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How To Start a Catering Business Plan PDF Free Download | Catering Books PDF

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How to Start a Catering Business - Catering Business Plan PDF

Are you considering starting a Catering Business and you’re in need of a catering business plan PDF? if yes, you'll find this free book to be extremely helpful.

This is a practical guide that will walk you step by step through all the essentials of starting your business. The book is packed with guides, worksheets and checklists. These strategies are absolutely crucial to your business' success yet are simple and easy to apply.


Don’t Start a New Catering Business Unless You Watch This Video First!

Checklist for Starting a Business: Essential Ingredients for Success

If you are thinking about going into business, it is imperative that you watch this video first! it will take you by the hand and walk you through each and every phase of starting a business. It features all the essential aspects you must consider BEFORE you start a business. This will allow you to predict problems before they happen and keep you from losing your shirt on dog business ideas. Ignore it at your own peril!


Here’s a Valuable Free Gift for You
This is a high quality, full blown business plan template complete with detailed instructions and all related spreadsheets. You can download it to your PC and easily prepare a professional business plan for your business.
Click Here! To get your free business plan template

The Single Most Important Ingredient for Business Success

The first and most important thing you need to acquire in order to succeed in Starting A Catering Business is... knowledge.

Sounds exaggerated? Listen to this...

According to research conducted by Dun & Bradstreet, 90% of all small business failures can be traced to poor management resulting from lack of knowledge.

This is backed up by my own personal observations. In my 31 years as a business coach and consultant to small businesses, I've seen practically dozens of small business owners go under and lose their businesses -- not because they weren't talented or smart enough -- but because they were trying to re-invent the wheel rather than rely on proven, tested methods that work.

Conclusion: if you are really serious about succeeding in a business... If you want to avoid the common traps and mistakes... it is absolutely imperative that you acquire the right knowledge.

"Why Invent Mediocrity, When You Can Copy Genius?"

That's an excellent quote I picked up from a fellow business owner a few years back. What this means is that you should see what is working and try to duplicate it. Why go through all the trouble of inventing something new, that you don't even know will ever work, when you can easily learn from and duplicate something that has been a proven success?

[ Note: One of the BIGGEST mistakes almost all new businesses make is that they WASTE tons of valuable time, energy and money on trying to create something "new", that has never been tested or proven... only to find out later that it was a total loss. Don't make the same mistake! ]

Hi! My name is Meir. I'm the founder and president of BizMove.com, a successful Internet based information business. I'm also the author of numerous books, mostly in the area of small business management.

I've been involved in small business for the past 31 years of my life, as a business coach, manager of a consulting firm, a seminar leader and as the owner of five successful businesses.

During my career as a business coach and consultant I've helped dozens of business owners start their businesses, market, expand, get out of troubles, sell their businesses and do practically every other small business activity you can think of.
You see, I have been there .... done it ... and bought the Small Business t-shirt! -- This free book contains techniques and strategies I've learned during my 31 year small business career.

Here's what you'll discover in the 'How to Start a Catering Business' book:

How to determine the feasibility of your business idea - a complete fill in the blanks template system that will help you predict problems before they happen and keep you from losing your shirt on dog business ideas.

A detailed manual that will walk you step by step through all the essential phases of starting your business

A complete small catering business plan PDF template. This fill-in-the-blanks template includes every section of your business plan, including Executive Summary, Objectives, SWOT Analysis, Marketing Analysis and Strategy, Operations Plan, Financial Projections and more (a similar template is sold elsewhere for $69.95).

All this and much much more.

Success Tip: Setting Goals

Good management is the key to success and good management starts with setting goals. Set goals for yourself for the accomplishment of the many tasks necessary in starting and managing your business successfully. Be specific. Write down the goals in measurable terms of performance. Break major goals down into sub-goals, showing what you expect to achieve in the next two to three months, the next six months, the next year, and the next five years. Beside each goal and sub-goal place a specific date showing when it is to be achieved.

