Catering from Home - a New Business Opportunity for You

A Home Business Article Contributed by Philippe Nicolitch

Catering for Others, is This Right a Right Business Opportunity for You?

Catering for others may turn out to be a good business opportunity for you. You like to work from home, you are good at cooking and baking and you like entertaining. Think about the joy of setting up parties and having people congratulating you for the good food you placed on the table. Does that sound like a good business opportunity to you?

Define the Market for Your New Business Opportunity.

To develop this business opportunity, you need to define your market. A residential neighborhood may bring you business such as birthday parties for the kids, intimate dinners, barbecue parties between friends. If you live close to a business area, you should think about varieties of sandwiches for business lunches.

Make Yourself Known

The word of mouth is your best ally to investigate a new business opportunity. Check with your neighbors to find out if they use the services of a caterer. Check what these companies offer and differentiate yourself. Introduce yourself to the receptionists in office buildings, bring them samples of what you do. A free sample of what you can provide may open a few doors!

Define Your Menu for Business Clients

This new business opportunity is all about food: Once your market is clearer, you need to define the sort of food your potential clients will be interested in. The business crowds are tired of the same ham and cheese sandwich. Use your creativity and come up with a list of ingredients that people can mix and match for the same price. A variety of breads, dressings and fillings are always a good idea. Timing is important.

Make sure you can deliver their orders on time as business clients are always on a strict schedule. Make it simple, varied, and fresh. People traveling on business miss their home cooked-meals. Make sure you can offer a nice alternative.

Define Your Menu for Individual Clients

Individual clients may also be a good source to develop this new business opportunity. Their needs may go from an intimate dinner for two that you would prepare and deliver ready to be served, to a large birthday party. The needs are totally different and your cooking skills will need to adapt. For an intimate dinner, clients will expect elaborate recipes with a nice presentation. For a birthday party, clients could expect fun food, easy to eat, buffet-style. All this can be determined when you meet with your prospect client.

Make This New Business Opportunity Work

The success with this business opportunity depends entirely on you. Do you research, check if there is a demand in your area, talk to people and potential clients, take good note of their comments, ask what they like about their current caterer, what they don't like and what would make them change. So many businesses close because they don't listen to their clients! Prepare sample food trays that you can deliver and make them taste. And finally cook, cook, cook!