When you are starting out in the catering business, you have to learn how to bid on jobs. You probably don't have the staff, except for the friends you can enlist as servers, or have as much name recognition as more established caterers. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit though, you can come up with ways to outbid your competition on jobs for corporate catering Biloxi executives will appreciate.
When you sit down with the marketing director of a large company, you have to be ready to explain why you are the best caterer for their upcoming event. Offering cost saving ideas, that won't feel that way to guests, is a good way to get the attention of a director who wants to impress company officers. One of the simplest suggestions is to keep the event short. Cocktail receptions that include action stations are elegant and less expensive than a cocktail hour and sit down dinner.
Limiting the bar is an obvious way to keep the budget under control. Done correctly, the guests will never suspect. Local microbreweries should be happy to supply their beers, and little known wines, with great reputations, will make the guests feel privileged, not limited. Sparkling water and specialty drinks can round out the bar offerings.
Controlling food portions is another way to keep the budget in check. People love buffets and food stations, but they tend to pile as much food as possible onto their plates. Formal dinners require china, cutlery, and additional staff, but this extra cost is more than made up for in the food savings. Servers circulating the room with hors d'oeuvre filled trays are much more cost effective than a pre-dinner buffet.
If it seems appropriate, you could offer some suggestions for choosing venues. Your client may not have considered all the added expenses recurred when the venue doesn't offer a fully equipped kitchen. The caterer has to bring in equipment and extra staff to compensate. The client can also save money when venues allow the catering company to pick up during business hours instead of immediately after the event.
The menu selection will have a lot to do with the overall cost. Filet mignon and lobster are great, and guests have come to expect them, but they among the priciest items you can choose. A menu filled with local produce and braised meats is delicious and economical. An ethnic theme is another original idea that could be considered.
A final cost saving measure you can suggest is choosing standard china and glassware, instead of fine china and specialty glasses. The guests will never notice that the same dinnerware is used for each course. The same goes for bar glasses. It's not necessary to have a specific glass for each type of drink.
Starting a catering business can be difficult. It takes more than an impressive menu, a culinary school education, and enthusiasm. You have to offer personalized services that other caterers don't. Finding smart ways to meet the needs of your clients will get you noticed and help you build your business.
When you sit down with the marketing director of a large company, you have to be ready to explain why you are the best caterer for their upcoming event. Offering cost saving ideas, that won't feel that way to guests, is a good way to get the attention of a director who wants to impress company officers. One of the simplest suggestions is to keep the event short. Cocktail receptions that include action stations are elegant and less expensive than a cocktail hour and sit down dinner.
Limiting the bar is an obvious way to keep the budget under control. Done correctly, the guests will never suspect. Local microbreweries should be happy to supply their beers, and little known wines, with great reputations, will make the guests feel privileged, not limited. Sparkling water and specialty drinks can round out the bar offerings.
Controlling food portions is another way to keep the budget in check. People love buffets and food stations, but they tend to pile as much food as possible onto their plates. Formal dinners require china, cutlery, and additional staff, but this extra cost is more than made up for in the food savings. Servers circulating the room with hors d'oeuvre filled trays are much more cost effective than a pre-dinner buffet.
If it seems appropriate, you could offer some suggestions for choosing venues. Your client may not have considered all the added expenses recurred when the venue doesn't offer a fully equipped kitchen. The caterer has to bring in equipment and extra staff to compensate. The client can also save money when venues allow the catering company to pick up during business hours instead of immediately after the event.
The menu selection will have a lot to do with the overall cost. Filet mignon and lobster are great, and guests have come to expect them, but they among the priciest items you can choose. A menu filled with local produce and braised meats is delicious and economical. An ethnic theme is another original idea that could be considered.
A final cost saving measure you can suggest is choosing standard china and glassware, instead of fine china and specialty glasses. The guests will never notice that the same dinnerware is used for each course. The same goes for bar glasses. It's not necessary to have a specific glass for each type of drink.
Starting a catering business can be difficult. It takes more than an impressive menu, a culinary school education, and enthusiasm. You have to offer personalized services that other caterers don't. Finding smart ways to meet the needs of your clients will get you noticed and help you build your business.
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