Plan the action you must take to attain the goals. While the effort required to reach each sub-goal should be great enough to challenge you, it should not be so great or unreasonable as to discourage you. Do not plan to reach too many goals all at one time.

Establish priorities. Plan in advance how to measure results so you can know exactly how well you are doing. This is what is meant by "measurable" goals. If you can’t keep score as you go along you are likely to lose motivation. Re-work your plan of action to allow for obstacles which may stand in your way. Try to foresee obstacles and plan ways to avert or minimize them.

Click here! to download your Catering Business plan PDF book for free


Here're other free books in the "how to start a business" series that may interest you:

Agriculture Assisted living Auto repair Bakery Bar Beauty salon Bed and breakfast Bookkeeping Boutique Bowling alley Carpet cleaning Car wash Catering Cattle farming Charity Cleaning Coffee shop Computer repair Construction Consulting Convenience-store Cupcake Daycare Dental Dog daycare Ecommerce Electrical Embroidery Engineering Farm Fashion Film Financial advisor Fitness center Flower-shop Food Food truck Franchise Frozen yogurt Furniture store Gas station Goat farming Grocery store Gym Hairdressing Hair salon Ice cream Insurance agency Interior design Internet Internet cafe IT Jewelry Landscaping Laundromat Laundry Law firm Magazine Manufacturing Microbrewery Motel-hotel Music Nightclub Nonprofit Nursery Online-retail Photography Pizza Plumbing Poultry farming Preschool Printing Private investigator Pub Real-estate Resort Restaurant Retail School Security company Service Software Spa Sports-bar Startup Supermarket Travel agency Trucking Vegetable-farming Website

Here's a Sample 'Executive Summary' for a Catering Business plan:

[COMPANY NAME] is a full service professionally designed restaurant and banquet facility that presents a fresh new upscale dining environment that is family friendly and geared toward business and social gatherings.  The decor is professionally designed from form to function in all areas of the facility and incorporates fresh new perspectives in dining establishments.  There is no similar dining experience within 25-30 miles of [COMPANY NAME].  The design could be compared to that of many franchise operations that are developed in St. Cloud (i.e. TGI Fridays, Applebee’s, Outback Steak House, Olive Garden, Champs, etc.)  The menu is a moderate to higher price point than the traditional sit down family restaurant.  Seating capacity in the bar and restaurant is 50 and 150, respectively and have a number of areas that can readily accommodate private small to medium sized group meetings.  The banquet facility is one large area that accommodates up to 700 guests.  The banquet facility has multiple uses including:

  • Wedding, Anniversary and Family Reunion functions
  • Special Events, Association banquets, Trade Shows, etc.
  • Alcohol FREE Youth Events

The owner of the Company is [NAME] who has brings over 15 years experience in the Restaurant industry.  The restaurant is minutes away from a major shopping center and sits off of a highly traveled intersection of Interstate 94, US Highway 71 and State Highway 28.  The building contains 33,000 square feet of commercial space with approximately 150+ parking spaces available on site.  [COMPANY NAME] was established in May 2005 and is headquartered in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.  The Company prides itself on its customer service.

[COMPANY NAME] offers a lunch, dinner, or appetizer menu.  From delectable appetizers to delicious dinners of steak, chicken pork, pasta and even prime rib, [COMPANY NAME] serves up meals to delight anyone’s taste-buds.  The burger selection is one-of-a-kind.  The Company also has unique specials and has something on the menu for every kind of taste bud.

[COMPANY NAME] offers a place for a wedding or special event.  With one large banquet hall and two additional meeting rooms that can be joined together, [COMPANY NAME] can accommodate any size gathering comfortably.  The Company's facility offers televisions to watch sports events, Bingo games at the bar, pool tables, darts, dining, dancing, wedding facilities, anniversary facilities, class reunion facilities, book reading areas, seminar training, or party facilities. 

