Catering companies in North Carolina offer a good career path for people who enjoy working creatively with food and have a keen eye for detail. The ideal caterer is someone who not only enjoys working with food, but also likes working with people. Keep in mind that owning a food catering company in North Carolina is a lot of hard work. It requires dedication, organization, patience and flexibility.

North Carolina, with its several urban hubs and large population, is an ideal place to establish yourself as a caterer. Places like Charlotte, Winston-Salem, and Raleigh are all thriving metro areas, offering potential business for a new catering business in North Carolina.

To prepare for starting your own North Carolina catering service you need to do the following:

1. Secure financing for your new North Carolina catering company.
2. Build a legal foundation for your catering service in North Carolina.
3. Develop a niche among other catering companies in NC.

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

Secure a small business loan for your business catering in North Carolina

Even though many food caterers in North Carolina start right out of their home kitchen, some type of financing is usually required in order to expand. Expansion is necessary if you want to cater large-scale events, such as weddings or corporate meetings. Along with commercial equipment, caterers who work the big events need linen and China, a van or other vehicle for transportation and a well-trained staff.

I recommend: The Small Business and Technology Development Center of North Carolina offers professional quality business counseling, economic development assistance as well as training for small businesses. The staff can help you write a business plan and walk you through the steps of opening your own catering business. The Small Business Administration of North Carolina can connect you with a lender and also offers one-on-one business counseling services.

Build a legal foundation for your North Carolina catering business

Not just anyone can serve food to the public in North Carolina. You need a license and permits to work in the retail food industry as a caterer. In addition to being legal, you and your employees should have a basic understanding of food safety. Not only will this protect your customers from getting sick due to food cross-contamination, it can protect you from a potential lawsuit.

I recommend: Get the low-down on all the legal aspects of operating a catering service in North Carolina through the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce. The U.S. Department of Food and Drug Administration is a good place to learn about food safety and training classes in your area.

Stand out from other North Carolina catering companies

Before you start printing menus or booking events, you must first decide how your business catering in North Carolina will stand out the crowd. Remember, established caterers already have name recognition and a large customer base, so you need to develop a niche while at the same time remaining competitively priced.

I recommend: In order to assess your competition, you need to know what kinds of food they offer and at what prices. You should also find out what kind of services they offer, such as linens, tables and chairs and such. Local chambers of commerce, such as the Asheville Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, include links to member caterer's sites. Once you have the contact information for other catering services in North Carolina, you can study their menus and prices. If you can't find a website, call and request information.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As a new North Carolina catering company, you need all the free advertising you can get. One way to get the word out about your business is through other event planning professionals. Don't be afraid to introduce yourself to photographers, DJs and other vendors who are working a catering job along side you. Pass out your business card. You may be pleasantly surprised at the amount of business you get through this type of word-of-mouth advertising.