the gaps when contrac...
Our Retirement Catering Project: A Case Study
Owning an outside catering business can be exciting and interesting, it can also be very tiring. John and Sara Jarvis had run their business for over twenty years and had decided it was time to move o...
Outside Catering for Weddings
When planning to start a catering company consider wedding catering. This form of outside catering is a very rewarding and enjoyable business as you get paid for helping people enjoy one of the happie...
Promotion at Trade Stands and Exhibitions
Promoting your catering business is an ongoing exercise and should be at the forefront of your future planning. Trade stands and exhibitions are a good way to find new customers and promote your busin...
Running a Sandwich Shop
If you prefer to run your catering business from a shop but do not have the skills or interest to own a cafe or a restaurant then a sandwich shop or sandwich bar may be the ideal business for you....
Running a Seaside Cafe
These days a seaside café must offer more than chips and tea served in cracked mugs if they wish to entice paying clientele into their premises....
Safe Food Preparation
Staff involved in food preparation in the catering trade should be aware of all hygiene rules and regulations regarding the workplace as well as personal hygiene considerations. Employers should train...
Seasonal Trends in Outside Catering
When you run an outside catering business you will have to be flexible with the type of catering services you offer as your clients will expect a different service from you depending on the time of ye...
Setting Menus and Prices
Whether a catering business is a restaurant or outside catering it needs to show a profit. When deciding on menu choices and prices the business owner has to be able to cost accordingly in order to su...
Sole Trader or Partner?
When starting up your catering business you will have to decide whether you wish to operate alone as a sole trader or take a partner and share the responsibility of owning a business....
Sourcing Foodstuffs
When starting your catering business you must have a reliable source for your foodstuff. Sourcing good quality food should be an important part of your working life as it is the focal point of your co...
Staff on Loan
There may be times when your catering business is quiet and your staff members have nothing to do. Why not consider hiring out catering staff as a way for your business to grow....
Starting a Business from Scratch
When starting a business from scratch whether it is in catering or any other business it is imperative that you know the product or service that you intend to trade in. It is very easy to be tempted i...
Supplying Lunchtime Food to Local Businesses
When running your own catering business supplying lunchtime food to local businesses can be a big part of your turnover. There are various ways that businesses can be targeted for this lucrative incom...
Temperament For Starting a Business
We all dream of starting our own business of being our own boss. There’s something alluring about not being answerable to another person, of choosing your own hours and taking a holiday when you choos...
The Village Without Chips
Val James, owner of a quaint teashop in a small country village loved chips as much as the next person and was perturbed when the mobile fish and chip van stopped making its weekly visit....
Tips For Delegating Management
When you run your own catering business you cannot be in charge every hour of the day. You need to have staff that can step into your shoes and manage, if not all, part of the business for you. Conseq...
Tracing Food to its Source
Regulations within the food industry state that any food stuff used in a catering business must be traceable to its source. How to be aware of food bought daily and how to keep records can be a headac...
Training Catering and Waiting Staff
When you own a catering business it is imperative that all your staff know what they are expected to do when working for you, their work hours, their duties and their possible promotion prospects. Sta...
Turning Your Business Plans into Reality
When starting out with your new catering business turning months of planning and dreams into reality can be both exciting and also a problem if you haven’t put enough thought into them....
Using a Recruitment Agency for Your Catering Staff
Understanding the pros and cons of using a recruitment agency to find catering staff for your catering business....
Vehicles and Transport Needed
When venturing into the catering business you will need some form of transport. Depending on the service you provide you will have to consider what vehicles will be best suited to your business ventur...
When a Business Split Means a Marriage Split as Well
Working with your partner in a business venture can be very rewarding. It can also be business as usual when both fall out of love and divorce. Sue and Steve Simpkins had just this problem after creat...
Who to Notify About Your Business
When starting a business is not possible just to set up a business and trade. There are certain people you have to notify legally plus those that will help you to get the best possible start in the bu...
Working Around the Family
When running your own catering business it may be that you have a family to organise at the same time. This can be a problem when you have bookings to complete and clients to meet....
Your Next Venture
So, you started your catering business and have made a success of it but what are you going to do next? Stay as you are with the one business or move on to pastures new?...