Guide to Catering in Kentucky

Catering KY-style is the perfect career choice for someone who enjoys entertaining with KY hospitality and being creative with food. The ideal caterer is someone who pays attention to both large and small details, has good communication skills and is not afraid of hard work. You should be flexible and reliable as well as highly organized.

With its mix of rural and urban communities, Kentucky offers plenty of opportunities for small and large catering jobs. Catering opportunities in Kentucky include private affairs, such as weddings and anniversary parties to corporate events, like annual meetings and business luncheon. To get started, you'll need to:

1. Secure financing to help establish and expand your business catering in KY.
2. Buy the right equipment for your catering business in Kentucky.
3. Develop a niche among Kentucky caterers.

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

Secure a loan for your Kentucky catering company

To help you get your catering in KY business off the ground or expand beyond your home kitchen, you will most likely need some type of financing. In order to get bigger and better paying clients, you need commercial equipment, supplies and transportation. You also need a well trained staff, all of which takes money. The quickest route to expanding your catering business and buying the equipment you need is through a small business loan.

I recommend: The Kentucky Small Business Development Center can help you with writing a business plan and offers free business counseling for budding entrepreneurs. Once you have your business plan ready, the Kentucky Small Business Administration can help connect you with a lender. It can also help answer questions about insurance, licensing and permits.

Purchase the right equipment for your catering company

The advantage of being a caterer in KY is that your start-up investment is very low. Many new caterers who work out of their home kitchen only need some disposable serving containers and utensils. But as your list of clients grows, you will need to purchase both big and small catering supplies. You may start out catering in Kentucky with smallwares, like salt and pepper shakers, serving platters, and then add linen, China and flatware to your inventory. Eventually you may need to purchase commercial ovens and coolers to keep up with the demands of your business food catering in KY.

I recommend: Wasserstrom, out of Cincinnati, Ohio, provides quality catering equipment to the Northern Kentucky area. The Kentucky Restaurant Association (KYRA), also has a list of approved vendors from who new caterers can purchase supplies.

Establish yourself among other Kentucky catering businesses

Starting a new catering business in KY means that you will be competing against better known, more established caterers. Therefore, it is vital that you know exactly what your competition offers and at what prices. You need to offer something different that will set you apart from everyone else, but you also need to stay within the local price range.

I recommend: Begin by scoping out your competition through local chambers of commerce, such as the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Louisville Chamber of Commerce. From there you can link to your competitors' websites to look over their menus and prices. If you can't find competitors' websites, call them directly and ask for information about their menu and services. Also try to see their work up close and personal, such as at a public event.

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

• Catering in Kentucky includes restaurants as well. Call or visit the websites of restaurants in your local area to find out if they offer catering, and study their menus, services offered and price ranges.

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