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Guide to Food Catering Companies in Indiana
Develop a career with food catering companies in IndianaPeople considering starting their own catering business in Indiana should realize that it is first and foremost a lot of hard work, especially in the early months. Weekends, evenings and holidays are all busy times for most food caterers, so be prepared to work odd hours. People who operate their own catering business do more than just cook and serve food. There are several areas of responsibility that surround food catering companies in Indiana, including:
- Legalities: Start your Indiana catering company on solid legal ground by obtaining all the necessary permits.
- Menu planning: Be aware of food trends and your competition's offerings as you plan your Indiana catering company menu.
- Leverage your assets: You don't need to do everything yourself. Add value to your catering services by subcontracting some tasks to other vendors under your company's name.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Start your catering business in Indiana on legal ground
Anybody can cook. But not just anybody can serve food to the public. Indiana caterers are subject to many of the same rules and regulations as restaurants. Before you start printing up menus and booking catering jobs, first you need to get a variety of licenses and permits from the state health inspector. He or she will need to inspect your kitchen, to make sure it is a safe place to prepare and store food. If you plan to serve alcohol, you will also need to apply for a liquor license. And you will also need to apply for off-premise catering permits whether you are catering in Indianapolis or Terre Haute.
I recommend:
The Indiana State Department of Health gives a great, step-by-step guide on how to start a retail food business (like catering). If you are planning on apply for a liquor license,the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission lists all the license types and application steps.
Get to know menu trends and how to write a menu for your Indiana catering business
In the food catering business, the menu is what sells your services. First and foremost your menu should be made up of your own signature dishes balanced with other popular dishes that customers will enjoy. Next you need to actually design and write your menu. Once you have written your menu, you need to figure out how cost-effective it is. Remember, you need to charge enough for your dishes to cover all your expenses, from food cost to fuel for transportation.
I recommend:
Allfoodbusiness.com offers a step by step break down of how to price menu items for maximum profit. StarChef offers a free trial of its web-based software StarChef.NET, a tool that, among other things, lets you figure recipe costs.
Leverage your time by subcontracting catering services in Indiana
New catering companies usually start small and then add services as they go. One way to offer customers a 'one stop shopping' experience is to subcontract other services. For example, you can hire a bartender to do the bar, or rent linens and then work your costs into the final price for the customer. By doing much of the leg work for your customers, you enhance your reputation as a professional caterer.
I recommend:
Party Time Rental is one of the largest party supply warehouses in Indiana. Caterers can rent tables, chairs, tents and linens. Party City is another vendor who carries equipment and supplies for catering Indiana.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide- Start small, and think big. As one of the new food catering companies in Indiana, begin with small parties and work your way up to bigger events, such as weddings. Never book a function that you don't have enough space, staff, experience or supplies to cater to the best of your ability.