[COMPANY NAME]'s competitive advantage is its visibility, accessibility and location.  Equally important is the unique environment, food quality, and extensive experience in the food and banquet industry. 
The Company is seeking grant funding in the amount of $800,000. The grant will be used to expand the business by improving the exterior landscaping, repairing the parking lot, improving the building cosmetically, increase advertising/ promotions and hire additional staff.  Based on the detailed financial projections, [COMPANY NAME]'s future sales for 2010, 2011 and 2012 are expected to be $1,500,000, $1,600,000 and $1,750,000.   

1.1 Objectives

[COMPANY NAME] has three main objectives:
 

  • To be rated the #1 dining restaurant in Sauk Centre
  • To be rated best wedding, banquet and meeting facility within a 30-50 mile radius Sauk Centre
  • To present a clean and inviting environment with ambiance unique to the area
  • To provide excellent Customer Service
  • To accomplish annual sales of $1,500,000 in 2010; $1,600,000 in 2011; and $1,750,000 in 2012 

1.2 Mission

[COMPANY NAME]'s mission is to provide a full service premier dining, banquet and event facility for families, businesses and other community functions throughout the surrounding non-metro local area of Sauk Centre, Minnesota and throughout the County of Stearns, located in Central Minnesota. 

The restaurant strives to be a good corporate and civic partner promoting activities and events that benefit the community, its businesses and the surrounding area.  The restaurant will host Youth entertainment events that present excellent fund raising opportunities for the community.

[COMPANY NAME]'s business philosophy is to provide a dining and event experience that caters to individuals and businesses unique and special needs.  The Company strives to handle all details of the experience so that the customer can relax and be catered to.

1.3 Keys to Success

The keys to success in this business are:

  • Repeat Customers
  • Good Word of Mouth
  • Great Marketing plan
  • Continuous growth in weddings, banquets, front of house dining
  • Keeping Expenses in line

[COMPANY NAME] is a full service professionally designed restaurant and banquet facility that presents a fresh new upscale dining environment that is family friendly and geared toward business and social gatherings.  The decor is professionally designed from form to function in all areas of the facility and incorporates fresh new perspectives in dining establishments.  There is no similar dining experience within 25-30 miles of [COMPANY NAME].  The design could be compared to that of many franchise operations that are developed in St. Cloud (i.e. TGI Fridays, Applebee’s, Outback Steak House, Olive Garden, Champs, etc.)  The menu is a moderate to higher price point than the traditional sit down family restaurant.  Seating capacity in the bar and restaurant is 50 and 150, respectively and have a number of areas that can readily accommodate private small to medium sized group meetings.  The banquet facility is one large area that accommodates up to 700 guests.  The banquet facility has multiple uses including:

  • Wedding, Anniversary and Family Reunion functions
  • Special Events, Association banquets, Trade Shows, etc.
  • Alcohol FREE Youth Events

The owner of the Company is [NAME] who has brings over 15 years experience in the Restaurant industry. The restaurant is minutes away from a major shopping center and sits off of a highly traveled intersection of Interstate 94, US Highway 71 and State Highway 28.  The building contains 33,000 square feet of commercial space with approximately 150+ parking spaces available on site.  [COMPANY NAME] was established in May 2005 and is headquartered in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.  The Company prides itself on its customer service.

2.1 Company Ownership

[COMPANY NAME] is an S-Corp wholly owned by [NAME] the manager and operator of the Business.

2.2 Company History

Sales figures in year 2007, 2008 and 2009 were $996,123, $1,102,879 and $1,054,092, respectively.  The Earnings for this period were -$315, $27,831 and $22,738, respectively.

