If you are good with people as well as with food, then a career in Connecticut catering may be perfect for you. The ideal caterer should have a keen eye for details, both large and small. You should be flexible, reliable, organized and not be afraid of hard work.

Connecticut, with its close proximity to New York City is full many affluent suburbs. They represent plenty of opportunities for private catering, from holiday dinners to weddings and anniversary parties.

Before you start booking events for your catering business, there are three important things to do first:

1. Find your niche catering in Connecticut.
2. Find start-up financing to establish and expand your catering services in Connecticut.
3. Purchase the right equipment for your catering business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Scope out other Connecticut caterers

As a new catering service in Connecticut, you are going up against seasoned caterers with n established name recognition and reputations. This means you are going to need to somehow set yourself apart from the rest of the catering pack. In order to create the most unique menu but still stay within the local price range, you need to conduct some reconnaissance.

I recommend: Begin your recon mission with the local chambers of commerce, including the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce and the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce. From there you can link to competitors' websites to check out their menus and fees. For those catering companies in Connecticut with no website, call the caterer directly and ask for information. If you get the chance, check out the competition firsthand at catered events. Then you can sample the competitions' food and compare it to your own.

Expand your Connecticut catering services with financing

Caterers in Connecticut can start small, using their home kitchen as a business base. However, if you want to be able to cater large weddings or other corporate catering in CT, you will need a bigger commercial kitchen, commercial equipment and reliable transportation. The quickest way to get all that is with a small business loan.

I recommend: The Connecticut Small Business Development Center is the best place to start when looking to open a business. Staff there offer free professional counseling and can help you draft a business plan to use when you are ready to meet with banks. The Connecticut Small Business Administration is another good resource for anyone looking to start or expand a catering company. It can help connect you with a lender and let you know about special loans or grants for which you may be eligible.

Buy the right equipment for your catering services in Connecticut

As your business grows you will need to stock up on various pieces of catering equipment, from serving dishes to table settings. You will also need commercial coolers and ovens to make your catering company more efficient and profitable.

I recommend: CT caterers can buy new catering equipment from Classic Restaurant Supply in Hartford, CT. It carries both small and large pieces of equipment. You can also purchase supplies online from Globe Equipment, which offers an extensive selection of catering equipment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't overlook local restaurants as potential competition in catering in Connecticut. More and more restaurants are offering both on-site and off-site catering services. Call around and find out what they offer and how much they charge.