Thanks to the ever growing population boom, catering in Florida offers a wide range of business options for both small and large caterers. If you like to cook and enjoy entertaining, then starting your own Florida catering business may be the perfect career choice for you. You can build a catering business on your strengths of making good food, an eye for details and your personable manner.

Starting a catering business in Florida takes planning, patience and hard work. Before you begin printing off catering menus, there are several other things you need to think about first in order to start your own Florida catering services, including:

1. Understanding the health and safety laws of catering in Florida.

2. How to find financing for your catering business.

3. Purchasing start-up equipment for your catering business.

4. How to build a customer base for your catering business.

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

Safety is first with catering companies in Florida

Knowledge of food safety is paramount for employees in catering. Florida requires that anyone who serves food for profit, whether a caterer, restaurant or other retail food services establishment, hold the proper licensing.

I recommend: The Department of Business and Professional Regulation is in charge of issuing licenses to restaurants and other full service food operations, such as catering businesses. To help you pass your licensing with flying colors, familiarize yourself with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HCAAP), which is a core component in food and commercial kitchen safety.

Get your Florida catering business off the ground with a small business loan

To help with the initial start-up costs of a new Florida catering business, you can apply for a loan through a number of agencies dedicated to helping small businesses. Unlike restaurants, which need hundreds of thousands of dollars to open the doors, a catering business can start on a much more modest budget.

I recommend: Talk with the counselors at the Small Business Development of Florida. They can walk you through writing a business plan and give you information on different loan programs available for certain groups, like women or minorities. A business plan can make or break your chances of getting a loan. Learn more about business plans, view samples and tips on writing them at Bplans.com.

Buy equipment for your Florida catering business

Every caterer needs certain equipment to start with, such as chaffing dishes, serving utensils, platters and storage bins. As your business grows you can add linens, tableware, flatware, and commercial equipment such as stoves and coolers.

I recommend: Find good deals on new and gently used catering equipment at Industrial Restaurant Supply Equipment in Naples, Florida. JC Restaurant Equipment is another vendor of catering supplies, located in Fort Meyers, Florida.

Expand your catering business in Florida through networking

Once you have established yourself among all the catering companies in Florida, you need to expand your customer base. Networking with other professionals and staying abreast of industry trends is one to keep your business sharp and focused.

I recommend: Join one of the four Florida chapters of the National Association of Catering Executives. This professional organization will put you contact with other event planners around Florida. It also gives members access to the latest industry news and events, including trade show schedules at which you may wish to exhibit. You should also join the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't under estimate the power of a website. Today people are just as likely to look for Florida caterers on line as they are in the yellow pages. Once you have a business up and going (or even before) consider investing in a website, to showcase your menus and other catering services.