If you enjoy creating innovative dishes and like working with the public, then catering in Oklahoma may be the perfect career path for you. There are many areas of expertise needed by most caterers. Oklahoma caterers should be detail-oriented, organized, flexible and have excellent communication skills. You need to be comfortable working with people, as well as working alone. Discipline and self-direction are two of the greatest assets of any good caterer.

People considering starting their own food catering services in Oklahoma should realize that it requires a tremendous amount of dedication and hard work, especially in the early months and/or years. Weekends, evenings and holidays are all busy times for most Oklahoma catering companies, 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:

1. Developing a niche among all the other Oklahoma caterers.
2. Staying on top of your finances. You need to be organized and track all your expenses and profits.
3. Buying the right equipment for your catering business.
   

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

How to build a customer base for your Oklahoma catering company

How will you make your catering company stand out from all the other food catering services in Oklahoma? This is the question you should ask yourself when you sit down to draft your menu. What will make customers choose you over more established caterers in Oklahoma? To help gauge your services with competitors, it is imperative you know what is on their menu and what their prices are. From there you can create a unique menu, but one that is still competitively priced for your local area.

I recommend: To find information on your competition, check out the list of caterers at the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, Stillwater Chamber of Commerce and the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce. Once you have the contact information for your competitors, visit their websites to see their menus, services and price range. You can also contact an Oklahoma catering company directly, if you can't find what you are looking for on their website. Be aware of any public catered events where you can see and sample your competitions food. This will also give you a chance to hear what other people think of their services.

Find a loan for your business catering in Oklahoma

Although many catering services in OK start right out of a home kitchen, some type of financing is usually required to expand your catering business to large-scale events. You'll need a lot more equipment, such as commercial stoves, walk-in coolers, linen and China. You may also need to purchase a van or other vehicle for your catering business. The quickest route to expanding a home based catering company is with a small business loan.

I recommend: The Oklahoma Small Business Development Center offers professional quality business counseling, economic development assistance, as well as training for small businesses. The Small Business Administration of Iowa can connect you with a lender and also offers more counseling services.

Buy essential equipment for your Oklahoma catering company

Catering companies in Oklahoma require basic equipment when they first launch. Serving platters, serving utensils and chaffing dishes are a must. Beyond that, you can use home kitchen and paper goods to prepare and serve food. But if you want to grow as a caterer you will eventually need to stock up all sorts of catering equipment, from China and flatware to linen tablecloths and napkins. Plus you may need to upgrade to commercial stoves, coolers and warmers.

I recommend: Curtis Restaurant Supply out of Tulsa is a local spot to pick up catering supplies and equipment. You can save time and gas money by shopping online at Galasource, which carries a huge line of catering items, both large and small.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Caterers in Oklahoma include area restaurants. While many restaurants may not have a banquet room, they might still offer off-premise catering services. Be sure to find out which restaurants cater and what their menus and prices look like.