Table: Past Performance

Past Performance

 

 

 

 

2007

2008

2009

Sales

$996,123

$1,102,879

$1,054,092

Gross Margin

$605,693

$687,268

$638,357

Gross Margin %

60.81%

62.32%

60.56%

Operating Expenses

$538,614

$545,160

$558,907

Inventory Turnover

37.18

39.58

39.59

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet

 

 

 

 

2007

2008

2009

Current Assets

 

 

 

Cash

$5,891

$733

($9,431)

Inventory

$10,500

$10,500

$10,500

Other Current Assets

$8,994

$11,384

$6,407

Total Current Assets

$25,385

$22,617

$7,476

 

 

 

 

Long-term Assets

 

 

 

Long-term Assets

$125,809

$124,754

$128,677

Accumulated Depreciation

$28,186

$42,217

$56,918

Total Long-term Assets

$97,623

$82,537

$71,759

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

$123,008

$105,154

$79,235

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

Accounts Payable

$16,062

$8,271

$8,374

Current Borrowing

$15,000

$15,000

$0

Other Current Liabilities (interest free)

 

$0

 

Total Current Liabilities

$31,062

$23,271

$8,374

 

 

 

 

Long-term Liabilities

$89,560

$51,666

$64,135

Total Liabilities

$120,622

$74,937

$72,509

 

 

 

 

Paid-in Capital

$32,161

$32,161

$32,161

Retained Earnings

($29,460)

($29,775)

($2,697)

Earnings

($315)

$27,831

($22,738)

Total Capital

$2,386

$30,217

$6,726

 

 

 

 

Total Capital and Liabilities

$123,008

$105,154

$79,235

 

 

 

 

Other Inputs

 

 

 

Payment Days

30

30

30

[COMPANY NAME]'s offers: 
* Great Food
* Daily Specials
* Lunch Buffets
* Entertainment
* Dancing 
* Dart Leagues
* Pool Leagues
* Games – Sunday night "Bargo" (Bar Bingo)!
* Full Bar
* Banquet Hall Facilities

[COMPANY NAME] offers a lunch, dinner, or appetizer menu.  From delectable appetizers to delicious dinners of steak, chicken pork, pasta and even prime rib, [COMPANY NAME] serves up meals to delight anyone’s taste-buds.  The burger selection is one-of-a-kind.  The Restaurant makes its own sauce for its BBQ Ribs along with the homemade family recipes for bleu cheese dressing, French dressing, ranch dressing, garlic butter, honey butter.  Also all of the soups are made from scratch.  The Company also has unique specials and has something on the menu for every kind of taste bud.

[COMPANY NAME] offers a place for a wedding or special event.  With one large banquet hall and two additional meeting rooms that can be joined together, [COMPANY NAME] can accommodate any size gathering comfortably.  The Company's facility offers televisions to watch a sports event, Bingo games at the bar, pool tables, darts, dining, dancing, wedding facilities, anniversary facilities, class reunion facilities, book reading areas, seminar training, or party facilities. 

The Company is focused on "going green" by participating in recycling efforts including the use energy efficient bulbs, recycling the grease, separating the food waste, etc. and has recently checked into solar panels for the hot water and electricity.
In the near future, [COMPANY NAME] would like to incorporate an enclosed sound proof area offering fine dining as well as host fundraiser events that will benefit the community, its businesses and the surrounding area.  The Company would like to work with area youth for entertainment and fund raising opportunities. The Company would like to include a landscaped and sheltered outdoor courtyard space that could also be available to host outdoor events.   

This article covers: Starting A Catering Business For Dummies

Business Telephone Etiquette Manners Tips for Service Providers

A warm, helpful, professional and friendly voice on the phone can build customer loyalty, or if missing, drive them to your competitor. Extend the common courtesies to your callers and create a reputation of legendary service to keep your customers coming back!

1. GREET -

A warm, friendly, professional greeting including company name, dept name (if appropriate) and the person's name who answered the call. It is suggested that the greeting end with a helpful statement that assures the caller you are willing to help. Ex: ABC Shutter Company, this is John, how may I assist you?

