Catering in Louisiana

How to start a catering business in Louisiana
By Lorri Mealey, Owner The Boiler Room Restaurant
 
If you like to work with food and people, starting your own Louisiana catering business may be the ideal career for you. The perfect caterer is someone who enjoys working with food in a creative manner and who likes working with people. You need to pay great attention to detail, both large and small. And above all, anyone considering opening their own Louisiana catering services should be reliable, organized, and hard working.

Louisiana is a diverse state with a strong mix of cultural backgrounds. From French Creole to Cajun, Louisiana cuisine offers a chance to work with some of the tastiest and unique foods available. Catering in Louisiana covers a wide array of events from simple business luncheons to elegant cocktail parties. There is eve-growing demand for catering among businesses and corporations. Employee picnics, after-hours socials and annual meetings are all potential catering jobs. To help you get started with your own Louisian catering company, consider:

1. Establishing a niche as a Louisiana caterer. What will set you apart from all the other caterers in Louisiana?
2. Developing a business plan to help you establish a budget and procure financing, if needed.
3. Purchasing the proper equipment for your catering company.
   

Find out more about catering in Louisiana

There many different Louisiana caterers who already have an established clientelle and name recognition. So what is going to make your catering services stand out from the rest? That is what you need to decide when you sit down to draft your menu and service prices.
Try: Know your competition. Begin reconnaissance of other local caterers through chamber of commerce websites. The Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce, the Southwest Louisiana Chamber of Commerce and the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce all provide links to several area caterers. From there you can visit the caterers' websites and see their prices, menu and even pictures of their food. If you can't find a website, call the caterer and ask for information on their services. Also try to attend as many catered events as possible to sample the competitions' work firsthand.

Finance your Louisiana catering company

A home-based catering company in Louisiana can start up for the cost of a few serving platters and disposable containers. However, expanding a catering business takes money. In order to grow as a business and take on bigger catered events, you may need a commercial size oven, more cooler space or even a whole new facility. Transportation is also another big concern for catering companies looking to grow. A business loan is the quickest way to purchase the items your business needs to expand.
Try: Work with the counselors at the Louisiana Small Business Development Center to draft a business plan, and let them help connect you with a lender. The Northwest Louisiana Economic Development Foundation is another great resource to help you with the initial start-up or expansion of your catering business, offering advice and counseling from other small business professionals.

Buy equipment for your Louisiana catering company

New catering companies in Louisiana can get by on a shoestring budget for equipment purchases in the beginning. To stretch your catering dollar even further, look for gently used equipment and supplies. You can often purchase these for pennies on the dollar.
Try: Delta Restaurant Supply servicing southeast Louisiana and Cayard's Foodservice Equipment & Supplies out of Baton Rouge both offer new and used catering supplies and equipment.

• Louisiana caterers work with a small circle of event planners and service providers. Take advantage of professional networking by handing out business cards to photographers, DJs and other event workers. You may be surprised by the business that word-of-mouth will pull in.