If you enjoy working creatively with food and people then you may be the ideal person to start your own Illinois catering company. The perfect caterer is someone who enjoys working creatively with food and is good at dealing with the public. You should have a strong attention to details, both big and small and be organized, flexible and reliable.

Thanks to its central location, Illinois, particularly Chicago, is a popular location for large conventions and corporate events. The National Restaurant Association even holds its annual trade show right at McCormick Place. So catering in Illinois is big business.

Before you start booking catering jobs, you'll need to do the following:

1. Secure financing for your catering services in Illinois.
2. Properly equip your catering company.
3. Develop a niche for your catering company.

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

Find financing for your Illinois catering company

Many Illinois caterers start their business right out of their home kitchen. However, as your catering in Illinois increases, you may find yourself in need of bigger equipment or more space. The easiest way to expand your catering services is through a small business loan. There are many types of small business loans available, including those for women and minorities.

I recommend: The Small Business Development Center of Illinois is a nonprofit organization that offers free counseling for budding entrepreneurs. The business professionals at the SBDC can help you draft a business plan and get you ready for an interview at the bank. The Small Business Administration of Illinois is another good resource for anyone looking to start their own company, catering or otherwise. The SBA helps connect small businesses with the right lender and offers other free business counseling.

Equip your company for catering in Illinois

There is all kinds of equipment you will need for catering. IL caterers need everything from linen and China to chaffing dishes and insulated containers called Cambros for keeping food warm or cold. As your business grows you may want to invest in a commercial oven or walk-in. Luckily, Illinois has several new and used restaurant supply companies, where you pick up catering equipment at discount prices.

I recommend: Find new and used catering equipment through Metro Supply & Equipment Co., out of Alton, IL. Galasource carries an extensive line of catering smallwares, and it has a showroom right in Chicago.

Make a name for your Illinois catering services

As a new caterer you will be going up against many other catering companies in Illinois that have established clientele and name recognition. Your menu, as well as the quality of your food and service, needs to stand out from the competition. You also need to know your local price range. You want to provide superior food and service, but you still need to remain competitively priced.

I recommend: To help figure out what niche your catering business can fill, you must first investigate the local competition. Check the Springfield Chamber of Commerce and Peoria Chamber of Commerce for a list of local caterers. If you live in the greater Chicago area, ChicagoCatering.com has a list of Illinois local catering companies and links to their websites. You should carefully study your competition's menu, their prices, their website design and, if possible, sample their food. This way you know firsthand what you are up against.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Never underestimate the power of word-of-mouth. Networking with other event planning professionals has helped many a catering business launch successfully. Illinois is home to hundreds of DJS, photographers, event coordinators, florists and cake decorators. Whenever you work an event, introduce yourself to the other vendors and swap business cards. You may be surprised at how much business this type of networking can generate.