Catering

Why This Business

Catering serves weddings, corporate events, and celebrations with strong demand year-round. You’ll charge $30-$100+ per person depending on menu and event type. A 100-person event generates $3,000-$10,000 revenue. Corporate clients have budgets and pay reliably. Catering builds loyalty—satisfied customers become repeat clients and refer friends.

What You Need to Start

Commercial kitchen access ($500-$2,000/month rental or co-op share). Quality serving equipment: warmers, chafing dishes, utensils, plates ($2,000-$5,000). Food handler certification and business license ($200-$500). Liability and food service insurance ($800-$1,500/year). Initial ingredient inventory ($500-$1,000). Vehicle for delivery ($0 if using existing). Total startup: $4,000-$10,000.

Step-by-Step Roadmap

Get food handler certification and secure commercial kitchen space. Develop signature menu items using family recipes or culinary courses. Practice catering for friends’ events at reduced cost. Build portfolio with professional event photos. Create website showcasing menus and testimonials. List on wedding platforms like The Knot and Zola. Network with event planners and wedding coordinators. Start with small events (20-50 people) at $30-$40 per person. Scale to larger events as reputation grows.

Startup Costs Breakdown

Commercial kitchen rental: $500-$2,000/month Serving equipment and setup: $2,000-$3,000 Food handler certification: $50-$150 Insurance and licensing: $800-$1,500/year Initial ingredient inventory: $500-$1,000 Website and marketing: $300-$500 Serving staff uniforms: $200-$400

How to Get Your First 10 Customers

Partner with event planners and wedding coordinators—they refer clients constantly. List on The Knot, Zola, and WeddingWire. Network at bridal shows and business events. Create Instagram showcasing beautiful plated dishes. Offer discounted catering for first events to build portfolio and testimonials. Ask satisfied clients for referrals and reviews. Contact corporate event planners for office party bookings. Offer tasting menus to prospective customers.

Pricing Guide

Casual catering (taco bar, buffet): $25-$40/person Standard plated dinner: $40-$60/person Premium catering (multi-course): $75-$125/person Wedding catering premium: +$20-$40/person Drop-off catering (no service): -$10-$20/person Staffing add-on (per hour): $20-$35/person

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t overpromise menu items you haven’t prepared for large groups. Don’t ignore food safety protocols; violations shut you down. Don’t underprice to get first events; you train customers on rates. Don’t forget contingency planning; kitchen failures happen. Don’t ignore dietary restrictions; always ask and verify. Don’t skip tasting meetings; clients need confidence in your food quality.

How WeLead Lab Helps

WeLead Lab mentors have scaled catering from home-based to full operations. Learn menu engineering that maximizes profit per guest. Access templates for catering contracts, pricing, and event checklists. Discover how to systematize operations for consistent quality. Connect with event planners, venue managers, and wedding coordinators for steady bookings. Get strategies for building corporate catering contracts that provide recurring revenue.