Guide to Catering in California

If you enjoy cooking, working with people, and have an eye for detail, then opening your catering business in California may be the ideal career path for you. Owners of California catering companies enjoy the freedom of being their own boss, while doing a job that is flexible, creative and exciting.

Before you start booking catering gigs, you first must develop a concept, write a menu, and purchase start up supplies. Many new caterers are able to work right out of their home kitchen, saving them a lot of money in start-up costs. Other things to consider when starting your own catering services include:

1. Understanding the legalities of catering in California.

2. Finding funding for your California catering company.

3. Creating a winning menu for your catering business.

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

Keep your California catering services legal and safe

Any person or business selling food to the public needs to have a license to do so. The kitchen where you will be preparing food needs to be inspected and approved. If you plan to serve alcohol, you will need a liquor license or permit. You also need to carry insurance for your business and employees, if you have any besides yourself. Along with legalities, safety is another huge concern for anyone who deals with retail food. Anyone working as a caterer should be familiar with proper food handling and storage. This will greatly reduce the risks of food contamination and foodborne illnesses.

I recommend: To help you get started on the legal road to owning your own catering business in California, check out the CalGold license and permit search. You can search for permits and licenses by industry, according to your county and town. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offers an extensive list of resources for retail food business, including information on HCAAP--a system designed to prevent food contamination.

Find funding to start a business catering in California

The good news is that catering, unlike a restaurant, does not require huge sums of money to get off the ground. New caterers can often get by with a few nice serving platters and good quality paper plates. But if you want to grow in this business, you will most likely need to take a loan of some sort to purchase commercial equipment, rent a larger kitchen, or invest in a catering van for transportation.

I recommend: The official California Business Portal has an extensive network of small business development centers throughout the state. They offer business counseling and advice for those looking to start a new business. The Small Business Network Library is an online portal of information to help small businesses start and grow. You can find information on everything from how to write a business plan to how to prepare for your bank interview to how to research your areas demographics.

Write your California catering company menu

The menu for your catering services in California is the foundation of your business. It should stand out from the other catering businesses in California. At the same time, you want to stay in the same price range as your local competitors.

I recommend: Always find out as much as possible about your competition. The California Chamber of Commerce offers a quick statewide directory of California caterers and their websites. From here you can check out menus, services and get a feel for what is already being offered in your area. For inspiration in creating your menu, check out the Everything Guide to Catering.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Take advantage of the numerous software available for organizing your catering business in California. There is software available that can help track schedules, create customized menus and help organize your book keeping.

The official source of Catering in California is
the Catering in California page at Business.com