If you own a catering company in Utah, you'll need to train your staff to become familiar with the popular menu items in the communities you serve and the best sources of those foods. Chances are your employees have not completed formal classes in foodservice at tech schools or community colleges. Their education and training in Utah catering will have to come from you.

Once your staff has completed classes in food safety regulations online or at municipal offices, you should encourage them to check out the local competition. If successful caterers in Utah are selling certain foods, then there must be a demand for them. Readily available online sources that will help you design a winning food catering companies in Utah education and training program are the following:

1. Learn the safety regulations for food catering in Utah.

2. Find out which foods successful catering businesses in Utah are serving.

3. Know where food catering companies in Utah can buy or rent professional equipment.

4. Familiarize your staff with vendors and suppliers who serve food caterers in Utah.

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

Learn the food safety regulations that Utah caterers must comply with

Train your staff to know how to comply with food safety regulations in Utah. They should know the sources of those regulations and the agencies enforcing them.

I recommend: The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food helps your staff understand The Food Compliance program in Utah. Have your food service manager complete online courses that Food Safety Food Handler Classes Online offers. Enroll in the Classroom Online Food Safety Training course that's recommended for foodservice workers in Utah.

Focus on the menus of successful Utah caterers

Your staff's education and training in how to professionally cater in Utah just won't be complete until they check out what the competition is doing. Reading menus of Utah caterers helps your staff identify the popular foods in Utah, what portions Utah consumers are used to and what interesting combinations of foods Utah caterers have been selling.

I recommend: Read Sandy's Kitchen menu to learn about the most popular appetizers Utah consumers are ordering. Read Meier's Catering for ideas on how to create a mobile catering menu for a company BBQ. The Red Flame Catering menu gives prices, portions for choice meat cuts and serving suggestions for foods in demand among Utah diners.

Find the professional equipment you need for catering in Utah

Utah catering company employees need to learn what professional equipment individual catering functions require, where to get the equipment and sometimes even how to set it up.

I recommend: Utah Food Services can explain where your employees can get a mobile kitchen if you need to cater an outdoor function. Let your employees contact Party Pop to learn about hiring a bartender if you're catering an office cocktail party or evening event. Introduce employees to Diamond Rental so they'll know where to find festival tents, portable gas grills and even specialty linens. Direct employees to Wasatch Event & Wedding Rental so they'll get experience in ordering chairs, benches, food service fountains and even gazebos.

Know the local food sources that catering companies in Utah depend on

Your food catering companies in Utah education and training program should emphasize how important it is for staff to familiarize themselves with local food vendors. They must know the distributors and suppliers who can get them the freshest meats, produce and grocery items with the least amount of advance notice.

I recommend: Have employees learn how to deal with Good Hope Foods, a leading restaurant food supplier in many states, including Utah. Your employees should also get experience in ordering fresh produce from Salt Lake City-based Joe Granato and ordering gourmet ingredients from Salt Lake City vendor, Copper Canyon Farms.

If you enjoy cooking, working with people and have an eye for detail, then opening your own Utah catering company may be the perfect career choice for you. Owners of food catering companies in Utah should be organized and reliable, while at the same creative and flexible. They should also embrace hard work, self-discipline and be self-motivated.

Before you begin booking catering jobs, you first must develop a concept, write a menu and purchase start-up supplies. An advantage over starting your own catering company vs. a restaurant is that many new caterers are able to work right out of their home kitchen, making the initial investment quite modest.

Other areas to consider when starting your own catering services in Utah include:

1. Financing your catering company in Utah.
2. Equipping your catering business with the right supplies.
3. Establishing yourself among the other Utah caterers in your area.

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

Secure funding for your Utah catering services

There are many organizations in Utah that work with small business entrepreneurs to help them get their businesses up and running. Even if you start your catering company for next to nothing working out of your home kitchen you may find it hard to expand without working capital. The quickest to buy big ticket items for catering, like commercial coolers or ovens is with a bank loan.

I recommend: The Utah Small Business Development Center offers no-cost consulting to small businesses by other business professionals. They can help you draft a business plan and get you ready to present your ideas to lenders. The Small Business Administration of Utah can walk you through all the steps of opening a business in Utah.

Stock up on equipment for your food catering company in Utah

Food catering companies in Utah that are just starting out can get by with paper goods and a few nice serving platters. But as your company grows you can add chaffing dishes, glassware, China, flatware and linen. Many full-scale catering operations have completely outfitted commercial kitchens and provide their own tables, chairs, and tents.

I recommend: Check out the National Restaurant Association buyer's guide for recommended restaurant and catering equipment vendors. Purchase all your catering needs directly from Galasource, whose online catalogue offers convenient one-stop shopping.

Stand out from all the other food caterers in Utah

The menu for your catering services in Utah is the centerpiece of your business. It should stand out from the other catering businesses in Utah. At the same time, you want to stay in the same price range of your local competitors. To help you write an original catering menu that is competitively priced, you need to know what your competition is offering.

I recommend: Begin reconnaissance of other Utah caterers through your local chamber of commerce. The Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce has links to the websites of several area caterers. Utah Caterers is website directory of caterers from all over Utah. Once you have your competitors' contact information, study their menus, prices and services. You may also see pictures of their food and catered events. If you can't find a website, call the caterer directly and request information. If possible, attend a function that is catered by a competitor. This allows you to see their work up close and personal.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Catering in Utah requires many of the same licenses, permits and inspections as restaurants and other retail food businesses. Before you start selling any food for profit, be sure you are legal with the right licenses and insurance. This will help protect you from potential problems such as lawsuits or fines.