2. LISTEN -

One of the most important techniques in telephone etiquette is to actively listen to the customer. Listen for both the content as well as the intent. Usually the customer tells you both in her opening statement. By listening actively to the customer's opening comments, you can then RESPOND with a statement that assures the customer you HEARD. Example: Customer: This is Mary Smith and I'd like to speak with someone to arrange for an estimate on hurricane shutters. I just moved into my home here in Florida. Service Provider:Yes,we can arrange for an estimate for you. I will be connecting you with Bob Jones in our Sales Dept. Will you please stay on the line,while I connect your call?

3. EMPATHIZE -

In other words, walk a mile in your customer's shoes. If the customer states: I don't want to wait for Bob Jones, I'm on my lunch hour and very busy, besides, this is my 2nd call and no one answered in the sales dept. Don't you want my business? Pause for a moment to be empathetic and respond: Yes, we do want to service you, Ms Smith and I apologize for the inconvenience. Since you are on a lunch hour, I will find someone to speak with you immediately, or I will be happy to have your call returned this evening to your home. Which works best for you?

4. PROBE-

Although probing isn't a technique that may come naturally to everyone, it is a required skill for anyone servicing customers over the phone. Keep it simple and remember the basic open questions ....Who - What - When - Where - How. I have found the phrase, Tell me more about...... works miracles when trying to discover information.

5. COMMON COURTESIES

Ask permission to place a caller on hold and get the caller's attention when you return. Most of us can remember all too clearly a time when we were placed on eternal hold and wondered if we had been forgotten. A simple rule to remember: call the customer by name when you return to the line and wait for her to respond, then continue. EX. May I put your call on hold while I pull a copy of the invoice? To gain the customer's attention when you return to the line, call the customer by name and wait for her response. EX. Mrs,Smith? (pause for her to respond) ..thank you for waiting, I do have the invoice information for you. TIP: If you know the wait time will be a few minutes, tell the customer before you leave the line. You will save on customer irritation and possible repeat calls. To the bottom line of a business, you could lose revenue and productivity.

6. AVOID COMPANY JARGON & RULES -

All companies have their own set of rules and terminology. These can sometimes be defined as hot buttons for some customers as most of us do not want to hear quotes about what you can and can not do from the company manual. Nor do customers want to hear you refer to a simple order as FORM 1979-M. Keep It Simple!

7. OFFER SOLUTIONS/ALTERNATIVES -

If you know you can't do what the customer is asking,just tell her what you CAN do. There are usually alternatives that a customer will be willing to accept, IF you just take time to offer! Ex. If the customer is unwilling to wait any longer, then offer to have the sales rep return the call at a time that is most convenient for the CUSTOMER. Make the commitment and follow up with the Sales Rep to insure the commitment was met. If not, your company just lost Credibility and possible additional referrals!

8. TONE -

Since you are not face-to-face, the most important measurements of good communication in this case are voice quality and tone. Keep it positive and enthusiastic. Remember, the image the customer has of the person who is answering your company's phone is the image the customer has of YOUR COMPANY. Is it flat, monotone or upbeat and perky? Is it abrupt, indifferent or polite and empathetic? You want to hire NICE people to answer your phone who will be NICE to your customers.

9. APPRECIATION-

Before the caller hangs up, make sure your customer service associate has expressed sincere gratitude for the customer's patronage. EX:, Thank you for choosing ABC, we appreciate your business, Ms. Smith.

10. GO THE DISTANCE -

Run an extra mile for every customer - every time! Take time to extend yourself in some way to make a positive, lasting impression on the customer. Maybe when you pull the invoice, you notice that she has been a loyal customer for 6 years....or perhaps she just moved to a new location. Offer to send address change cards, or send a thank you card in the mail for her loyalty. Be your company's ambassador and watch your company flourish! Providing exceptional telephone service is nothing more than following "the Golden Rule" that we all learned as a child.

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