Arguably, catering service is now a trend and virtually a lucrative business in Nigeria which every household cum full time housewife are diverting their attention to. It doesn't matter for a caterer to be a superstar cook before making waves on catering business. When you can employ the service of local cooks to do the finishing for you.
Are you so versed and skillful in cooking differents genres of meal? Does your art in kitchen is greatly beyond cooking? Can you cook a palatable meal for the consumption of thousands people without any complain? Oh! you can command flour easily when it comes to baking, right? Good, Why don't you seize this golden opportunity and change idleness into business.
If you are optimistic and that passionate to venture into catering, then it's very imperative you understand some key and major elements which your are required to have in your possesion now before you would be recognized and celebrate as a unique caterer. The information and requirements needed are as follows,
* ITEMIZE YOUR PLAN
To begin a catering business, very crucial it is for you to itemize your plan, decide if your catering business will be indoor or outdoor services. This is very necessary because a business without a specific niche is prone to be problematic in the nearest posterity but if you decide and itemize your plan very well on which to go for, then your business will be treated as such.
For instance, define your catering niche if it is going to concentrate on wedding service, birthday party, or rendering services to school and colleges hostel. Itemize your plan whether to serve restaurant,carteen or fast food, Or if you are to provide your service to anyone that is in needs of your sweet and fantastic delicacies it is up to you.
*SKILL ACQUISITION AND CERTIFICATES
“If you don't know it, go for it". If you are not that good in all facet of food preparation, there is no harm in going for the skill acquisition. Having itemize and decide on which niche to go for, it is expected of you to go for weeks or months training, regardless of how special, good and skillful you are in the kitchen. Why? Because you need to acquire a certificate as a qualified caterer in the world of catering services.
Not limited to certificate only, you will need license and business permit from Food and drug regulatory body known as NAFDAC, this body are shouldered with the responsibility to overseeing any business pertaining to food and drug, they asses and test how qualified you are on these particular fields, the materials you are going to use and the location or environment you are going to make use of.
*NAME
For your catering service to move and soar you high, you need to have a solid and unique brand or business name to rise with. This will be the only avenue your potential and seasonal customers will distinguish you from other catering service and also, refer to you more client who will need your service. So, if probably your business name reach the premium brand, everybody will be longed to taste your tomatoes and onions. This is the magnificent power of name in business world. But if the reverse is the case, your catering business won't thrive well, I guess!
*PLAN YOUR MENU LIST
Don't forget to plan your menu list very well for it is the CV your customers will request for before giving you the work. Let it be adequately plan with affordable prices so as not to send your prospect away. Ensure conformity and be curtained that all the delicacies you will be specialized on are contained therein.
Don't forget that an ideal menu list is usually portable and affordable with food items which can be easily locate in the market square. If you deal with vegetable for the vegetarian, let it be categorically stated on the list with the fixed price.
*SET UP A KITCHEN
As a caterer who will be cooking in a larger quantity, your kitchen site must be wide and large, very distinct from those one in our houses. Reasonss, because the materials (kitchen utensils) to be used are all bigger than the one used in a normal settings.
*MATERIALS (UTENSILS)
Since your business is to cook, serve, bake- if need be -and make money, then, you are expected to have and maintain the following kitchen utensils;
-Gas/electronic/Charcoal cooker (Different sizes)
-pots of different sizes
-spoons of different size
-Serving plate
-Knifes
-storage containers
-Turning sticks
-Cooling van etc.
*STAFF
catering service is seen not to be business of an individual, agreed! As such, you will need to invite the local cook to helping you out in some aspect of which cooking, serving the guest, washing plate and others are really involved.
Lastly, be enlighten that you can start this catering business without any amount on you and succeed at the later end. Is that possible? Did you just ask me that? Oh yes, very possible. You will only start with the first payment given by your customer. In conjunction with the above steps in setting an ideal catering service, and you shall have a safe trip in your first assignment. Interesting, right?